Varsity Tutors can assist you in providing the academic support your student needs to maximize their study efforts for AP Calculus BC by helping you connect with experienced AP Calculus BC tutors. The educational needs of your student will determine the focus and format of each of their study sessions. Whether they need help preparing for a final exam or would benefit from weekly review sessions, working with a private instructor can help them work towards their learning goals.
It's impossible for most parents to help their students study for specialized AP courses adequately. The format and testing are utterly unique to the teaching modality and even experienced teachers who have not been trained to teach specific AP courses find the format challenging. There is no need for you to spend hours trying to familiarize yourself with the best solutions for helping your child study for their class or searching local ads for someone local. You can quickly and easily provide the resources and academic support your child needs by contacting the experts at Varsity Tutors.
Continue reading to learn more about what your student will learn in AP Calculus BC and discover how Varsity Tutors can help you provide your student with the support they need to navigate this demanding course.
What is AP Calculus BC?
Often parents and academic advisors will encourage students to sign up for AP Calculus BC so they can earn college credits while completing their high school education. While this is undoubtedly an exciting proposition, it does come with college-level academic expectations. If your child doesn't receive a sufficient score during their final exam, they may not be eligible to earn college credits for their work.
AP Calculus BC covers the same type of material as what is covered in both first and second-semester university level calculus classes. It is a continuation of the content included in AP Calculus AB and introduces several various types of equations. It also explores more advanced concepts, such as series and sequences. Your student will learn to approach complex calculus problems and ideas that are represented graphically, analytically, numerically, and verbally. They will be expected to make connections between these various representations. Your student will also explore technological components as part of their AP Calculus BC course. Specifically, as it relates to problem-solving, interpretation of results, experimentation, and drawing supporting conclusions.
The course is divided into ten units. The first unit covers limits and continuity. Unit two explores the definition and fundamental properties of differentiation. The third unit introduces implicit, composite, and inverse functions of differentiation. Unit four explores the contextual applications of differentiation, and unit five introduces the analytical applications of differentiation. The sixth unit examines the integration and accumulation of change. Unit seven has students work with differential equations. In unit eight, your student will explore the applications of integrations. In unit nine, parametric equations, vector-valued functions, and polar coordinates are covered. Finally, in unit ten, the class will explore infinite sequences and series.
Some of the specific topics covered in AP Calculus BC that your student can review with their private instructor include limits at a point, derivatives, implicit derivatives, Rolle's Theorem, Euler's Method, differential equations, improper integrals, geometric series, power series, MacLaurin Series, rates of change, limits involving infinity, Mean Value Theorem, linearization models, definite integrals, antiderivatives, tests for convergence, and Taylor polynomials.
It is important to note that the above list is not exhaustive and your child's personal instructor can work on any skills related to their AP Calculus BC course.
How is working with an AP Calculus BC tutor different from being in a classroom?
When your student is in an AP Calculus BC class, their teacher must follow strict guidelines and cover all of the material outlined in the course precisely if students are to have any chance of doing well on the final exam. Since the AP Calculus BC end of course exam is standardized, there is very little room for curriculum alterations. To accomplish this, instructors must assume students have a certain level of foundational knowledge. They are not able to go back and review material students are expected to cover. This approach works well enough for many students, but it isn't ideal for everyone.
If your student doesn't understand some of the foundational concepts upon which the AP Calculus BC is built, they can work with an AP Calculus BC tutor to solidify their understanding of individual concepts and skills from previous classes. Doing this can make a dramatic difference in your student's knowledge of current material.
If the difficulty your student is having with their AP Calculus BC tutor has more to do with the current curriculum, the way it is being delivered, or the time that is being devoted to particular topics, working with a private instructor can also help. When your student works with AP Calculus BC tutors, they will receive personalized instruction in a way that is difficult to provide in a traditional classroom. As mentioned previously, classroom teachers must follow a strict curriculum and timeframe. Your student's personal instructor does not.
A private AP Calculus BC tutors instructor can take the time to get to know your child. They may ask about your child's learning style, academic strengths and weaknesses, educational goals, and even their interests outside of school. All of this information can be used in the creation of a personalized learning plan that carefully targets the skills and concepts that are most relevant to your student's learning needs.
Not only does this approach allow the instructor to identify what should be covered in each session, but it also gives them insight into how it should be included. You see, there is no one teaching style that is best for all students. While a classroom teacher must generally stick with direct instruction that involves samples for the class and individual assignments, a private instructor has more creative flexibility. This flexibility means your student's personal instructor can present information in different ways until it is more easily accessible for your student.
Another benefit of working with a private instructor is the ability to choose how long to focus on specific topics. They may need to stay on one skill or topic for more extended periods occasionally. At other times they may be able to skip over issues discussed in the class because your student was able to integrate them fully. Regardless of how your student's needs evolve and change during their AP Calculus BC studies, private lessons can pivot and change with them.
How is AP Calculus BC tutoring in person different from working with an instructor online?
There are two ways to work with personal AP Calculus BC tutors; in person and online. Both options give your student all of the benefits of working with a private instructor outlined above. Whether your student meets in person with their instructor in person or online, they will have face-to-face interaction, direct feedback, and a learning plan that has been customized for them based on their learning needs. During in-person sessions, your student and the instructor would be in the same physical location. Online, your student would meet with their instructor via our Live Learning Platform.
The most significant difference between these two methods is in the level of flexibility you will have when scheduling sessions. If you try to find someone local, you may quickly realize that personal AP instructors are more difficult to find than those with more general skills. AP instructors must be familiar with both the content of the subject, the format of the class, and the way the final exam is presented if they are to effectively help your student prepare thoroughly for the AP Calculus BC experience.
When you have your student work online with a personal AP Calculus BC instructor, you will have a larger pool of candidates from which to choose. Additionally, since AP Calculus BC classes are taught throughout the country, your student can work with an instructor located in a different time zone. This difference in time can make it easier to have your student's sessions held during popular after school hours when local private instructors may already be booked. It also makes it easier to find personal instructors who can meet before school or later in the evening after your student finishes their extracurricular activities.
No matter which option you choose, Varsity Tutors can help you connect with skilled private instructors in your area or online who can help your student work towards their AP Calculus BC learning goals.
How can I get my student started with AP Calculus BC tutoring?
Varsity Tutors makes it easy to get started with AP Calculus BC tutoring. Whether your student needs support reviewing weekly or you want someone to help them prepare before their final exam, we can connect you with skilled AP Calculus BC tutors who can give your student invaluable support and guidance to help them maximize their study efforts. Contact Varsity Tutors today to learn more or get started immediately.
