Math can be hard, and for many students, calculus is one of the more challenging math courses out there. However, you are going to ace calculus this year. How do I know? Because you found this website, which means you have the first step and are willing to work for that grade. Now, here is my simple formula to ace calculus that can be applied to any math or science course.
1. UTILIZE CLASS TIME
While this may seem obvious, being distracted in class is the number one reason why people don't see the results they want. Too often, I hear students saying they'll "just do it later" or "don't feel like it right now". By paying attention in class you have the opportunity to ask your teacher and your peers if you have any questions. It also helps to have a basic understanding of the topic before starting your homework rather than learning the topic as you go through your assignments. This brings me to my next point.
2. DO YOUR HOMEWORK...MINDFULLY
What does that even mean. You know those problems you get stuck on and after 10 seconds of staring at it you immediately go to the answer key? We've all done it. Instead, I challenge you to spend a little extra time on those problems. Even if you do look at the answer key, try to understand how they got to the final answer without just copying down what you see. This will literally save your life when it comes to the test, because instead of trying to learn the material the night before, you already know the concepts because you have been paying closer attention to your homework, and you know the types of problems that trip you up. With this knowledge, you can devise an efficient study plan that focuses on your weaknesses rather than cramming everything in, forgetting half of it, and then panicking during the exam.
3. STUDY SMARTER!!!
Skimming your notes is not studying. Read that again. To learn calculus, you have to DO calculus. One tip is to photocopy a blank version of every worksheet you take home, and redo any of the worksheets you struggled with before the exam. If you don't have time for this (or are just too tired), remember that math isn't too different from other subjects when it comes to memorizing techniques and formulas. In other words, identify tricks that work for you in other classes like english or history and apply them to math. For example, come up with mnemonics and rhymes, or whatever tricks work for you, and use these in your homework and classwork, so by the time the test rolls around, you have shortcuts to remember what you learned! A commonly used mnemonic is SOH - CAH - TOA, which most people learned to memorize trig formulas (SOH= sin, opposite/hypotenuse, etc). In this way, memorize concepts and use the memory device as often as you caan, so you are well practiced and can ace your exams.
Thank you so much for reading and good luck in Calculus this year! Subscribe to the blog and make sure to check out the STEMin7 youtube channel where we cover topics from AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Biology, and even some AP Computer Science. Click the link or the video below to get started. Happy learning!
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