AP Exam Tips

Calculator Acceptable Use Policy on AP Exams

On free response questions (FRQ) you may use the a calculator to:

    • Plot the graph of a function within an arbitrary viewing window

    • Find the zeros of functions (solve equations numerically)

    • Numerically calculate the derivative of a function

    • Numerically calculate the value of a definite integral

    • Basic number crunching

Everything else must be justified by mathematical reasoning.

    • You must show the algebraic manipulation that leads up to the equation entered onto the calculator.

    • All decimal answers must be accurate to 3 places after the decimal point.

    • For more details see the AP Central's official policy

Exam Tips from Your Friends at the College Board

THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES WERE DEVELOPED TO HELP YOU ON EXAM DAY:

• Monitor your time appropriately on the free-response section. You want to ensure that you do not spend too much time on one question that you do not have enough time to at least attempt to answer all of them.

• Show all your work and the steps you took to reach your solution on questions involving calculations. If you do work that you think is incorrect, simply put an "X" through it, instead of spending time erasing it completely.

• Many free-response questions are divided into parts such as a, b, c, and d, with each part calling for a different response. Credit for each part is awarded independently, so you should attempt to solve each part. For example, you may receive no credit for your answer to part a, but still receive full credit for part b, c, or d. If the answer to a later part of a question depends on the answer to an earlier part, you may still be able to receive full credit for the later part, even if that earlier answer is wrong.

• Do not round partial answers. Store them in your calculator so that you can use them unrounded in further calculations.

• Be sure you have answered the question being asked in a problem. For example, if a problem asks for the maximum value of a function, do not stop after finding the x at which the maximum value occurs. Be sure to express your answer in correct units if units are given and always provide a justification when it is asked for. (Beck: “Read the problem, do the calculus then RE-READ the problem to make sure you answered it.)

• A graphing calculator is most useful to (a) graph functions, (b) compute numerical derivatives, (c) compute definite integrals, and (d) solve equations. (Beck: Know how to do these things)