Customer Reviews

Be Prepared for the AP Calculus Exam

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Let me preface this by saying that I took the AP calculus test in the mid 1980's and now have helped my daughter with a self-study course on calculus in preparation for the 2007 test. After going through a total of 4 study guides, 2 textbooks, and the last 7 years of available free response questions from the actual AP test, I found this guide to be one of the best AP calculus preparation books.

The AP calculus (AB or BC) has become considerably harder in the last 4 years. Most other books seem to have been developed for the test as administered in the 1990's. In order to pass, not only do you need to know your calculus - it is also mandatory that you know how to use your calculator in order to solve calculus problems. Most other books, completely ignore this point (see my other reviews). Rather than focusing on techniques of integration (which was a big deal for the earlier test in which calculators either weren't allowed or weren't capable), the emphasis has switched to integration via the calculator.
This book addresses the issue clearly.

One last point of advice is that this book does stress the concepts that are in turn stressed on the current tests - fundamental theorem of calculus, average value of a function by integration, and problems that depend on interpreting graphs and data points.

When chosing a book, keep in mind that the test is no longer a simple can you integrate and take a derivative by hand type of exam. If you can solve the problems in this book, you indeed will be prepared for the AP test.

This book focuses on the subset of first year calculus topics needed for the AP exams, and it provides comprehensive coverage of those topics. It also includes an Appendix on the use of TI calculator models 83, 84, 86, and 89. A graphing calculator (only certain models are allowed) is now required for the AP Calculus exams. Compared to other preparation texts covering similar AP calculus topics, this book is relatively short, running less than 400 pages.

This brevity is achieved primarily in two ways, one is by providing explanations that are quite concise. Those with solid calculus backgrounds will appreciate this brevity, particularly if they need a text for a final quick review before the AP exams. Others will likely find themselves wanting more detailed explanations and solved problem exemplars.

The second way concerns problem sets. There is a relative dearth of problems with fully detailed solutions, compared to other AP preparation texts, e.g., "Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams, 2009 Edition" which at 870 pages is over double the size of this text.

Its major weakness is that many of the "fully worked" problems skip important steps. As an example, in problem 24, page 103, the derivative of tan (theta), although a required step in the solution process, is not presented. The geometric/trigonometric steps required to obtain its value in this problem are also skipped. Only the problem-specific value is given in an equation leading to the solution.

The introductory chapter on "Exam Format, Grading, and Tips", although short, is quite helpful. Another useful feature is the occasional aside that explains, for the example presented, the common mistakes that are often made in solving problems of a similar type.

As with some other calculus and AP calculus preparation books, there are errors of omission in word problems involving dimensions. For these problems the authors use 'pure numbers' during the problem solution phase, leaving off dimensions until the final solution. This means there is no check that the final dimensions make sense, or that the problem is solved correctly. The use of pure dimensionless numbers can make work 'cleaner', but it may also mask wrong answers, and it always means that an additional check on the validity of a solution is missing.

In summary: No single preparation text will satisfy all readers. If your calculus background is relatively solid and you need a concise review book this is a reasonable choice. Although the price appears inappropriately high considering the book's relative size, and competitive publishers' discount pricing. If you need more detailed explanations, or lots of practice problem sets with fully-worked solutions, other more substantial AP preparation texts, such as "Cracking the AP Calculus..." mentioned above, will likely prove a better value.

I'm taking AP Calc right now and am planning to take the AP exam this year. The Be Prepared book gives a great overview of all the topics we're covering in class, with clear explanations and examples. I'm going for a 5 on the exam, and I strongly recommend this book to anyone else who will be taking the AP Calc exam too.

I am really glad that I found this book in time! It goes over all the AP Calculus topics in detail with easy-to-understand explanations. In my case, I am doing well in my Calculus class but was looking for a comprehensive review book to go over everything and make sure that I'm ready for the exam -- and this book is exactly what I was hoping to find!

I've just picked up a copy at the NCTM convention in Anaheim and I am very pleased with it. The book is written and reviewed by some of the top AP Calculus people. In general, I am a little skeptical about review books but in this one every topic I looked at was explained very clearly, with appropriate examples and solutions. The practice exams have lots of good questions. They also have solutions to 2003 and 2004 free response questions (with helpful footnotes) on their web site, along with the links to the questions. I'm very glad I found this book. I highly recommend it.

This book is awesome!!! Our teacher is new and doesn't explain things well. I understood many things for the first time after reading this book. There are many questions with solutions in the text, which really helps. The practice exams are very doable after reading the review chapters.

I purchased a copy based on the AP Central review and I am not disappointed. Just as that review says, the book covers all of the AB and BC material very thoroughly and clearly, and the practice exams are right on target with multiple-choice and free-response questions similar to the actual exam questions, but often more original. This book will greatly help my students for this year's exam, and especially next year -- I am going to use it throughout the year.

I am a college math tutor and have been using "be prepared" this semester for my tutoring sessions. I find the explanations to be very clear and my students understand them better than their text book. The examples in the book go through many typical questions with detailed step by step explanations. I took the AP a few years ago and i wish i had a book this good. I would have had a much easier time studying for the exam. I can also add that the practice exams are crucial for doing well on the AP. (TIP: write your answers on a seperate page so you can retake the practice exams to measure your improvment!)

Trust me on this. I have gone through about every AB book out there, and this one is your best bet. Unlike the others, it is actually very up to date, and it contains the most recent changes to the AB curriculum such as slope fields.

Many books out there are much too easy, such as the book published by Princeton. Easy does not necessarily equal good preparation for the test! This "Be Prepared" book will challenge you and actually get you to see the level you will see on the actual AP exam. Plus, this book gives great hints at far as successfully using the calculator. This book has everything you could want in a review book, and I recommend it over all the other AB titles.

After having read the rave reviews online and wanting something different from the typical princeton review/barron's books, I ordered this off Amazon because my local Borders/Barnes & Noble did not have any. It is as good as people say it is! Filled with tons of practice problems and concise notes. Unfortunately, the 2007 AP Calculus was unusually hard nation-wide in both the multiple choice and free-response so I'm not going to say I will get a 5... but, this review is the only thing that got me through the exam so I highly recommend it!

Update: Got a 5 on the exam. Should have gotten a 4 without the book acc to practice scores until the actual test.