30 Days to a 5: AP Calculus AB Crash Study Plan | RevisionDojo

RevisionDojo
3 min read

If you have one month left before the AP Calculus AB exam, you can still get a top score — but you’ll need a focused, strategic approach. This RevisionDojo crash plan gives you a day-by-day roadmap to review all content, sharpen problem-solving skills, and practice under exam conditions.

📅 Structure of the 30-Day Plan

We’ll break your prep into three phases:

  • Phase 1 (Days 1–10): Core content review
  • Phase 2 (Days 11–20): Mixed practice and timed drills
  • Phase 3 (Days 21–30): Full-length simulations and targeted fixes

📖 Phase 1: Core Content Review (Days 1–10)

Goals: Refresh every major AP Calculus AB topic, take notes, and drill examples.

  • Days 1–2: Limits & Continuity
    • Limit laws, special trig limits, L’Hôpital’s Rule
    • Practice from past MCQs
  • Days 3–4: Derivatives
    • Power, product, quotient, and chain rules
    • Implicit differentiation, tangent lines, motion problems
  • Days 5–6: Applications of Derivatives
    • Optimization, related rates, mean value theorem
    • Concavity and curve sketching
  • Days 7–8: Integrals
    • Antiderivatives, definite integrals, FTC
    • u-substitution basics
  • Days 9–10: Applications of Integrals
    • Area between curves, volume by rotation, accumulation functions

⏳ Phase 2: Mixed Practice & Timed Drills (Days 11–20)

Goals: Integrate topics and practice under time pressure.

  • Days 11–15: Mixed MCQ sets (20–30 questions daily)
    • Alternate between non-calculator and calculator sections
    • Review all mistakes immediately
  • Days 16–18: Timed FRQ practice
    • Do 2–3 FRQs per day from different years
    • Focus on writing justifications for each answer
  • Days 19–20: Mini mock exams
    • 45–60 minute sections to test pacing
    • Identify weak topics for Phase 3 focus

🏆 Phase 3: Full Simulations & Targeted Review (Days 21–30)

Goals: Replicate exam day, fix weaknesses, and lock in strategies.

  • Days 21, 24, 27: Full-length practice exams
    • Stick to exact AP timing
    • Grade using official scoring guidelines
  • Day After Each Exam:
    • Review every wrong answer in detail
    • Re-study weak concepts with examples
  • Final 2 Days:
    • Light review of formulas and theorems
    • Mental prep: sleep schedule, exam-day checklist

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Spending too much time on one topic at the expense of others
  • Skipping official AP practice questions — these best mimic the real test
  • Not practicing with a calculator in exam mode
  • Avoiding FRQs because they feel harder — they’re 50% of your score

📊 Practice Strategy from RevisionDojo

  • Always write out steps, even for calculator problems, to avoid careless errors
  • Track your score trend weekly — aim for steady improvement
  • Use College Board’s free question bank and released FRQs

🧭 Final Advice from RevisionDojo

A month is enough to prepare if you’re disciplined. By breaking your study into focused phases, balancing MCQ and FRQ practice, and simulating test conditions, you can walk into exam day confident in your ability to score a 5.

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