Meet 2 students who earned perfect score on AP calculus exam

CBS Mornings
22 Feb 201605:02
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn a high school calculus achievement that could puzzle even college professors, Landon La Busse and Cedric Argueta stand out as two of only twelve students worldwide to score perfectly on the Advanced Placement calculus test. Landon, a 14-year-old sophomore from Paul VI Catholic High School in Virginia, and Cedric, a 17-year-old senior from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, showcase not only their mathematical prowess but also the support and encouragement from their parents. Both aspiring engineers, Landon dreams of sending a rocket to Mars, while Cedric aims to create something legendary, highlighting the immigrant spirit and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Takeaways
  • 📚 High school students Landon and Cedric achieved perfect scores in the Advanced Placement (AP) calculus test, out of over 3,000 test-takers worldwide.
  • 🎓 Landon, at only 14 years old, was one of 12 students to achieve a perfect score, placing him in the top 0.004% of test-takers, most of whom were juniors and seniors.
  • 🚀 Landon's perfect score led to recognition, including interviews and a tweet from the president, highlighting the rarity and significance of such an achievement.
  • 🤔 The script emphasizes the remarkable nature of high school students achieving perfection on a test that even college professors, who write the exams, expect to have mistakes.
  • 🎨 Landon credits his calculus teacher, Mr. Watkins, for taking an intuitive approach to teaching calculus, suggesting that understanding the subject can come naturally to some students.
  • ⏱️ Cedric Argueta, a 17-year-old from Los Angeles, also achieved a perfect score on the calculus exam, showing a preference for the certainty that math provides.
  • 🌐 The script touches on the immigrant experience in America, with Cedric's parents being from the Philippines and El Salvador, highlighting the opportunities available to their children.
  • 💡 Both Landon and Cedric express a desire to become engineers, with Landon aiming to send a rocket to Mars and Cedric wanting to design something that will make his name famous worldwide.
  • 🌟 The parents of both students are portrayed as supportive and encouraging, contributing to their children's drive to excel academically.
  • 📈 The script conveys a message of continuous improvement and striving for excellence, as Landon's best keeps getting better, indicative of a dedication to constant learning and growth.
  • 🌈 The story of Landon and Cedric serves as an inspiring example of academic achievement and the potential for success among young individuals, regardless of their age or background.
Q & A

  • What subject is the transcript primarily discussing?

    -The transcript is primarily discussing high school calculus and the achievements of two students who scored perfectly on the Advanced Placement (AP) calculus test.

  • How many students achieved a perfect score on the AP calculus test last year?

    -Only 12 students achieved a perfect score on the AP calculus test last year.

  • What was Landon's age and grade when he took the calculus test?

    -Landon was a 14-year-old sophomore when he took the calculus test.

  • What percentage of test takers were juniors and seniors compared to Landon's sophomore status?

    -The majority of test takers were juniors and seniors, but the exact percentage is not provided in the transcript.

  • What does Landon's perfect score place him in in terms of ranking?

    -Landon's perfect score placed him in the top 0.004% of test takers.

  • How does Landon describe his feeling about achieving a perfect score?

    -Landon describes his feeling as overwhelming, mentioning interviews and a tweet from the president as highlights.

  • What is unique about the students' achievement in the context of the exam?

    -The uniqueness of their achievement is that even college professors, who write the exams, sometimes make mistakes, making it remarkable for high school students to score perfectly.

  • What does Landon credit for his success in calculus?

    -Landon credits his calculus teacher, Mr. Watkins, for his success.

  • What is Cedric's record with solving Rubik's Cube?

    -Cedric's record with solving Rubik's Cube is 15 seconds.

  • What do both Landon and Cedric want to be in the future?

    -Both Landon and Cedric want to be engineers. Landon is interested in possibly sending a rocket to Mars, while Cedric wants to design something that will make his name known worldwide.

  • What commonality do Landon and Cedric share regarding their parents?

    -Landon and Cedric both have parents who encouraged them to do their best.

Outlines
00:00
📚 High School Students' Exceptional Achievement in Calculus

This paragraph introduces the remarkable story of two high school students, Landen and Cedric, who achieved perfect scores on the Advanced Placement (AP) calculus test, a feat that is extremely rare and even surprising to college professors. Landen, a 14-year-old sophomore from Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, Virginia, and Cedric, a 17-year-old senior from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, are highlighted for their exceptional mathematical prowess. Landen's perfect score placed him in the top 0.004% of test-takers globally, an achievement that led to widespread recognition, including a tweet from the president. Both students attribute their success to their intuitive understanding of calculus and a strong desire to avoid mistakes, as well as the support and encouragement from their parents. The paragraph also touches on the students' aspirations to become engineers, with Landen aiming to send a rocket to Mars and Cedric wanting to design something that will make his name known worldwide.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡High School Calculus
High School Calculus refers to the study of mathematical limits, functions, derivatives, integrals, and infinite series typically undertaken by high school students. In the context of the video, it highlights the advanced mathematical skills of the two students, Landen and Cedric, who achieved perfect scores on the AP Calculus test, showcasing their exceptional understanding and mastery of this complex subject.
💡AP Calculus Test
The AP Calculus Test is a standardized examination that is part of the Advanced Placement Program in the United States, which allows high school students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in college-level calculus. Achieving a perfect score on this test is a significant accomplishment, as it places students in the top 0.04% of test-takers globally, as exemplified by Landen and Cedric's achievements.
💡Perfect Score
A perfect score refers to the highest possible mark attainable in an examination or assessment, indicating that the test-taker answered every question correctly. In the video, the term is used to describe the exceptional performance of Landen and Cedric on the AP Calculus Test, highlighting their extraordinary mathematical abilities and precision.
💡Mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that deals with numbers, quantities, shapes, and patterns using logical reasoning and critical thinking. In the video, mathematics is central to the narrative as it showcases the intellectual prowess of Landen and Cedric, who have excelled in a subject that many find challenging and have achieved a level of perfection in their test scores.
💡Achievement
Achievement refers to the act of successfully reaching a goal or completing a task to a high standard. In the context of the video, the term is used to celebrate the academic success of Landen and Cedric, who have accomplished a rare feat by scoring perfectly on a challenging calculus test, an achievement that can stump even college professors.
💡Intuition
Intuition is the ability to understand or sense something without the need for conscious reasoning or explicit evidence. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as an approach to learning calculus, suggesting that Landen's teacher, Mr. Watkins, encourages students to develop an intuitive understanding of mathematical concepts, which may have contributed to Landen's perfect score.
💡Encouragement
Encouragement is the act of giving support, confidence, and hope to someone, often to inspire them to pursue their goals or overcome challenges. In the video, both Landen and Cedric's parents are highlighted as being supportive and encouraging of their children's academic pursuits, which likely played a role in their achievements.
💡Engineers
An engineer is a professional who applies scientific and technological knowledge to design, build, and maintain various structures, machines, devices, systems, or processes. In the video, both Landen and Cedric express their aspirations to become engineers, indicating their interest in applying their mathematical skills to practical and innovative endeavors.
💡Perfection
Perfection refers to the state or condition of being entirely without fault, flaw, or defect. In the context of the video, perfection is associated with the students' academic performance, particularly their perfect scores on the AP Calculus Test, which is an extraordinary feat given the complexity of the subject and the high level of competition.
💡Immigrants
Immigrants are individuals who move to a new country or region to live permanently, often seeking better opportunities or escaping unfavorable conditions in their home country. In the video, Cedric's parents are highlighted as immigrants, emphasizing the value of education and opportunity in their new country.
💡Prodigious
Prodigious describes someone with extraordinary talent or abilities, often to a degree that is impressive or astonishing. In the video, the term 'prodigious math skills' is used to describe Landen's exceptional mathematical capabilities, which have led to his outstanding academic achievement.
Highlights

The series focuses on high school students excelling in calculus, a subject often considered challenging.

Two students, Landen and Cedric, achieved perfect scores on the Advanced Placement (AP) calculus test, a feat that can surprise college professors.

Landen, at only 14 years old, was one of 12 students worldwide to score perfectly on the AP calculus test, which had over 3,000 participants.

Landen's perfect score placed him in the top 0.004% of test-takers, which means he was one in 25,000.

Cedric, a 17-year-old senior, also achieved a perfect score on the calculus exam, showing an affinity for the absoluteness of math.

Cedric's interest in math is complemented by his hobby of solving Rubik's Cubes, with a record time of 15 seconds.

Both Landen and Cedric have parents who are immigrants and have been very supportive of their academic pursuits.

Landen's parents did not expect him to get a perfect score, as even college professors make mistakes on such exams.

Cedric's mother, a nurse from the Philippines, and his father, a maintenance worker from El Salvador, are very proud of his achievements.

Both students credit their success to their calculus teachers and their intuitive approach to learning calculus.

The transcript highlights the importance of hard work and the support of family in achieving academic success.

Landen and Cedric both aspire to become engineers, with Landen aiming to send a rocket to Mars and Cedric wanting to design something world-renowned.

The story of Landen and Cedric exemplifies the potential of young minds to excel in challenging fields like calculus.

The transcript showcases the achievements of these students as a source of inspiration for others.

Landen's and Cedric's stories demonstrate the positive impact of immigration on the academic landscape in the United States.

The transcript emphasizes the value of education and the pursuit of excellence in mathematics.

The transcript concludes with a reflection on the continuous improvement and high aspirations of students like Landen and Cedric.

Transcripts

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