What to Expect from Calc AB FRQs?

I know the exam is a while away, but I’m that person lol. Has anyone here done the Calc AB FRQs before? What're they like? Any tips? Thanks a ton!

The FRQ section of the AP Calculus AB exam makes up 50% of your total score and is designed to test your ability to solve problems in a longer, more involved format.

In terms of structure, you're given two types of free-response questions:

1. Majority of the questions will permit the use of a graphing calculator. These will often involve drawing and analyzing graphs, solving differential equations, or working with tables of values.

2. Other problems will not allow the use of a calculator. These can involve finding limits, derivatives, or integrals using paper and pencil methods.

To perform well, a few crucial elements are remembering the fundamental rules (like product, quotient, chain, etc.), understanding the concept of the derivative and integral, and also having the ability to recognize which rules or concepts apply to a particular problem.

One of the best ways to prepare for the FRQs is by practicing previous years' questions, which are available on the College Board website. By doing so, you'll get a good sense of the format, types of problems, and can also check your answers and explanations to improve.

Remember to show all your work and make your reasoning clear, since the FRQ section is graded not just on the final answer, but also on how you get there.

As a final tip, many experienced AP Calc students recommend to not leave any part of an FRQ blank. If you're unsure, make an educated guess, use process of elimination, list known formulas and theories related to the question. Partial credit can be your friend in this section!