Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams, 2010 Edition (College Test Preparation)

Comment: I had a series of AP Calculus books to prepare for the exam. I ended up using Princeton Review's tests the most. I completed all five practice exams, sans the open-ended. For the open-ended, I would advise to go to Collegeboard's AP Central and print out and do all of the free response there. The AP Calculus test always has the same kind of problems, and looking at these problems directly from the source is more helpful than Princeton Review's odd open-ended questions that try to mimic Collegeboard questions. Nonetheless, the style of multiple choice is close to Collegeboard's, which is great.

The explanations to the questions were lengthy and lucid, and they actually helped me to understand what went wrong and what I should do next time. Quite possibly the best explanations I've ever encountered in any review book I've used so far.

The "teaching" portion of this book was also lucid as well, but sort of boring. Some examples spanned over two pages, which was a little too much, even with the generous spacing of Princeton Review. (Though I don't know how you can make Calculus not boring..) The problem sets at the end were fine, just like multiple choice questions, except with no multiple choices to pick from; though they ideally should have included free-response questions as well, because the only free-response practice one sees in there are in the practice tests.

I RECOMMEND this product if you are interested in taking good practice tests.

Comment: I'm very pleased with the product that I received and the delivery time was accurate.

Comment: If you're looking for a lucid explanation of the topics on the AP Calculus tests, good-o. You're set.

If you're looking for practice tests to help you prepare, go elsewhere ... the AB practice tests in this book were full of simplistic, one-step questions. The actual test has multi-step, multi-concept questions.

-AP Calc teacher in Minnesota

Comment: This book has very solid concrete practice problems that help you to study for and ace the AP exam. Highly recommend!

Comment: 1) Tons of examples and exercises with very detailed explanations.

2) Three AP Calculus AB practice tests which mimic the real tests very well.

3) Clear separation of AP Calculus AB and BC-only topics.

However, if you are an AP Calculus BC test-taker, then either this book or Barron's AP Calculus book will help you get a 4 or 5. I have no special preference.