Writing an AP Calc Assessment 

• Include calculator and non-calculator items

• Include multiple choice and free response items

• Write questions that reflect learning targets and success criteria

• Determine scoring rubric for FRQs before administering the assessment (see below)

​

Questions to Include

• Notational questions to reinforce use of implicit differentiation (We used multiple choice at the beginning of the quiz to remind students to include dh/dt or dx/dt terms.)

• Related rates problems in context (moving cars and melting ice cream)

​

Grading Tips

We recommend that you prepare a rubric for the free response items before you begin grading your quizzes or tests. Know what information is necessary for a complete and correct response and award points when a student presents that information. Many of the “Why did I get marked down?” questions are eliminated when you share the components that earn points. 

​

Reflections

• Students performed well on the MC questions.

• Students did not indicate a decreasing distance or a decreasing volume as a negative rate of change (dx/dt is a negative quantity, dV/dt is a negative quantity). This resulted in the opposite sign on their answer.

• Most students were able to interpret their numeric solution correctly in context, but their interpretation did not match the sign of their original solution.