<p>This is really last minute... but how much of a difference does AB vs BC calc make? I was recommended for BC so that's what I started with this year (I'm also taking AP C Physics, AP Econ, Ap Chinese, AP Spanish, and British Literature). It's supposed to be really hard to get in A in BC at my school with the teacher I had (I know kids who had him last year that dropped out of BC immediately after finding out they had him). After a week or so of realizing how much work I would have this year I decided that in order to get sufficient sleep, I realized I should probably drop from BC to AB, but now after going to a couple AB classes I've realized how easy the class is and I'm feeling insanely guilty about dropping. I'm also thinking of maybe going into engineering in college (though I'm not terribly sure). Should I run back to my counselor and beg her to switch me back? If I do I need to do so very soon.</p>
<p>I had the same dilemma. I got a hard teacher for BC and decided to go to AB and I’ve been ruining every curve. I was thinking of switching back then I realized I had 4 other APs and it wasn’t worth the trouble. It also helped that I found out everyone failed the test after I dropped out.</p>
<p>Idk if that helps at all but that was my experience</p>
<p>Thanks! That’s what all of my friends have been telling me is going to happen come first test of the year… I’m just still feeling really bad.</p>
<p>If you already took regular calculus, you belong in BC as regular calculus and AB are a pretty close match.</p>
<p>BC is “supposed to” be better for engineers, because it is offered with AP Physics. My son’s school, and many others, don’t let students take AP Calc BC without AP Physics.</p>
<p>I took Honors Precalculus last year. I did manage an A, but only barely. It took A TON of time.
For some reason in my school it’s ok to take AP C Physics with only AB.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, AP Physics C is going to be very tough with only AB.</p>
<p>So far what’s been taught in the AB class seemed far more potentially useful than what was taught in the BC class, but that could totally change. The teacher I had kind of goes outside of the expected curriculum. Last year the kids in his class generally bombed the honors precalc final because he taught them other stuff that was really cool but wasn’t necessary for the course (they pretty much skipped at least one unit). But that could be different for BC…</p>
<p>@rhandco Your son’s school makes you take AP Physics C if you take AP Calc BC?</p>
<p>At my school the only requirements for AP Physics C are regular Physics and Pre-Calc (you don’t even need to take AP Calc at the same time).</p>
<p>Your health should always come first. If you actually weren’t getting enough sleep due to Calc BC, it’s not worth taking. I think AB sounds like a good choice since the teacher is better and it’s not putting so much strain on you.</p>
<p>Thanks. Yeah I think I’m staying in AB. :)</p>
<p>At least you’re stilling getting college credit…if you pass.</p>
<p>Let’s hope so 
</p>
<p>To be quiet honest, it’s better to take AP Calc BC. Calc AB covers a semester’s worth of stuff in a year (assuming your AP class is year round) while BC teaches a year’s worth of content in a year. If your teacher assigns tons of homework, though, that you frankly don’t have time for, then AB might be your better bet, but BC is, in general, preferable (plus you get credit for calc 1 + 2 as opposed to just calc 1).</p>
<p>@LosingCrayon actually you do…you either need to be concurrently enrolled in either AB or BC Calc or have already completed calculus since pre-calc doesn’t cover integration or differentiation. </p>
<p>@tola2015 Oh xD Sorry! I feel bad now I think I’ve said that multiple times on other threads O_O</p>
<p>@guineagirl96 is it okay if I’ve already taken AB and am concurrently enrolled in BC and Physics C? Or should you also have finished taking BC before you take Physics C?</p>
<p>@dragonfruit18 No, if you’ve already taken AB you’re fine. At my high school you had to be concurrently enrolled in BC or higher. Those who were in BC who didn’t take AB first struggled a bit for the first couple months until they covered AB.</p>
<p>I’m a parent. I thought you were supposed to take both AB and BC, as both are AP courses. Is this not correct?</p>
<p>@EarlVanDorn No, BC covers AB. There is no need to take both. When you take the BC exam, you are given an AB subscore.</p>
<p>Thank you guineagirl96. My son is taking Advanced Placement AB this year and will take BC next year. I didn’t realize there was such an overlap.</p>