<p>Hi!
I was wondering whether it would be useful (or useless) to take both Calculus AB and BC?
I am geared towards math/science and thought that by taking both I would have a better understanding in calculus... I still have two more years left in high school and I was given the option of taking BC next year, but there are no math classes in senior year that I would really be interested in.
Thanks!</p>
<p>If you don’t want to learn the AB concepts by yourself (like me), take that before BC. Otherwise you could just take BC. The BC test gives you a score for both anyway.</p>
<p>If you’re good at math, then take both! It could boost your GPA and just give you a better understanding.</p>
<p>The AB curriculum is included in BC, so I would just take BC junior year so that you can take a higher level math at a local CC, such as multivariable calculus, your senior year. However, if you want to go in depth a bit more with the AB part of the curriculum, then by all means take AB.</p>
<p>AB is pretty slow, it’s really meant for those above-average seniors who are good but not exceedingly so at math if you get what I’m saying. If you are in precal in 10th grade and consider yourself good at math then you will probably be bored stiff in AB. Go with BC.</p>
<p>Definitely do not take them both at once; that is terrible advice. AB is the same as BC with a few concepts missing. They literally use the exact same free response questions for part of the two AP tests. </p>
<p>I don’t even think it’s possible to take them both. The exams are at the same time, and no GC in their right mind is going to let you schedule both in one year. </p>
<p>Ideally, you’d go straight into BC without taking AB, but a lot of schools don’t allow that. If I had two years to work with and was in your situation, I’d consider doing AP stats/BC or BC/dual enrollment somewhere nearby.</p>
<p>I’ve heard that BC is really hard and I’m up for a challenge, but Junior year is really important and I really want to focus on getting good grades… I already took AP stat this year and my school doesn’t offer many classes after calculus besides econ…</p>
<p>I wouldn’t advise taking them at the same time. AB helps build the foundations for BC and then BC builds on them in more depth. The strongest math students are those who understand the concepts to the core and can properly execute them. </p>
<p>AB can be pretty slow paced, but it will give you more time to absorb the information and even delve into the concepts farther than your peers. </p>
<p>The main reason to not take both classes at once is that the topics will be shifted. For example: In AB you may not learn volumes of rotation until midway into the year, yet you will already be studying them in more depth during your first two weeks in BC.</p>