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AP Calculus#AP Calculus BC

{{Short description|Two Advanced Placement courses and exams}}

{{Primary sources|date=March 2025}}

{{Advanced Placement}}

Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus (also known as AP Calc, Calc AB / BC, AB / BC Calc or simply AB / BC) is a set of two distinct Advanced Placement calculus courses and exams offered by the American nonprofit organization College Board. AP Calculus AB covers basic introductions to limits, derivatives, and integrals. AP Calculus BC covers all AP Calculus AB topics plus additional topics (including integration by parts, Taylor series, parametric equations, vector calculus, and polar coordinate functions).

AP Calculus AB

AP Calculus AB is an Advanced Placement calculus course. It is traditionally taken after precalculus and is the first calculus course offered at most schools except for possibly a regular or honors calculus class. The Pre-Advanced Placement pathway for math helps prepare students for further Advanced Placement classes and exams.

=Purpose=

According to the College Board:{{blockquote |text=An AP course in calculus consists of a full high school academic year of work that is comparable to calculus courses in colleges and universities. It is expected that students who take an AP course in calculus will seek college credit, college placement, or both, from institutions of higher learning.

The AP Program includes specifications for two calculus courses and the exam for each course. The two courses and the two corresponding exams are designated as Calculus AB and Calculus BC. Calculus AB can be offered as an AP course by any school that can organize a curriculum for students with advanced mathematical ability.{{cite web|url=http://collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/calculus/ap-cd-calc-0607.pdf |title=2006, 2007 AP Calculus Course Description |year=2005 |publisher=College Board |access-date=2008-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720151001/http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/calculus/ap-cd-calc-0607.pdf |archive-date=2008-07-20 }}}}

=Topic outline=

The material includes the study and application of differentiation and integration, and graphical analysis including limits, asymptotes, and continuity.{{cite web |url=http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_ab/topic.html?calcab |title=Topic Outline |work=Calculus AB |publisher=College Board |access-date=2008-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070626/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_ab/topic.html?calcab |archive-date=2008-12-19 |url-status=dead }} An AP Calculus AB course is typically equivalent to one semester of college calculus.{{cite web|url=http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-calculus-course-description.pdf|title=Course Descriptions}}

class="wikitable" border="1"
Score

!2017{{Cite web|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/ap/pdf/ap17-calculus-ab-scoring-global.pdf|title=AP Calculus AB May 2017 Score Distributions|last=College Board|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326032116/https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/ap/pdf/ap17-calculus-ab-scoring-global.pdf|archive-date=2018-03-26|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-06-22}}

!2018{{cite web|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2018/Student-Score-Distributions-2018.pdf | title=Student Score Distributions, AP Exams - May 2018 | website=The College Board | access-date=December 24, 2022}}

!2019{{Cite web|title=Student Score Distributions|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2019/Student-Score-Distributions-2019.pdf|access-date=July 9, 2020}}

!2020{{Cite web|title=Student Score Distributions|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2020/Student-Score-Distributions-2020.pdf|access-date=June 9, 2021}}

!2021"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

!2022"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

!2023"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

!2024"[https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions 2024 AP Score Distributions]". Retrieved July 8, 2024.

5

|18.7%

|19.4%

|19.1%

|19.5%

|17.6%

|20.4%

|22.4%

|21%

4

|18%

|17.3%

|18.7%

|20.9%

|14.1%

|16.1%

|16.2%

|28%

3

|20.8%

|21%

|20.6%

|21.0%

|19.3%

|19.1%

|19.4%

|15%

2

|22%

|22.4%

|23.3%

|24.1%

|25.3%

|22.6%

|21.7%

|23%

1

|20.4%

|20%

|18.3%

|14.5%

|23.7%

|21.7%

|20.3%

|13%

% of Scores 3 or Higher

|57.5%

|57.7%

|58.4%

|61.4%

|51.0%

|55.7%

|58.0%

|64%

Mean

|2.93

|2.94

|2.97

|3.07

|2.77

|2.91

|2.99

|3.21

Standard Deviation

|1.40

|1.40

|1.38

|1.36

|1.41

|1.44

|1.44

|1.35

Number of Students

|316,099

|308,538

|300,659

|266,430

|251,639

|268,352

|273,987

|251,000

AP Calculus BC

{{Calculus}}AP Calculus BC is equivalent to a full year regular college course, covering both Calculus I and II. After passing the exam, students may move on to Calculus III (Multivariable Calculus).

=Purpose=

According to the College Board, {{blockquote |text=Calculus BC is a full-year course in the calculus of functions of a single variable. It includes all topics covered in Calculus AB plus additional topics... Students who take an AP Calculus course should do so with the intention of placing out of a comparable college calculus course.|sign=|source=}}

=Topic outline=

AP Calculus BC includes all of the topics covered in AP Calculus AB, as well as the following:

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Score

!2017{{Cite web|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap17-chief-reader-report-calculus.pdf|title=AP Calculus AB and Calculus BC Chief Reader Report May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725153322/https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap17-chief-reader-report-calculus.pdf|archive-date=2018-07-25|url-status=dead}}

!2018

!2019

!2020{{Cite web|title=STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS|url=https://www.https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2020/Student-Score-Distributions-2020.pdf|access-date=June 9, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819141428/http://https/|url-status=dead}}

!2021"[https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

!2022{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/AP_Trevor/status/1542598887558504450?s=20&t=a70qOYpBdGGcRdLzGQCZFQ |title=The 2022 AP Calculus BC scores |access-date=7 July 2022}}

!2023"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

!2024"[https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions 2024 AP Score Distributions]". Retrieved July 8, 2024.

5

|42.6%

|40.4%

|43.0%

|44.6%

|38.3%

|41.2%

|43.5%

|45%

4

|18.1%

|18.6%

|18.5%

|17.6%

|16.5%

|15.6%

|15.9%

|22%

3

|19.9%

|20.7%

|19.5%

|19.4%

|20.4%

|20.1%

|19.0%

|13%

2

|14.3%

|14.6%

|13.9%

|14.1%

|18.2%

|16.4%

|15.2%

|15%

1

|5.3%

|5.6%

|5.2%

|4.3%

|6.6%

|6.8%

|6.3%

|5%

% of Scores 3 or Higher

|80.6%

|79.7%

|81.0%

|81.6%

|75.2%

|76.9%

|78.5%

|80%

Mean

|3.79

|3.73

|3.81

|3.84

|3.62

|3.68

|3.75

|3.87

Standard Deviation

|1.28

|1.28

|1.27

|1.25

|1.33

|1.33

|1.32

|1.27

Number of Students

|132,514

|139,376

|139,195

|127,864

|124,599

|120,238

|135,458

|119,000

It can be seen from the tables that the pass rate (score of 3 or higher) of AP Calculus BC is higher than AP Calculus AB. It can also be noted that about 1/3 as many take the BC exam as take the AB exam. A possible explanation for the higher scores on BC is that students who take AP Calculus BC are more prepared and advanced in math. The 5-rate is consistently over 40% (much higher than almost all the other AP exams). {{Original research inline|date=March 2024}}

==AB sub-score distribution==

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Score

!2017

!2018

!2019{{Cite web|title=STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS – AP Exams May 2019|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2019/Student-Score-Distributions-2019.pdf|access-date=9 July 2020 |publisher=College Board}}

!2020{{cite web|title= STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS – AP Exams May 2020|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2020/Student-Score-Distributions-2020.pdf |access-date=20 July 2023 |publisher=College Board }}

!2021{{cite web|title= STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS – AP Exams May 2021|url=https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2021/2021-ap-student-score-distributions.pdf |access-date=20 July 2023 |publisher=College Board}}

!2022"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

!2023"[https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2023.pdf STUDENT SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS]" (PDF). Retrieved January 12, 2024.

5

|48.4%

|48.7%

|49.5%

|N/A

|46.7%

|48.5%

|46.4%

4

|22.5%

|20.2%

|23.5%

|N/A

|17.7%

|20.9%

|19.6%

3

|14.1%

|15.9%

|13.2%

|N/A

|16.0%

|11.8%

|18.8%

2

|10.0%

|9.9%

|9.7%

|N/A

|13.0%

|12.2%

|8.6%

1

|4.9%

|5.3%

|4.2%

|N/A

|6.6%

|6.7%

|6.6%

% of Scores 3 or Higher

|85.0%

|84.8%

|86.2%

|N/A

|80.4%

|81.2%

|84.8%

Mean

|4.00

|3.97

|4.05

|N/A

|3.85

|3.92

|3.91

Standard Deviation

|1.21

|1.23

|1.18

|N/A

|1.31

|1.30

|1.26

Number of Students

|132,505

|139,376

|139,195

|N/A

|124,607

|120,276

|135,458

AP Exam

The College Board intentionally schedules the AP Calculus AB exam at the same time as the AP Calculus BC exam to make it impossible for a student to take both tests in the same academic year, though the College Board does not make Calculus AB a prerequisite class for Calculus BC. Some schools do this, though many others only require precalculus as a prerequisite for Calculus BC. The AP awards given by College Board count both exams. However, they do not count the AB sub-score piece of the BC exam.{{Cite web|title=2018 AP Exam Dates {{!}} The Princeton Review|url=https://www.princetonreview.com/college/ap-exam-schedule|access-date=2018-08-20|website=www.princetonreview.com|language=en}}

=Format=

The structures of the AB and BC exams are identical. Both exams are three hours and fifteen minutes long, comprising a total of 45 multiple choice questions and six free response questions. They are usually administered on a Monday or Tuesday morning in May.{{cite web|title=The Exam|url=http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_ab/exam.html?calcab|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070621/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_ab/exam.html?calcab|archive-date=2008-12-19|access-date=2008-11-29|work=Calculus AB|publisher=College Board}}

class="wikitable" border="1"
! Multiple-Choice, Section I Part A

! Multiple-Choice, Section I Part B

! Free-Response, Section II Part A

! Free-Response, Section II Part B

# of Questions

! 30

! 15

! 2

! 4

Time Allowed

! 60 minutes

! 45 minutes

! 30 minutes

! 60 minutes

Calculator Use

! No

! Yes

! Yes

! No

The two parts of the multiple choice section are timed and taken independently.

Students are required to put away their calculators after 30 minutes have passed during the Free-Response section, and only at that point may begin Section II Part B. However, students may continue to work on Section II Part A during the entire Free-Response time, although without a calculator during the later two thirds.

=Scoring=

The multiple choice section is scored by computer, with a correct answer receiving 1 point, with omitted and incorrect answers not affecting the raw score. This total is multiplied by 1.2 to calculate the adjusted multiple-choice score.{{cite web|year=2005|title=2006, 2007 AP Calculus Course Description|url=http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/calculus/ap-cd-calc-0607.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720151001/http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/calculus/ap-cd-calc-0607.pdf|archive-date=2008-07-20|access-date=2008-11-29|publisher=College Board}}

The free response section is hand-graded by hundreds of AP teachers and professors each June.{{cite web|title=AP: The Grade-Setting Process|url=http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_set.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218181203/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_set.html|archive-date=2008-12-18|access-date=2008-11-29|publisher=College Board}} The raw score is then added to the adjusted multiple choice score to receive a composite score. This total is compared to a composite-score scale for that year's exam and converted into an AP score of 1 to 5.

For the Calculus BC exam, an AB sub-score is included in the score report to reflect their proficiency in the fundamental topics of introductory calculus. The AB sub-score is based on the correct number of answers for questions pertaining to AB-material only.

See also

{{Portal|Education|Mathematics|United States}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • AP Calculus AB
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070626/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_ab/topic.html?calcab College Board description of the AP Calculus AB course content]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070621/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_ab/exam.html?calcab College Board description of the AP Calculus AB examination]
  • AP Calculus BC
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20081219081215/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_bc/topic.html?calcbc College Board description of the AP Calculus BC course content]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20130401114413/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/calculus_bc/exam.html?calcbc College Board description of the AP Calculus BC examination]

Further reading

  • {{Cite book |last=Nahin |first=Paul |title=Inside Interesting Integrals |publisher=Springer |year=2014 |isbn=9781493912766}}

{{Glossaries of science and engineering}}

Category:AP courses in mathematics

Category:Calculus

Category:Advanced Placement

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