How do I do well Pre calc and Ap calc?

As someone who has taken honors pre calc and is currently taking AP calc, these classes are challenging yet manageable if you enjoy this subject. Something to take note of is that every teacher is going to teach these subjects differently, so for starters, get to know the structure of the class laid out by your teacher.

1. Pre Calc: This is heavily centered around everything about graphs as well as algebra; therefore, so strong algebra two background is ideal. To improve your algebra two grade now, I would do a lot of practice problems, especially days prior to a test/quiz. You can simply search for something like, "cubic function practice exam," and you will see links to various websites and pdfs. I suggest going to MathBits as well as Khan Academy because those websites are very thorough in their explanations and have great examples to practice. If your school has provided you with a textbook, it wouldn't hurt to utilize it, especially since many of them have tests after every chapter or unit.

Another skill I suggest trying is going over notes and reciting them as if you were explaining the topic to someone. What I've been finding in my AP calc class is going over steps on how to figure out certain problems that have helped me know how to solve variations of that topic. Lastly, you should spend some time during the summer to prepare yourself for the pre calc course that way, you know what you are getting yourself into. All in all, these suggestions are helpful regardless of the math class you are in.

2. AP Calc: Whenever you are taking an AP class, College Board is your best friend. Your teacher will give you a code to join the AP classroom on the website. Here, you will have access to videos and practice tests for each unit, but your teacher has to unlock them first. Again, every teacher is going to teach the course differently. My teacher has assigned me daily AP style questions and occasional videos to watch. However, the test she makes up doesn't consist of AP style questions, which doesn't add to the challenge of the course. For this course, remembering what you learned in pre calc is expected and you should have a strong trig background. If your teacher offers extra help, I strongly recommend attending. I will say, students who take this course are obviously strong in math; however, some topics stump even the best students in the class. That said, you should really think about if this class is the best for you by weighing out pros and cons.

Nonetheless, if you are motivated to take these courses, you are motivated to do well in math. Therefore, I hope these tips help you with your math journey. :)

Hey there @lori!

I'm currently in 9th grade and taking Honors Algebra II and will take Honors Precalc next year. Math has never been my strongest suit, but over the years I've developed a few strategies to master it.

1. Khan Academy. It's a free resource and I cannot overstate how helpful it is. You can do lessons on nearly any topic, and not just math. They offer history, English, and science courses as well. I've only used their math lessons, but they're so incredibly helpful and user-friendly. They have videos, articles, and guided practices that are literally the only reason I'm getting an A in math this year. Also, Brilliant is a good source to use. To unlock all lessons, you do have to buy a subscription, but they offer a few free courses.

2. YouTube has a TON of easy-to-follow math tutorials on everything from factoring quadratics to imaginary numbers and beyond. I often just look up videos, take notes, and do guided practices on Khan Academy.

3. Worksheets. You can find worksheets from some incredibly amazing sources that are free to use/print. My favorites are Kuta Software (which has a ton of Algebra worksheets with answers) and Math Aids, which is a similar site. These are really great for extra practice.

4. Make a study group. Get a few of your friends/classmates who are in the same math class as you are and meet a few times a month or whenever you're going to have a test to review the material and check your understanding. It's pretty likely that somebody in your group will know how to solve a problem you're stuck on, and if you have a more extroverted personality type, studying in a group setting can be helpful.

5. Your teacher. I pride myself on being a straight-A, smart, and capable student. Asking for help is one of my biggest academic weaknesses. But I skipped a year worth of math in middle school, and I found myself crumbling under the newfound pressure. It can be hard to ask for help, especially if you're not used to it. But I highly recommend meeting with your teacher if you have questions about the material. If you get a bad grade on a test or don't understand something from the homework, they can explain it to you during a break or free period. Teachers are there to teach you, and they'll do a better job than anything you can find on the internet 99% of the time.

Here are the links to some of the resources I mentioned:

https://www.math-aids.com/

https://www.kutasoftware.com/

https://brilliant.org/

https://www.khanacademy.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@mathantics

I hope this helped, and I wish you good luck!