3.0
Quality3.7
Difficulty46%
Would Retake103
Reviews46%
Would Retake
103
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
29
4
19
3
13
2
23
1
19
What Students Say
“Do everything possible to avoid having him as a teacher”
MTH1000 - 1.0 rating“Skip him and find someone better”
MTH2201 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
41%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.46 avg changeRatings by Course
18260
5.0
(1)MTH22012202
5.0
(2)MTH1102
5.0
(1)MTH1502
5.0
(1)MTH2002
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MTHS
5.0
DIFFIQ
5.0
MTH1601
5.0
DIFF2201
5.0
DVQ02
5.0
Reviews (103)
A very nice guy, but his explanations are over-long and unneccessarily complicated. All calc 1 classes have the same tests, and Dr. Knowles writes them, so take her for the most test-specific knowledge.
He doesn't necessarily answer your questions straight out. He provides a overly detailed explanation that most of the time gets you even more confused.
He will remind you of a ferret on caffeine, but slightly less understandable.
I have to say that he has had a little to much caffine, but he is still a very good teacher. Also if you make the effort you will get at least a "C".
No Comments
Great teacher! He earns the nickname Crazy Jay. Calc 3 was a blast with him. If you get a chance to take his class, do so. Bring a notebook just for the priceless quotes he has.
Very Fast (Very caffinated); writing small, even in front row; very unclear and jumpy; poor at explaining if you haven't taken calc before;does not come to class with much preperation, best if you bring your own questions to class;not good with time; count on GSA's to teach you; AVOID IF POSSIBLE!
Lovely move...... Kovats is the man, its nice to see atleast some teachers still have passion about what they teach. He will definately keep you awake and he's rediculously funny. Make sure you watch pulp fiction before you take his class tho.
Richard Simmons teaching math... Very exuberant. Can be distracting.
Cool guy, made early lectures fun to be at, kept you awake. Teaches ver effectively.
He has a lot of energy! His tests kill you though.
Loved jim!! Great guy--loves teaching, and blockbuster...extremly energetic, but thats what makes his class exciting...explanations can be a bit lengthy, but you will understand it when hes done. Eager to help his students outside of class...also easily thrown off topic, haha
He is hyper but he is a good guy.will enjoy his class...
Very psycho but fun!
Excellent professor. One of the best teachers that I have ever had.
No Comments
Avoid,rely on GSA to teach you. He writes too small,and isn't helpful. He rudely picks on kids in class that he doesn't like. Its obvious who his pets R.He lets you out late and doesn't care if ur late 2 ur next class. He told me I could take a test early before spring break, then went back on what he said a week before I was supposed 2 take it.
Hard to understand, moves rapidly, tests were difficult
Excellent teacher, one of the best I've had
Horrible teacher. Goes WAY too fast for people who are doing this first time through. Writes very small. Picks favorites and aims questions at others. Explinations are very confusing. He often jumps ahead and presumes you understand everything. Tests are hard. You MUST rely on your GSA to learn this stuff. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
Granted, I've had Calc II as a summer course before this class, and already knew my stuff for lecture. But if you haven't had Calc II already, AVOID AT ALL COSTS. This teacher does nothing but chase his own tail for 75 minutes each lecture, say "lovely move" everytime he's amused with solving an equation, and speaks often without thinking.
Oh my GOD. You should seriously avoid this teacher. He is a disgrace to the Dr. title, whom some earn after a lot of work. he is not ashamed to tell you that he couldnt solve a problem. When he finally solves a problem, he acts like a small child who is playing pickaboo. and the tests are really tough...Avoid him as much as you can.
I didn't have any trouble getting an A in Calc 3 with him, but I struggled to get a B in Dif eq. He was a very dificult teacher for dif eq compared with the other dif eq teachers
he's definitely crazy. extremely eccentric, so it makes it easier to pay attention. he often makes things seem more difficult than they are in reality, much like other teachers. not always the best at explaining, though willing to help one-on-one. take his class if you have trouble staying awake in lectures
This professor might be a genious teaching calculus 3 and higher. In my case with applied cal and stat he is horrible. Teaches really fast and to himself. Don't take this guy my whole class is failing.
HE IS A GOOD TEACHER,BUT SOMETIMES HE IS A PAIN IN THE (**). I HAVE HIM IN CALC2 AND I GOT "A" IN BOTH FIRST AND SECOND EXAMS AND ALSO AN AVERAGE OF A IN THE HOMEWORKS AND QUIZES, BUT IN EXAM 3 HE DECIDED TO GIVE US A TAKE HOME EXAM WHICH WAS (**) HARD EVEN GSA'S AND SUPPORT CENTER COULDN'T HELP WITH THAT. I END UP GETTING B IN THE CLASS
Best teacher in the school.
he is horrible teacher. horrble grading hard test and at first u think hell be fun teacher but after ur first test with him u will regret picking Kovats. he stutters all the time never finishes a sentence when explning and if u ask his answer will be smething complty out of subject of what u asked. avoid him it will be the mistake of u college life
Entertaining, makes the subject about as easy as he can, not much to complain about, although he is sometimes very unprofessional and will cuss a lot in/out of class. overall, a good math prof.
talk to much , and he always confusing me ,, his test higher than his teaching skills level. i dont mind to get challenging test but with professor who tech really well not with this guy. in general he is bad.
The funniest professor I've had. Even crazier than Sawyer. But he's a good guy, really willing to help anyone who is truly interesting. Basically, people who are saying Kovats sucks are mainly lazy people who haven't yet understood college takes a lot of hard work. He's the man!! "Unleash The Thunder"
Really hyper, makes it WAY more difficult than it needs to be. I had to teach myself from the book. Tests are extremely difficult. Class average on one test was failing. No curve.
dont take it with him he makes the materials harder than it should be i got (F) with him after three A in calc 1, 2 , 3
Do everything possible to avoid having him as a teacher! You will not learn a thing
Identical to Stu from the Hangover! Enjoy interesting teachers and know that college requires more than just classroom-time to fully grasp a subject? Take this guy. The only bad thing about this class was the freshman complaining that everything was not explained. Pay attention. He writes down every step on the board.
I took him both for the Introduction to Linear Algebra junior math course and Differential Equations. He's hands down the MOST interesting teacher to take, if only for the fun of listening him say his weird jokes! I fully recommend him, but you'll have to get your grade fairly! He curves very slightly if at all.
Do not take Kovats if you do not have a knack for self-sufficiency. Only take him if you are prepared to work for your grade.
Great guy, sometimes irritated with comments or repetition. thorough understanding of material and does his best to make sure everyone has a clear understanding. Do not show up late, turn your phone on silent, don't eat in class,be prepared, think about your questions before you ask. Very helpful, enjoyable teacher. Loves what he teaches.
Dr. Kovats is actually a really helpful guy. He is the most accessible professor I've ever had. His classes aren't easy, but math isn't ever EASY. He is very hyper, but that keeps it interesting. His intense in-your-face style takes some getting used to, but he can be pretty damn funny.
He really is as hyper as they say, but frankly I thought it was pretty entertaining, especially in the morning. He's a funny guy too and makes jokes about his excitement a lot. The trick to his tests is to understand the homework, most test and quiz questions are just like a homework question.
He is a great teacher and is always ready for help. I understand better by correlating maths to real life things and he helps me with that. You can probably ask him any question and he is always ready.
Kovats was my favorite math professor I have ever taken. His examples were great indicators of what would be on the exams. He was very helpful and always answered every question. I ended up with an A in the class. You have to work for it, but it's very reachable. Also, he curves based on your attendance. Also I just used the MAC center textbook.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! Had Kovats for Calc 2, and I along with over half the class ended up dropping. He's a self-proclaimed "squirrel on crack", unhelpful and extremely confusing. He skips steps, and he doesn't write his own tests so you're lost on them. I'm good at math but he seriously sucks- at least for this class. Now acing calc2 with Knoll
Hilarious, really gets your interest going. Lectures are fun and informative. He is ready to help and solve an issue. Dont use your phone during class.
Kovats was interesting to say the least. When he goes over problems or new material he tends to be all over the place. You have to pay attention in lecture to keep up.
He's annoying and rambles too much, it is annoying talking to him too because hes rude and cuts in mid ways.
He's a nice person, but when he teaches he is a little bit crazy. He jumps around different topics all the time, and AVOID asking any questions because he will confuse the hell out of you.
Dr. Kovats is really really a nice person. If your follow with him all the time, he will be really nice to you. Every time I sent him e-mails and ask question, he replied extremely fast and answered well. His lecture was also very interesting. Remember, if you won't be a bad student, he will be the best teacher in the world!
During his lectures he reads straight from the textbook in his hand. The class average was below a 50 and I had an 83. After curving I still had a B. The only A in the class was from a student that took it before.
I still feel salty about getting a B in a class where I had a 88 while the class average being barely above twenty. Differential equations is really fun and Kovats is quite animated and entertaining guy. Unfortunately, if I recall correctly he has had several issues with failing a significant part of a class. Skip him and find someone better.
He does a poor job of actually teaching and is terrible at fielding questions. He he very animated but when asked to explain anything he simple responds that it is not his job or repeats what was said verbatim. I will not take him again. Youtube, lab and Kahn Academy are the only reason I passed
Simply the best, better than all the rest Better than anyone, anyone I ever met
Hardest class I've ever taken, but one of the most engaging. There's simply no way to make this material easy, but Dr. Kovats does his best to keep class morale up and keep students engaged. Most approachable professor I've ever had. He's quite unfiltered in lecture, but always professional and never struck me as rude. Very memorable personality.
Kids go to class and try to follow him, you will learn some stuff. Study on your own from the textbook before tests and you will be fine. If you like mathematics, you will love Kovats; otherwise, you might hate him. You have to work hard if you want an A in his class.
Kovats is great. He learns everyone's name in a 40+ person class, and he makes people participate, which makes the class overall more engaging. However, if you like to go to class and sit on your phone the entire time, he WILL call you out on it, and it's funny.
Really funny and high-energy, but moves very fast through material. If you don't go to lab you will likely struggle to succeed.
Dr. Kovats teaches with the intention of making differential equations the most interesting field of study out there, and he succeeds. He's very engaging (and sometimes crazy), so make sure you study and come to class prepared. He did a great job in shifting your mindset to really think about mathematics, instead of viewing it as a bunch of rules.
Lots of work required but he cares about your understanding of the information. Definitely take his class if you are serious about your work and want to have an understanding of what you are doing. If you are taking this class just to pass, then this is not the professor for you.
I found Mr. Kovat's class to be quite refreshing from what is expected from most college classes, his class was fun and very interactive, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Lots of energy, and fun classes. Explains the material very well.
Kovats is an awesome guy. He's really knowledgable and super passionate about what he's teaching. The subject, differential equations, is hard by itself. The way Kovats teaches is okay, he lectures super fast and doesn't have the best handwriting. Do the extra problems to pass the class. I would recommend taking him, but be ready for a lot of work.
Diff eq is one of the hardest classes I've ever taken, but Dr. Kovats is a really awesome professor. Take him if you have the opportunity! Very engaging and fun, even at 9 am
He makes the best of dry material. I miss his energy in class. One of my favorites professors at Florida tech. it is a lot of work and it is not easy, but having him as a professor makes it better.
What kind of human being can stand in front of a group of students and "teach" the way this man does? Answer: A human being that has no regard for their student's understanding. Never have I come across a person that was so all over the place. Great mathematician but a truly awful instructor. I cannot believe he is allowed to instruct. Please stop.
Kovats is kind of crazy, which has its pros and cons. He is very energetic about the math which makes the lectures a little more tolerable. He is sometimes so hyper about the subject that he'll fly through the subject without explaining it as clear as possible. Kinda funny but in a rude way. Isn't the best at answering questions. Meh
Dr. Kovats is one of the best math professors I have ever had. The class is hard, but he has such good energy. He makes learning engaging, and interesting. He does go fast sometimes and has bad handwriting, so ask him to slow down and write clearer and he will. He is very receptive to feedback and is very accessible outside of class if you need him
I loved Dr. Kovats but his teaching style isn't for everyone. He made lectures super entertaining and is very energetic and passionate about math. He was very easy to access outside of office hours and super clear about how the course was graded and what to expect from quizzes and tests. He can be a little confusing but tries his best to clarify
I have very mixed feelings about Kovats, but one thing for sure is that he really does care about the subject. He is enthusiastic but he does rush thru lectures and struggle to answer questions clearly. But asking outside of class makes a world of a difference. So I'd recommend studying and asking questions during the labs or him office hours.
I had him for 8 Ams which was difficult but he made it easier by waking me up through his excitement in math. He is extremely eccentric and has an amazing sense of humor, if you are upfront and engage he will take the time to understand you and your areas of struggle. very eager to answer questions, one time he spent an entire lecture answering
Kovats is a terrible lecturer. He is all over the place when working through problems. He doesn't necessarily teach the steps or material, just relies on going through problems over and over again until you suddenly figure out the process. He is inflexible, and refused to let me take an exam I had a medical excuse for missing.
Professor Kovats. He is a pain in the you know what. But no pain, no gain. He goes through problems pretty fast since you should know your basic algebra. But once you get used to the pain from his classes, you become a stronger person and feel like you can overcome anything. If you are up for the challenge I highly recommend.
Does not respond to questions, even going so far as to call on a student, listen to the question, and respond "I'm not answering that". Half my class dropped, most considered. Tests vary from incredibly easy to impossible.
Kovats is very energetic, but his lectures make no sense. If you have him and are struggling, I'd recommend tutoring. Your GSA will be your savior for this class
Extremely rude and not helpful at all during office hours.
Grades your algebra not just calculus. Hard quizzes but decent tests. Ask as many questions as possible.
Everything you've heard is probably true. Kovats gives the impression of someone who has looked God in the face and was unimpressed. It's sometimes hard to keep up with his lectures and he tends to go into a lot of detail, but it becomes easier to figure out what's important. He does genuinely want students to succeed and will help if you ask.
Kovats loves math and wants you to understand what he is saying. While being enthusiastic, he is bad at trying to explain his ideas. It is also hard to read what he is writing since his handwriting is messy. When students answered questions incorrectly he would repeat it again endlessly. If you do not have a good GSA, class will be extremely hard.
He is a little out there, but I think that helps with the agonizing topic of calculus.
On the first day of class, he walked in and didn't waste a second to start his first lesson. In summary, he's an awful professor. He's a nice person, passionate about math, and will get to know you if you attend class regularly. However he just sucks at explaining his ideas. Your GSA will be your best help. Tests are hard, attendance not graded.
His quizzes are far more difficult than the material you are taught in class. He speaks and goes through problems way too fast. The professor explains things in a far more difficult way than it has to be causing you to be confused. Do not take this professor.
Yes, he is a little wacky. But not impossible to learn from in the slightest. Having some background calc knowledge will make him a little easier to digest considering he is hard to follow in lecture. Definitely not the worst calc 1 prof to take.
I can't tell you how much I like Dr. Kovats, he has a reputation for being very energetic and quick paced which is very true, but he loves it when students ask questions and he will do his best to help you no matter what. He truly wants to see every student of his succeed in his class. Make sure you go to class and practice the material outside.
I'm so so on this professor. He is a decent person but fails as an instructor. His lectures are pretty boring and aren't in sync with the Lab classes. He can be helpful at sometimes but when asking basic questions I needed a better understanding on he ignored me.
Spends the whole class talking about 2 problems
Kovats has a love for math however he can not teach. During the second week I realized that it was a waste of my time to attend lectures. Having a good GSA and utilizing tutoring will be your best bet to pass. He does give out really good study guides for test though. However I do not recommend taking him at all. Find a better professor if possible
First quiz average was a 42%
This class is the only class that I haven't gotten an A or B on. Tests/quizzes almost every week, and they are much harder than they should be. During one of the tests around 90% of the class wasn't finished before time was up. The class average is currently around 65%. Do not take this class unless you are already well versed in the topics.
this was a bad professor
You will fail if you aren't already well-versed in precalculus. Obviously knows his math, but he's bad at teaching. Will constantly interrupt you and refuse to let you speak during lectures or office hours. Best bet would be to attend tutoring at least every other day and try to follow in class. Your grade will mostly be your tests.
Very knowledgeable in math but has a very hard time actually teaching it.
Def not my fave, talks fast and moves on quickly
He is extremely knowledgeable about the material, but he really can't teach. His brain seems to go faster than his mouth and he just stumbles over himself. Gets mad if you don't know an answer in class and is prone to go off on tangents. Not the worst in the department, but generally best to avoid.
He's all over the place with his lectures loses his focus, but it could be worse
He is very funny but quick minded. If you don't show up to lectures, don't even bother taking this class. He teaches quickly but checks up on the class frequently to make sure you are okay with what he is doing and does not hesitate to go back and explain his work if asked. For sure would take him again.
Lectures made absolutely no sense as all he did was ramble the entire time. Avoid if possible if not just teach yourself from the homework and go to SI it will save you.
Kovats would be a great teacher IF he made a structured lesson plan and taught from it. Currently, his lectures are all over the place, and you end up needing to teach yourself the material on your own time as most of the HW assigned is never touched on during the lectures.
Kovats is really fun and does care that you're following along. He's completely aware that he is hyperactive so he's usually understanding if you have to pull him back on track when you ask a question. His tests were easy in the sense that the problems didn't get too extensive and it was what we covered in class.
No Calculates in pre Calc
Lectures weren't very good, often left class more confused rather than like I've learned something.
My biggest issue is that you aren't allowed to use calculators on the tests. Never go to his lectures, he goes way too fast, just study the study guide for the tests and teach yourself. Labs don't help either because my lab assistant doesn't speak English.
If you ever want to see someone who seems like they did coke before teaching this class would be the right one for you I guess.
People complain too much on here. Attendance is not mandatory, he gives good resources before tests, and he'll gladly stop to answer any questions you have. A little eccentric, but you could always not go and be literally fine if you study on pearson.
Preface: I've taken precalc before so I had basic knowledge already. He's a great professor, very excited to teach and won't make you feel stupid for asking questions or getting wrong answers. All drill sheets are near identical to the tests. I skipped lectures after the first month for more free time and just watched the recordings! Lovely man!
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
41%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.46 avg changeRatings by Course
18260
5.0
(1)MTH22012202
5.0
(2)MTH1102
5.0
(1)MTH1502
5.0
(1)MTH2002
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MTHS
5.0
DIFFIQ
5.0
MTH1601
5.0
DIFF2201
5.0
DVQ02
5.0