The reason you will want to take an AP Calculus Exam Demo is so you can learn what you are going to be doing on the actual exam. Many people make the huge mistake of only taking a practice test and then figuring that they know what they are doing. If you do this you will find that you struggle through the course of the course, and you might even fail. This is not because you didn’t try, it is because you don’t know what you are doing.
The best way to get a feel for the course is to take an actual test. You should do this as early as possible in the semester so that you can get into some practice time. You should plan to spend at least an hour each day studying for the test. That will give you time to work through the material and get some practice. Most people do not have that much time to devote to studying. Even if you do have a couple hours each day, if you don’t commit to it you are likely to get discouraged.
As you start to study for the test, you should start to pick out the materials that you would like to read. Don’t worry about format at this point. You can either read the text, read a worksheet, or use an online practice test to navigate through the topics. Do not let your attention wander from the computer. Keep your concentration on the screen.
After you have spent a decent amount of time studying for the test, you should consider taking a practice test. You can find these online. However, you may be best to take one of these with a friend. Get their input as to which questions they think are the hardest. Then you can review those questions and prepare yourself. You may even want to take a friend along with you who has taken a calculus class before and can serve as a coach for you.
While you are taking the test you should also review any materials you have already read and practiced. Start with the first section and go over it thoroughly. Then move on to the second section and repeat that. As you get more comfortable with the test materials and the practice tests you can make them a part of your test study routine.
Try to take the test at the same time each day. If you take it at an unstructured time you will not be as prepared as if you planned and followed a set of guidelines. You should also set aside time each day to review any areas that you could have forgotten. It is always better to review things that you have not studied thoroughly rather than putting all of that work into something you might forget in a few seconds on the test.
As you are preparing for the test you should also set up your own practice schedule. You should set up your calculator ahead of time and then practice making simple calculations. Then, when the test time rolls around you should have done all of the problems you have previously worked out. You will be surprised how much this will help you get ready for the real thing.
