Calculus AB

Master Teacher: Amber Knapp
Duration: Yearlong course offered in fall/spring (32 weeks).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 1 credit.
Suggested Grade Level: 12th grade level.
Tuition: $746 for HSLDA Members / $829 for non-members

Description: AP Calculus AB stresses both conceptual understanding of calculus and fluency in mathematical procedures. The primary focus is on limits, derivatives, integrals, and the fundamental theorem of calculus. Students must be able to engage with graphical, numerical, analytical, and verbal representations of calculus concepts and demonstrate connections among them. Students develop the skills necessary to apply calculus in solving problems, and learn to view calculus as an elegant and yet eminently practical aspect of God’s creation. This course covers one and a half semesters of college calculus, and the content is similar to what students can expect on the AP exam. AP Calculus AB is approved for dual credit at Colorado Christian University.

Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class session. 

Sign up for Calculus AB and other courses

Live Online Class Session Schedule

Dates: August 19, 2024 - May 2, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Open All | Close All

• How can I earn dual credit by taking Calculus AB?

  Our AP^® Calculus AB course has been approved for equivalency with MAT 141 (Calculus I) at Colorado Christian University. You can learn more about the CCU Dual Credit program here.

  If you are interested, please let us know at academy@hslda.org and follow the registration steps on Colorado Christian University's Dual Credit page. Be sure to contact colleges or universities of interest to find out how the school will accept CCU transfer credits.

• Students Will Learn

  • How to understand the meaning of the derivate in terms of rate of change and local linear approximation
  • How to understand the meaning of the definite integral as a limit of Riemann sums and as the net accumulation of change
  • How to understand the relationship between the derivative and the definite integral as expressed in the fundamental theorem of calculus
  • How to model a written description of a physical situation with a function, a differential equation, or an integral
  • How to determine the reasonableness of solutions, including sign, size, relative accuracy, and units of measurement
  • How to use technology to solve problems, experiment, interpret results, and verify conclusions
  • How communicate mathematical solutions well both orally and in writing

• How much homework is in Calculus AB?

  AP^® Calculus AB is a rigorous, college-level course. The College Board recommends this course and corresponding AP^® exam for advanced 11th grade students and up.

  We estimate that the course workload will take 10+ hours per week. During a typical week in this course, students will complete the following coursework:

  • 60-90 minutes of live class instruction
  • 3 lecture videos
  • 10-15 practice problems per lecture
  • Discussion forum posts
  • Quiz

  Students complete an exam every four weeks and a final, mock AP exam at the end of the course.

• What books will I use in Calculus AB?

  The official AP^® Calculus AB Booklist is now available. Please note that a TI-84 model or higher graphing calculator is required for this course.

  You can order course materials for competitive prices through the Christianbook.com bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christianbook.com, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

• Prerequisites

  This is a rigorous, college-level course. We recommend students complete Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus & Trigonometry before enrolling in AP Calculus AB. In particular, students need to understand the notion of functions and be familiar with trigonometric functions. Please visit the College Board’s website for a detailed list of topics students should be familiar with prior to taking the course and for more information about the AP exam. For help determining if your student is ready for this course, please use our self-graded AP Calculus AB Readiness Test.

• What is a Live Online Class Session in Calculus AB?

  In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.
  
  Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.
  
  When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

• What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Calculus AB class times?

  All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements with their instructors to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.
  
  Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts.