<p>Can someone seriously explain to me the difference between AP calc AB and BC? I looked at CB's description. to me it's really vague - is BC just more difficult or does it cover more material? My school doesn't help any. Thanks.</p>
<p>BC just covers a few more topics than AB I think.</p>
<p>AP CALC AB is basically equivalent to Calculus I in college, while AB CALC BC is equivalent to Calculus I & II in college.</p>
<p>As previously said, BC covers everything in AB and further other topics.</p>
<p>To be honest, BC is basically AB with a few more harder topics added in. If you look at the Princeton AP review book for AB+BC, you will see that BC adds in like 3 more chapters</p>
<p>BC covers more and the AP exam has a significantly higher pass rate.</p>
<p>what topics are in BC but not in AB? I bought a Princeton AP calc book. It says for AP AB and BC. that helps a lot man! for example, are infinite series and differential equations in AB? If somebody can tell me that I’d be immensely grateful.</p>
<p>According to Wikipedia:</p>
<p>
[quote]
AP Calculus BC includes all of the topics covered in AP Calculus AB, as well as convergence tests for series, Taylor and Maclaurin series, the use of parametric equations, polar functions, including arc length in polar coordinates, calculating curve length in parametric and function equations, L’H</p>
<p>Thanks halcyonheather!</p>
<p>The BC portion is a lot harder than the AB portion, IMHO</p>
<p>do you mean, for example, they may give you a harder integral to do in BC than in AB?</p>
<p>They might give you an improper integral or one that would require, say, integration by parts (which is pretty easy and probably my favorite thing in calculus).</p>
<p>thanks again! halcyon, did you take AB or BC?</p>
<p>Neither, but I self-studied BC.</p>
<p>I’m taking AB. I’m thinking about self study BC in my senior year.</p>
<p>The statistic about a higher pass rate for BC is incredibly misleading! The reason it is that way can be seen when you separate out the people who took Calc AB the year before and those who didn’t. Basically, if you took AB in junior year and did well enough to pass and move on to BC (a self-selecting group, for sure), you’re probably going to think the BC test is incredibly easy. If you’ve just started Calc that year and are having much more information shoved at you at once, it’s likely to not go quite as well.</p>
<p>And remember that it’s not all about the AP score. Most colleges require all STEM majors to take Calc III, linear algebra, and/or differential equations. If you just did enough to get by on the test and haven’t really formed a strong basis, you’re not going to have a fun time in those classes.</p>
<p>I had a terrible AP Calc AB teacher and did not do well on my AP test… but since BC is just AB & more, I decided to self-study for BC. I’m not gonna let my AB teacher screw up my chance to skip a math class (even if it is for just a semester) in college.</p>