<p>These are the classes I decided to take my Junior year. Is it hard studying for these classes? I'm terrified of AP Chemistry and AP Calculus AB. AP Biology I think I can handle. What's it like in these classes?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I can’t speak for Chemistry. However, I am a junior in both Calc AB and Biology (both AP courses) and I’m not having too difficult a time in either one. My calc teacher is wonderful; he has truly made calculus into one of the simplest math classes I’ve taken in years. The concepts can seem a bit complex at times, but if you do all your homework and make the class one of your top priorities, you won’t have too much trouble. Much of calculus is just various applications of algebra. Hopefully you can take solace in the fact that both AP Calc courses (AB and BC) have AP exams that are rather easy to score highly on - over 20% of the scores on the 2010 AB exam were 5’s, and almost 50% of 2010 BC scores were 5’s.</p>
<p>Biology is a different story. There’s a lot more material to cover and a ton of vocab, but provided you’ve taken an introductory bio class (an honors class is even better!) in high school, you’ll have a fantastic base going in. If you don’t feel comfortable with the education you’re receiving in either class, and even if you do, buy the AP review books of your choice (Barron’s, Princeton Review, etc.) and study them regularly. Like any other AP class, your grade and ultimately how much you learn are going to correlate directly with your level of commitment. </p>
<p>Hope I helped, and good luck next year!</p>
<p>@luketoast Thanks so much. I’m doing pretty well in Honors biology, I have a 97%. A lot of people on the High School forum say how easy AP Calculus AB is, and troubling it can be. I feel really motivated. I have one more question. Does Pre-Calc cover the topics in AP Calculus AB?</p>
<p>No, if it did it wouldn’t be called precalculus. Some precalc classes cover limits, but that isn’t nearly enough information to pass the AP Calculus AB exam.</p>
<p>A lot of it depends on your teachers. Calc AB is only ~half of BC, so it moves much slower than the “regular” AP course. OTOH, if your teacher is really hard – such that everyone in his/her class earns 5’s, then it can be a lot of work.</p>
<p>It all depends on the teacher. I know people that have said AP Bio is relatively manageable and even easy, but then again they don’t go to my school. The way it is at our school, the teacher checks notes and grades them, has regular extensive vocab quizzes, and gives notoriously difficult tests. The grades are weighted too, so test scores make up much of your grade. The smartest kids have Bs, and as far as I know no one has an A.
Talk to people you know at your school in the class right now and ask them how it is.</p>
<p>Be wary, chemistry is hard :/</p>
<p>Sent from my SGH-T959V using CC App</p>
<p>Not really. I would say AP Chemistry is pretty easy.</p>
<p>I don’t know what your people’s idea of what hard is, but I would rank the APs in this way (all of which I have taken, or am currently taking):</p>
<p>AP USH
AP Biology
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics</p>