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ap calculus - q&a: frq scoring & exam reader tips

originally streamed in 2020 with Mark Howell & Bryan PasswaterTeachers
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Get insider tips from an official AP Calculus exam reader and learn what graders actually look for in your free response answers. This detailed conversation covers both AB and BC topics, common mistakes that cost students points, and strategies to wr ...more

curriculum note

This video was recorded for the 2020–2021 COVID-era AP exam, which had a unique online format with only 2 FRQ questions and required photo/PDF uploads via a special portal. The current AP Calculus AB/BC exam uses the standard format (45 MCQ + 6 FRQ, paper-based). The FRQ writing and justification strategies are still useful, but all references to exam structure and submission procedures are outdated.

covered in this stream

topics
AP Calculus Free Response Question (FRQ) OverviewJustifying and Explaining Your Answers🎉NMSI AP Reader Chat: Calculus (AB and BC)

timestamps

  • 0:00

    Welcome and Introductions

  • 0:12

    Live Session Start

  • 0:43

    Mark's Background

  • 1:14

    Brian's Introduction

  • 1:44

    Session Overview

  • 2:15

    Exam Preparation Tips

  • 2:46

    Top 10 List Begins

  • 3:18

    Tip 10: Avoid Recipes

  • 4:19

    Tip 9: Concise Responses

  • 4:50

    Tip 8: Notation Matters

  • 5:53

    Tip 7: Use Function Names

  • 6:56

    Tip 6: Graphs and Tables

  • 7:58

    Tip 5: Theorem Hypotheses

  • 10:01

    Tip 4: Avoid Unnecessary Evaluation

  • 10:32

    Chat Questions Answered

  • 18:19

    Tip 3: Try Every Part

  • 20:26

    Practice Uploading Solutions

  • 24:06

    Tip 1: Positive Mindset

  • 26:42

    Additional Exam Tips

  • 27:12

    Grading Insights

  • 30:21

    L'Hopital's Rule Discussion

  • 34:01

    Uploading Demo

  • 41:17

    Photo Tips

  • 42:18

    Scoring Percentages

  • 45:25

    Device Warnings

  • 46:57

    Content Questions

  • 50:03

    Example Problems

  • 53:09

    Rate Problems

  • 54:10

    L'Hopital's Example

  • 57:50

    Notation Advice

  • 59:54

    Points in Peril

  • 1:00:56

    Personal Stories

  • 1:06:38

    Exam Points Speculation

  • 1:08:42

    Closing Remarks

  • 1:12:20

    Farewell and End

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© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

every AP exam is fiveable

Fiveable

Study Content & Tools

Study GuidesFRQs + AI ScoringAP Essay Grader for StudentsAI Grading for TeachersPractice QuestionsGlossaryScore Calculators

Company

What's New?PricingBulk DiscountsTestimonialsFAQsEmail us

Resources

AP Exam Schedule 2027AP ClassesAP ClassroomEasiest AP ClassesHardest AP ClassesAP vs IBAP vs Dual EnrollmentAP vs Honors ClassesAP Scholar Awards

history

🌎 ap world history🇺🇸 ap us history🇪🇺 ap european history

social science

✊🏿 ap african american studies🗳️ ap comparative government🚜 ap human geography💶 ap macroeconomics🤑 ap microeconomics🧠 ap psychology👩🏾‍⚖️ ap us government

english & capstone

✍🏽 ap english language📚 ap english literature🔍 ap research💬 ap seminar

arts

🎨 ap art & design🖼️ ap art history🎵 ap music theory

science

🧬 ap biology🧪 ap chemistry♻️ ap environmental science🎡 ap physics 1🧲 ap physics 2💡 ap physics c: e&m⚙️ ap physics c: mechanics

math & computer science

🧮 ap calculus ab♾️ ap calculus bc📐 ap precalculus📊 ap statistics💻 ap computer science a⌨️ ap computer science p

world languages

🇨🇳 ap chinese🇫🇷 ap french🇩🇪 ap german🇮🇹 ap italian🇯🇵 ap japanese🏛️ ap latin🇪🇸 ap spanish language💃🏽 ap spanish literature

go beyond AP

high school exams

✏️ PSAT🎓 Digital SAT🎒 ACT

honors classes

🍬 honors algebra II🫀 honors anatomy🐇 honors biology👩🏽‍🔬 honors chemistry💲 honors economics📐 honors geometry⚾️ honors physics📏 honors pre-calculus📊 honors statistics🗳️ honors us government🇺🇸 honors us history🌎 honors world history

college classes

👩🏽‍🎤 arts👔 business🎤 communications🏗️ engineering📓 humanities➗ math🧑🏽‍🔬 science💶 social science

hs classes

🏛️ alabama history⛰️ appalachian studies🌴 california history🌍 earth science🌐 ethnic studies🐊 florida history🍑 georgia history🌎 global studies🌺 hawaiian studies📰 journalism🪶 native american studies🌵 new mexico history🤠 oklahoma history⚗️ physical science🎙️ speech and debate🤝 texas government🤠 texas history🌲 washington state history🕊️ world religions
RefundsTermsPrivacyCCPAAI TransparencySchool Data Privacy

© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.