<p>My son is in 10th and took Honors Pre-Calc and AP Stats. He did quite well in both classes despite doing any homework. His teacher recommended him for Calc B/C and just skip Calc A/B. It is a small HS and they are not planning on offering B/C next year. So his choice is to take AP Calc A/B OR do an independent study. He could take a college math course - but I am thinking it would probably be better to have that AP course. Did anyone else go directly from Precalc to Calc B/C and does that make sense? And would you suggest a college level course over taking A/B next year. He hopes to be a math major in college......</p>
<p>"Did anyone else go directly from Precalc to Calc B/C and does that make sense?"</p>
<p>I think the majority of CC's followed that transition. In fact, some just skip from Algebra II to Calc BC. AP Calc BC is really not that big of a deal if your son is naturally talented in math. He should study independently--I think A/B may be too easy for him.</p>
<p>Most people skip Calc AB right after Precalc.</p>
<p>If your son completes Calc BC before senior year, then have him duel enroll at your local/state college for a higher math course.</p>
<p>I am currently in BC after being in Pre-Cal last year. The class is challenging, but most of my classmates from last year find AB too easy. I got an A first semester and hope to second semester as well. Luckily, my school ofters dual-enrollment with GA Tech for next year, but I'm sure your son can do the same outside of school as well. I would recommend the jump from Pre-Cal to BC wholeheartedly.</p>
<p>I think he should do fine. If he plans to major in math and is talented there should be no problem.</p>
<p>at my school they figure out your math courses in 6th grade</p>
<p>if you can multiply fractions, you go to algebra, geometry, algebra 2, pre calc, calc BC, etc</p>
<p>if you take a while to multiply fractions, you do pre algebra, algebra, geometry, algrebra 2, pre calc, calc AB</p>
<p>I would say that between a quarter and a fifth of the grade does the the first one</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies - problem is HS is not offering Calc B/C - they only offer A/B and toyed with offering B/C but said there is not enough interest......:(. My son is bored in his math classes and does little work - so I'd like to see him challenged especially in a subject he loves. We could see about doing an online Calc B/C through Virtual HS or he could take a Calc class at a local college. Not sure though if the college level class would be the same as A/B or if he should just take A/B next year and then try to take a higher level calc class at a local college next year. So what's better A/B or college calc class or take B/C on line?</p>
<p>same situation as I am here. I would take the AB course and self study the BC stuff at home.</p>
<p>Have him take the AB class and just self study the BC topics at home. </p>
<p>The two classes aren't that much different; it's just that BC covers a few minor topics and only one major (series) that AB doesn't.</p>
<p>Well, I took a sorts PreCalc like class. Except it was PreCalc/Part of AB.</p>
<p>If he is really good at math then have him take BC. Also it depends whether he can take an advanced math in senior year. If so then I recommend BC.</p>
<p>It sounds like your son is both interested and reasonably talented in Math, so I think he should take Calc BC online, or at the local college. He'd learn more and probably be challenged more, and if possible he could continue with Math at the college by taking MVC his senior year. As long as the commute is reasonable, the college course should be seen as equivalent to an AP course, as they are both 'college level'. Also, the college instructor might be able to provide a strong letter of recommendation attesting to your son's maturity and ability in Math (:</p>
<p>How weird. At my school, if we do well enough, we skip Pre-Calc and go directly to Calc AB. Hmmm. </p>
<p>Anyway, I don't find Calc BC to be that much more challenging than Calc AB. In fact, some schools have Calc AB one semester and Calc BC the next semester. You have to review for Calc AB to do an entire year of Calc BC, so I wouldn't worry. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Most people skip Calc AB right after Precalc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>...Let's not get carried away. I think it's safe to say most schools don't even offer BC, let alone AB. Don't take your opportunities for granted, people.</p>
<p>in our school, AB calculus is insanely hard</p>
<p>(though i know all AP classes are structured the same, our teacher makes it very difficult)</p>
<p>My d will be going from honors pre-calc to AP calc b/c. Her pre-cal teacher, who's also the AP calc teacher, won't sign off on anyone going ab if they're doing well in the pre-calc class, which she is.</p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>My son's precalc teacher and his AP Stat teacher both signed off on him taking AP Calc B/C. Last year they approached him and asked him to take AP Stats and Honors-PreCalc in 10th, 2 other students did this as well. Both teachers felt strongly he should take B/C. The HS doesn't offer B/C but the both teachers petitioned the school board to see if they could add a section for B/C since they had enough students interested, but this was denied. Frankly, our school is terrible with AP offerings - they have one section and schedule them all at the same time (ie, AP Stat, AP Bio and AP English are ALL The same time and there is only one class offered). It really creates problems for these kids when they apply to schools and it looks like they didn't take advantage of the higher level courses but I digress. Anyway, since there is no B/C his teachers told him take A/B and then see about taking a college level class his senior year. After reading these posts, I am thinking he should maybe take B/C on line or college equivalent next year and then take another college class his senior year. Thank you all for you feedback.</p>
<p>Most people at my school find AP Calc AB to be too easy while they find Calc BC to be very hard.</p>
<p>Really, Calc BC is pretty much Calc AB with 1 or 2 more chapters.</p>
<p>It's not that bad.</p>
<p>AP calc b/c is evil. But as long as the teacher isn't evil, he should be fine. Everyone in my class skipped a/b calc and the majority have A's, and will pass the AP test. If you're looking for college credit from it I'd find out what the teacher's pass rate is before taking it.</p>
<p>Go to the College Board web site and look carefully at the course descriptions for Calc AB and BC. You will find that BC adds a section on series (necessary if you are going to study engineering or a hard science) and delves a bit deeper in some other topics. Other than those exceptions, AB and BC cover the same material.</p>
<p>However, first year calculus at a top rate engineering school will be significantly more difficult than either calculus AB or BC. Even though the same material is covered, the exams will be more comprehensive and therefore more difficult. In high school, the exams involve linear thinking when testing for comprehension of the material. In college the student will be challenged to draw upon other math concepts (series for example) to simplify an otherwise difficult problem. That process will continue throughout a student's engineering education, especially in graduate school.</p>
<p>If your high school only offers AB, I suggest you look into taking BC online concurrently if you intend to enter a math intensive college program.</p>