3 things that raised my students’ AP Calculus scores

I started teaching AP Calculus (AB) for the first time about 10 years ago.  My students didn’t do so well my first 2 years (the class average grade was below 3).  The third year I taught the class I started seeing much better grades.  Now our AP scores average is above 4.0.  Here are 3 things that I did differently that I think made all the difference:

1. I stopped giving problems with complex algebra and that took 15 minutes to complete.  I was assigning problems from the text book (we used Larson 7th edition at the time).  Most AP test problems focus on theory and not heavy Algebra.  For example, when using the formal definition of a derivative with f(x+h), you rarely have to square (x+h) and you never need to cube it.  The temptation is to give something like “all odd problems” from a section in your Calculus text book, but many of these problems are not at all like actual AP problems (see below).
2. I started integrating AP practice problems (both Multiple choice and Free response) throughout the year.  I start integrating individual multiple choice problems right from the beginning with limits.  The Free response problems (which often contain problems from multiple units), I start integrating a little later – during the related rates unit.  I’ve organized the published AP exams by topic into a PDF that I give my students.  You can download the AB or BC book here.
3. I almost always include problems from previous units in my assessments and worksheets/handouts.  I also teach integration and derivative theory together and right after the formal definition of a derivative.  I’ll make a separate post about this strategy including the handout I created to support this.
4. Did I say 3 things in the title?  Well I meant 4 (“our chief weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency…”).  I reserve some of the practice free response tests (2015-2016) and give problems from these as assessments late in the year (March/April).  I then have the students grade each others tests.  We put up the scoring guidelines provided by the college board on the smart board and they get to see first hand how the points are awarded.  They learn important lessons about how to justify answers, Student feedback has been very positive on this when I asked them what helped them the most to prepare for the exam.

Do yourself a favor and take an entire AP Calculus test in September (in case you haven’t done so yet).  Then remember the style of questions they ask whenever you assign homework.