2 math courses over the summer?

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

Hello everyone,

I’m currently in 8th grade and nearly finished with my school year, which includes my Geometry class. I’m planning on taking an Algebra 2 course over the summer at my school from June 12th to July 14th, but I am also wondering if I could fit Pre-Calculus as well. The school doesn’t offer Pre-Calculus over the summer, but I was thinking of taking it online (e.g. Florida Virtual School - they have “flexible courses” that can be taken anytime (I think)). My school year ends within the first week of June (depends on finals schedule) and begins within the last week of August. Do you think I should/could do this? I was told Pre-Calculus was an easy/easier course, and I think I would want to get it out of the way.

Thank you

2

How does your high school handle summer courses? Some won’t accept them. Some will accept for placement.

If you finish Pre-Calc this summer then you would place into Calculus in 9th grade. What are your options post Calculus at your HS? Do they offer Multi/Linear Algebra at school? Or do you have to go to a local college for classes?

For many kids Pre-Calc is a lot of review of Algebra 2/Trig, so if you had a strong foundation it can be an easier class. Depends on the students/curriculum.

3

The school doesn’t count the graduation credits for the online courses (which I’m not too concerned about), and I would have to take a “final exam” sort of thing by the end of the summer (administered by the high school) to be placed into AP Calculus.

My planned course progression would look like this (not sure if I’ll be continuing Calculus or moving onto IB math later on):

                                 AP Calculus BC --> Multivariable Calculus
                               /
           AP Calculus 
                              \
                               IB Math HL 1 --> IB Math HL 2

I was told that if a student finished one of the paths before they graduated, the school would register them in a local college for math classes.

Do you think I would be able to finish the online class and take the exam before school begins?

4

Sorry, original formatting of the course map isn’t visible. I would take AP Calc after Pre-Calc, then either continue onto more Calc courses or switch over to IB math.

5

It really depends on your other summer plans and how long you want to spend working on math over the summer if you can do both.

I am not familiar with IB curriculum so can’t advise on that specifically but if you can continue math that is good.