I need an advice about whether to take Calc AB or BC exam. Here’s my situation. Since the beginning of the Fall semester I wanted to take the BC class, but I was denied since my school does not offer BC class for this year. I was disappointed by that fact, but my teacher told me a month ago that I can still take the AP CALC BC exam, and she thinks that I have chances, but she won’t be able to help me since she has 7 other classes and helping me with the BC material is like a whole other class. Now, when the deadline is approaching, I am torn apart whether to take AB or BC. There is 1,5 left till the exam, I have already covered 5 materials from BC, but I still have to cover 7 more. As for time, my teacher tells me that I’ll make it, but she is not going to help me. I still have 2 other AP exams, and I am currently taking Spanish 2 (learning, not a native speaker), and English 101 at a community college. I am a high school senior, I know I can take BC when I get into college, as a matter of fact, I am going to take AB again, even if I get a 5 on exam, but I do really love mathematics and sometimes I am feeling that I get bored doing the AB material. I am torn apart, because I do not know the chances of me getting 5 for AB if I take BC. And I do not have anyone to help me with BC if I seek explanation for any of the topics. But I also do not want to feel regret and think of myself as someone who got scared of a new challenge.
I would like to hear some of your opinions, thank you!!
After a 5 on AB, it is unlikely that you will need to retake calculus 1, and that may be rather boring (unless you attend a school like Caltech or Harvey Mudd where calculus 1 is heavy with proofs and theory, or choose an honors course at a college that offers such a thing). To be sure, you can try the college’s old calculus 1 final exams to check your knowledge against the college’s standards. Similarly, if you do well on BC, you can try the college’s old calculus 1 and 2 final exams.
If you are planning to take the courses in college regardless of what you score on the AP exam, then why take the AP exam? You’re already a senior so any perceived advantage in admissions wouldn’t be the reason either.
Look at the colleges you’ve applied to and see what the advantage (or not) there is in passing an AP exam and let that help you decide.
My son didn’t take the Calc AP exam – or any for that matter (he had several AP classes) because we knew he wouldn’t get college credit for any of them (he already knew where he was attending).
Thanks to everyone. I decided to take the AB exam since I have other AP exams and college classes which are also important. Anyways, the colleges have already started releasing their decisions and changing my mind to take BC, on which I am not going to get any help from my teacher, and which I will take in college, is pointless at this point. I better practice and get a 5 on AB, than start a whole new material and get a 4 on BC.