AP Calc AB

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’ve tried reading about the course online, but I’m not getting a clear answer. Does AP Calc AB cover differential and integral calculus?

Thanks.

2

AP Calc AB covers differential calculus.

3

So no integral?

4

AP Calc BC covers differential and integral calculus, AP Calc AB covers only differential calculus.

5

Are there ways to take an integral calculus class online, or anywhere else since it’s not offered at my high school? Integral calculus is required for the application for HPME at Northwestern, I’m a rising junior so I have some time left.

6

Incorrect. AB covers some integral calculus, but the topics are not as extensive as BC.

7

It may include a couple integration topics, but AB probably won’t give you credit for Calc 2 / Integral Calculus in college and does not fully cover the subject.

8

Calculus AB covers differentials completely and basic integration (ie how to solve most integrals, finding the area under a curve using washer and disk methods). I’d say the AB course is basically 75% differentials and 25% integrals or maybe even a 60/40 spread. Calc BC on the other hand is mainly integrals and some new material

9

Does anyone know what Northwestern specifically wants? I did email and ask, so I will get the answer eventually I hope.

10

Can I ask what you mean what Northwestern wants? Are you referring to do they want you to take AP Calc AB, or maybe just an honors calculus?

11

I mean do they want AB or BC.

12

I don’t think NU “wants” anything in particular. I believe the AB test can pass you out of the first quarter of calc and taking BC can pass you out of the first two quarters of calc if you score well. That being said, I got a 4 on the BC test years ago, started in NU’s third quarter calc class (back then it was B14-3 I believe) and did not do well. I don’t think it’s always best to use AP credit for math class. The quarter system moves fast and I was not ready for the pace. Also, I don’t believe NU gave me credit. AP scores were just used for placement then. Not sure about now.

13

It’s not NW I’m concerned about, it’s their HPME program. It has requirements, and one of them is differential and integral calculus. Is AB enough to fulfill that?

14

Just call NU admissions. For questions that are important to anyone’s application to any school, they should here the answer straight from the school, not from someone on CC.

And Northwestern goes by NU. Never NW.

15

Northwestern responded and said most students in the HPME program took AP Calc BC, but some students were taught sufficiently enough while taking AB.