<p>Hi, experienced parents, students, hope you can offer some input. My daughter is trying to decide between taking AP Bio or AP Physics in her Senior year besides AP Psychology. Some of the seniors have told her that Bio involves too much memorization which she does not like but she is also having trouble with Pre-Calculus this year so I am not too sure about Physics. She is usually a B+/A- student but does not like putting in too much effort. What is the workload involved in each? Would love to hear from students who have done both. Thanks.</p>
<p>To take AP Physics in our high school, a student must also take AP-Calc concurrently. If your D is having trouble in pre-calc, AP-Physics does not sound like it's for her.</p>
<p>AP Calc is not a concurrent requirement in her school. I take it then that AP Physics involves a lot of Calculus? Aren't there two levels?</p>
<p>AP Bio and APUSH were the two courses that gave Mathson the most work. But he thinks calculus and physics are easy-peasy. If she's been having trouble with pre-calc, I don't think she'll be comfortable in AP Physics C. If it's AP Physics B she'd probably be okay. Bio isn't hard, it's just a lot of material.</p>
<p>I question how much AP Physics B is worth. Bio is worth it, and the math is not difficult.</p>
<p>I believe AP Physics B is what she is considering. Why would it not be worth it? As far as Bio being a lot of material, apparently AP Psych is too so she is a little wary, apparently she was told that the AP Bio class also involves a lot of writing but I guess that could vary with the teacher. Unfortunately the teacher makes a lot of difference, her section has the hardest math teacher of the 3 junior classes. She got a A- on her midyear exam which was common to all 3 sections & was prepared by all the teachers together but can barely get a C on her teacher's tests.</p>
<p>Perhaps she should talk to the bio and physics teachers and find out which science she finds more interesting. She could also talk to her science teacher this year to see what he/she thinks.</p>
<p>You have it right that AP Bio has a lot of memorization but AP Physics has a lot of math. I think most people would find AP Bio easier albeit requiring memorization and AP Physics more difficult unless they're good at math or just have some affinity for it.</p>
<p>I think my Ds spent more time doing the AP physics hw than the AP bio hw. The physics presented some tough problems to figure out whereas the bio was more rote.</p>
<p>Has she had the non-AP physics? If so she might have an easier time of the AP class. If not, there's some benefit in taking the AP physics class anyway to open her mind to the world of the 'science of everything'. She may find it rewarding which is reason enough to take it. It'll really come down to personal preference though.</p>
<p>I'm taking both AP Bio and Physics, and so far, biology seems to be the easier of the two. Really, all you have to do for biology is read the textbook and understand the processes and you're good to go. With physics, however, you have to learn formulas in addition to the concepts. There's a lot more homework in physics (at my school, anyway), with math problems and such. In biology, the teacher leaves it up to us to read the book on our own. Plus, the biology labs are MUCH more fun and interesting than physics labs. (come on, dissection & gel electrophoresis, or dropping a ball into a hole and measuring the velocity?)</p>
<p>Unless she is really strong in math, I suggest Bio. But, as others have noted, is one teacher much stronger than the other.</p>
<p>AP Bio was the easiest AP my son took in high school (though as you said, much depends on the teacher). He was not able to take AP Physics and is struggling with college physics, even though he got a 5 on AP CalcBC. Physics has a lot of calculus.</p>
<p>My son would agree that AP Bio was easier than AP physics C--which does require calculus. Even though he prefers physics as a subject over biology, he worked and sweated a lot more to get his A and 5 in physics than in bio. If your daughter isn't really into math, but does find biology interesting, she probably should go with bio.</p>
<p>I know all AP courses are not created equal, but I was impressed with my son's AP Bio course. It was not at all pure memorization, and the treatment of cell and molecular biology subjects was very sophisticated. (I have a doctorate in the subject, and certainly his course was equivalent to my experience with intro college courses.)</p>
<p>She should go with the one that interests her the most.</p>
<p>I guess every kid is different. Our S chose to take AP Bio junior year so that he could take the AP exam before senior year. (He got a 4.) He's taking Honors (rather than AP) Physics senior year, along with AP Calculus AB.</p>
<p>I think AP Bio is the easier class.. yes it does require memorization, but for most people it is much easier to memorize (even if it might not be fun) than it is to understand certain concepts of physics</p>
<p>I took AP Bio last year and I think it was fairly relaxing for me (got a 5) though yes, memorizing does take time, but I'm in AP Physics B this year and I actually need to think (owie.. brain.. hurting) and I think I'm putting in a lot more effort into Physics even though I am sort of a math person</p>
<p>Just a note. If your D is planning on attending a top top tier school (ivy league equivalent) then any AP credit earned in Physics B will likely be useless. AP Bio credit will likely be accepted.</p>
<p>If your daughter is going to be a premedical student in college, AP biology would provide her with very useful background. AP physics, not so much.</p>
<p>S is taking AP Physics C, which definitely requires calculus and at his school is offered after a year of non-calculus-based physics (probably the equivalent of Physic B). All but one of the students in his class had AP Calculus AB last year. S adores the class, which lets him apply the calculus concepts that are otherwise abstract. The course is two periods a day as they are covering both the Mechanics and E&M AP test subject matter.</p>
<p>According to the college board description of Physics B, </p>
<p>
[quote]
This course provides a systematic introduction to the main principles of physics and emphasizes the development of conceptual understanding and problem-solving ability using algebra and trigonometry, but rarely calculus. In most colleges, this is a one-year terminal course including a laboratory component and is not the usual preparation for more advanced physics and engineering courses. However, the B course provides a foundation in physics for students in the life sciences, premedicine, and some applied sciences, as well as other fields not directly related to science.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Our kid's school doesn't offer Physics B. This year they started offering AP Bio to selected Freshmen as an alternative to G&T Bio, so that tells me the course doesn't require significant math.</p>
<p>Either Physics B AP or Biology AP could be good choice. It will depends on the instructor and the classmates involved.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know all AP courses are not created equal, but I was impressed with my son's AP Bio course. It was not at all pure memorization, and the treatment of cell and molecular biology subjects was very sophisticated. (I have a doctorate in the subject, and certainly his course was equivalent to my experience with intro college courses.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My Phd husband could have written this too. :)</p>
<p>Actually most Physicians I know think in high school physics would be more important as it provides porblem solving skills. It also depends on whether or not you have taken any physics classes before. If a student is taking a second biology course and has not had chemistry of physics I would say Physics. If it is the first chance to take physics and the student is going to major in a non science field it might be the last chance to get any background in that topic and indeed could let them put off taking it as an elective at many places.<br>
The reearch done by the college board correlating PSAT scores to AP scores does show that the Physics success correlates to higher scores than Biology and that over all PSAT math and verbal PSAT scores for correspoding AP grades are lower than in Physics.
As others have posted one needs to look at several things including, overall course load, the teacher, and comfort with math. AP B does not have calcuslus, is very broad and is the equivalent of college courses taken by many premed or non engineering majors. AP C is two parts and two different tests and calulus based . Some schools spread the one part over a whole year making it not so rigorous.</p>