I’m currently finishing up Alg 2/Trig Honors as a sophomore and I plan to take Pre-Calculus Honors next semester. The Pre-Calc Honors class at my school is generally considered easier than Algebra 2/Trig so I plan to do well and have gotten A or A- in every math class I have taken since middle school.
So should I be taking AP Calc AB next year as a junior or AP Statistics? I have friends that have scored high As in every math class they have taken and as sophomores have gotten Bs in AP Calc AB. Also, since my school works in a schedule where we take classes in one semester, and switch classes in the next semester, we go twice as fast in classes and usually feel a bit rushed. I have been generally good at math, but not gifted, so I am not sure if I would be able to handle AP Calc. I have heard that AP Stats is an easier class than AP Calc, but if I take stats next year I probably wouldn’t go back to Calc for the rest of high school, and I’m worried that it might look worse to colleges. So which would be better for me as a junior year math class?
AP Calc > AP Stats in general. Why not take Stats senior year?
@anxiousenior1 Thanks! Yeah, maybe I’ll take junior year AP Calc and senior year stats, I’m just nervous about taking AP Calc as a junior.
I would strongly recommend taking Calc AB after finishing Pre-Calculus.
If you have a gap in between the courses I believe you may have a harder time in Calc AB.
That being said, AP Statistics is significantly easier than AP Calc AB.
I agree. Actually I don’t understand taking stats outside the context of a particular content area. It is not really a math class in the usual sense. It is learning about one application of math. It is better to get a solid math foundation first, which would involve Calc. Then learn applications like stats.
@jaspigel @lostaccount Thanks guys! I am leaning towards taking AP Calc next year now.
Calculus AB in one semester isn’t too bad–my Calc BC course spent one semester on Calc AB, and will spend the rest of the time (2-3 months) until AP testing on BC stuff and AP preparation. In addition, some people find Calculus much easier than Precalculus and vice versa. If the teacher is good, you should have no problem at all.
At my high school, juniors who take AP Stat end up taking AP Calc as seniors. However, I say take AP Calc. AP Stat is considered easier than AP Calc, but it will be extremely beneficial if you take AP Calc AB right after you take pre-calc. There are juniors who take AP Calc and do fine in it; I suggest making sure you put in the time and effort needed to succeed. If you find it to be too difficult, you can take AP Stat as a senior. I say go with AP Calc as junior, see how you do in that class, and then go from there.
I would recommend taking AP Calculus AB. There’s no reason to fear it if you’ve done well before.
Would a schedule for my first semester of junior year with Spanish 5, AP Calc AB, APUSH, and an elective be too much for me to handle though?
Dude, you’ll be fine. I took AP Calc AB as a Sophomore and came away with a 4 on the exam. I’m taking AP Stat this year, and I assure you, it is the easiest AP I’ve taken so far (also taking Chemistry, English Language, and Physics C: Mechanics.) If you can, take it as an elective. It’s a free A and a free 5.
I just found out I was 3 points short of an A this semester in Algebra 2/Trig Honors! Since I have this B now, I have no idea what to do! I don’t know if I can handle AP Calc if I’ve already gotten a B in this class.