Anonymous wrote:We have a similar issue with Calculus. DC got all the basics and concepts. But the questions on tests are not straight up application of the basic concepts. They are always out of box questions. Any one have encountered this and ways to improve?

Im my opinion, math is a skill that needs to be practiced. I would look for more questions of the type he struggle with and work on reps. lots and lots of reps

Anonymous wrote:We have a similar issue with Calculus. DC got all the basics and concepts. But the questions on tests are not straight up application of the basic concepts. They are always out of box questions. Any one have encountered this and ways to improve?

Yep. No, there wasn’t a fix. My kid got a B.

My kid offers free tutoring in Calculus. He's currently in high school.

We have a similar issue with Calculus. DC got all the basics and concepts. But the questions on tests are not straight up application of the basic concepts. They are always out of box questions. Any one have encountered this and ways to improve?

I would switch to a lower math.

Princeton Review has some excellent math tutors, for the AP's and non-AP Math classes. My son worked last year with a tutor on Pre-calc. He grasped some concepts more quickly than others and the tutor provided additional time with the ones that were more challenging. They only met for 1 hour a week. He did finish out the year with an A grade but chose to take AP stats instead of AP Calculus anyway, knowing about the leap.

Anonymous wrote:The kid is not ready to take calculus.

From pre-cal to calculus, there is a jump in terms of abstract thinking. Some kids may excel in pre-cal, but struggle with calculus because the kid is not yet ready for that kind of abstract thinking.

I guess if you are really desperate, you could do it with large amount of private tutoring with a good tutor, but it's not going to be effective. The kid may end up with a B, and AP score of 2-3.

The better way is to wait for a few years, e.g., wait until college to take calculus.

But, it also means he won't get in a highly ranked college. so, it's a dilemma.

Or he gets some effective help and crushes the second semester. Nobody on this board is in a position to say what is and isn't possible, as we dont know your DC's specific situation. You're doing the right thing by looking for ideas. Maybe the teaching isn't great (for him). He may have gaps from earlier in the year that are compounding. A good tutor wlll be able to help identify the issue(s). It's not too late, but it may require some dedicated weekends and drilling on problems. You don't say what kind of tutor, but sometimes a peer tutor or in this case a college student (maybe an engineering or math major) might be helpful. Sometimes, as one gets more familiar with material, one forgets what it was like when it was all new.

One more thought in the drilling of problem sets. This is important. Make sure he is not just doing the homework, getting the wrong answers, and waiting to see how it's solved in class. It's always easier when someone is walking through it and you're just following along. The learning happens when you wrestle with it, get the wrong answer, and dig in to figure out what you did wrong and correct it

The kid is not ready to take calculus.

From pre-cal to calculus, there is a jump in terms of abstract thinking. Some kids may excel in pre-cal, but struggle with calculus because the kid is not yet ready for that kind of abstract thinking.

I guess if you are really desperate, you could do it with large amount of private tutoring with a good tutor, but it's not going to be effective. The kid may end up with a B, and AP score of 2-3.

The better way is to wait for a few years, e.g., wait until college to take calculus.

But, it also means he won't get in a highly ranked college. so, it's a dilemma.

Just based on your description, it sounds like there may be a disconnect in truly 'understanding' the what and why of calculus vs. learning how to go through the mechanics of solving a problem. In essence, he may be learning the mechanics of how to do something in a certain problem structure. He sees that again and he can replication the steps. But he needs to build the foundational understanding to see how the concepts apply to different situations.

It is possible that you might want to consider a different tutor. Some teachers are better than other for a given individual. I would also consider online support like the link shared above. Another one to check out is 'Flipped Math' they have some good content that follows the AP curriculum.

https://calculus.flippedmath.com

get a tutor 2-3x a week for 2 hrs at a time. kid needs remedial help asap.

Anonymous wrote:DC is a junior taking AP Calc AB and it’s a struggle. He has had a tutor since the beginning of the year but continues to hover around a C in the class. Any suggestions to help turn things around? According to his teacher he seems okay with the calculations part but struggles to understand what the questions on the tests are asking.

Your student was likely overaccelerated in math. Difficulty with the questions suggests to the point of getting a C means large gaps in conceptual knowledge. The calculations themselves can be memorized; the understanding of how and when to apply them depends on understanding the concepts. Your student may need to step back to precalculus. Mine never had tutors so I am not aware of whether or not tutors can teach basic concepts that were missed in prior years. Start by having your student ask the teacher how they can improve. Some high school teachers have extra help sessions for students that are struggling

Consider switching to Honors Calc and trying AP Calc next year.

Web: https://www.3blue1brown.com/lessons/essence-of-calculus

Video:

You need a new tutor.

DC is a junior taking AP Calc AB and it’s a struggle. He has had a tutor since the beginning of the year but continues to hover around a C in the class. Any suggestions to help turn things around? According to his teacher he seems okay with the calculations part but struggles to understand what the questions on the tests are asking.