<p>So, I'm an incoming Junior and I'm going to do the IB Diploma. Here are my classes:</p>
<p>IB English HL
IB History of the Americas
IB Biology HL
IB Math SL. Yr 2
French 3
ToK
Band</p>
<p>So, my Math class is essentially Calculus 1 and since it's SL, I'm for sure going to take an AP Calculus test. But I'm kind of wondering if I should just stick with taking the AP Calc AB test, or do you think I should self-studying for BC (yeah I know it's crazy to self-study when I'm doing IB already, but just a thought)? My Math SL test will be my only IB test next year anyways. I'm pretty good at Math, if it means anything. I think I'm planning on refreshing myself on some Algebra/Pre-Calc topics this summer by watching some videos and stuff.</p>
<p>So to break it down, should I just stick with the AB test, or should I maybe try for BC if possible? </p>
<p>Also if you guys can share your experiences and some give me advice about Calculus, that'd be helpful, too.</p>
<p>I don’t know how this differs across schools, but IB SL math at my school is nowhere near calculus. IB HL math students take the BC calc test after either the first or second year depending on what math level they were in before beginning IB. Especially if you are going to be a junior next year, I would suggest waiting until senior year to take an AP calc test.</p>
<p>Buuuuuuuump…Anyone?</p>
<p>@wcao</p>
<p>I was going to do HL, but my IB Coordinator told me not to do it because of the way I wanted my schedule to turn out. It WAS going to look like this:</p>
<p>Junior Year;
IB English HL
IB History of the Americas
IB Physics SL
IB Math HL
French 3
TOK/Band</p>
<p>Senior Year:
IB English HL
IB 20th Century World History
IB Math HL
IB French SL
TOK/Band
IB Music SL</p>
<p>My IB Coordinator said that this schedule was death. And now that I think about it, I don’t think I could handle Math HL anyways. And taking both Math HL AND IB Physics SL (2 of the hardest IB classes at my school, along with Chemistry HL) would’ve been extremely hard. And I guess it’s not like I’m planning to be an engineer or anything that requires such high-level Math, so…</p>
<p>You don’t think you can handle IB Math HL and you’re asking if you should self-study AB Calculus BC? I think you answered your own question.</p>
<p>Did you really bump that many times in one day?</p>
<p>My teacher has taught both AP calculus BC and IB HL math and said that the AP exam was noticeably more difficult so I agree with skieurope you should not even be considering BC exam.</p>
<p>Ok. Thanks for the replies, I guess…</p>
<p>I’d say not do do it. There is a major difference between AB and BC, it’s like the difference between algebra 1 and 2. You’d have to take calc BC to do well on the exam. AB is elementary differentiation, integration and summation. BC is complex differentiation, integration, and summation, plus in depth learning of polar curves, parametric equations, and techniques not covered in calc AB</p>