Exam Strategy

Readiness Check

You are ready when you can:

• Sketch an angle in standard position and name a coterminal angle.
• Explain radians as arc/radius (arc length on unit circle).
• Read $\sin$ and $\cos$ from $P=(x,y)$ on the unit circle.
• Compute $\tan$ as slope and spot undefined cases.

On the AP Exam

• MCQ: identify coordinates; choose sin/cos/tan from a diagram; coterminal angles; undefined tan.
• FRQ: explain definitions; use a sketched unit circle; relate tan to slope (skills 2.A, 3.A).

Tactics

1. Draw standard position even when not asked — reduces sign errors. 2. On unit circle: $P=(\cos\theta,\sin\theta)$. 3. For tan: check $x\neq 0$ first. 4. Coterminal: add/subtract $2\pi$ (or $360^\circ$) as needed. 5. If radius is not 1, divide displacements by $r$ (or scale from unit circle later in 3.3).

Common Traps

• $x$ as sine / $y$ as cosine.
• Forgetting negative angles are clockwise.
• Using degree formulas while the item is in radians (or vice versa) without converting.
• Writing $\tan=\infty$ casually instead of "undefined."

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Standard position clear
• [ ] Unit circle $P$ identified
• [ ] $\sin=y$, $\cos=x$ (unit)
• [ ] $\tan=y/x$ or undefined
• [ ] Coterminal handled if needed