MIT 18.01: Single Variable Calculus
18.01 is MIT's single-variable calculus GIR — limits, differentiation, integration, and infinite series — required of every MIT student without prior credit. The OCW version, including David Jerison's lectures, has taught calculus to millions of self-learners.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with MIT. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my 18.01 study planWhat makes it hard
MIT's pacing covers a full year of typical calculus in one semester, and pset problems demand multi-step reasoning rather than formula application. The series unit at the end is the classic crunch point, arriving when the semester's fatigue peaks.
What you'll cover
- • Limits and continuity
- • Differentiation and applications
- • Integration techniques
- • Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
- • Improper integrals
- • Infinite series and Taylor series
The 18.01 study guide
How to study for MIT 18.01, step by step.
- 1
Commit to daily problem blocks
18.01 covers a year of typical calculus in one semester, so the only sustainable pace is daily. Forty-five minutes of problems each day keeps you level with lectures that never slow down.
- 2
Work multi-step problems, not formula drills
The psets demand chained reasoning — a derivative inside an optimization inside a word problem. Practice at that compositional difficulty from the start; isolated formula reps won't transfer.
- 3
Reserve real time for the series unit
Infinite series and Taylor series arrive at the end, when fatigue peaks, and they're the classic 18.01 crunch point. Start reading ahead two weeks before lecture gets there.
- 4
Use the OCW exams as your benchmark
OCW publishes 18.01 exams with solutions — the honest move is attempting each one timed, then studying the solutions for what your approach missed. Self-learners and enrolled students benefit equally.
- 5
Put the pace in Fennie's hands
Upload the 18.01 syllabus or your OCW study plan and Fennie's Daily Plan turns the semester into daily problem blocks with the series unit given its own protected arc, plus quizzes on technique selection generated from the actual materials. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with 18.01
Daily Plans pace 18.01 — enrolled or via OCW — into daily problem blocks that keep the techniques warm and reserve real time for the series unit at the end. Chat through a tricky integral's strategy, and quiz yourself on technique selection, the skill exams actually test.
FAQ
Is 18.01 harder than AP Calculus?
Yes — it moves roughly twice as fast and the psets require deeper problem-solving than AP-style questions. Strong AP BC students may place out entirely.
Can I learn calculus from 18.01 on OCW?
Yes — it's one of the most complete OCW courses, with lectures, notes, psets, and exams with solutions. Plan 10–14 weeks of consistent work for a full pass.
What comes after 18.01?
18.02, Multivariable Calculus — also a GIR. Together they're prerequisites for most of MIT's math, physics, and engineering core.
Pass 18.01 with a plan, not a cram
Upload your 18.01 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
Get started freeMore MIT courses
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