I’m a junior this school year and I am currently taking PreCalculus (onlevel) which is basically easier than Accel/Honors Precalculus. Usually after taking onlevel precalc you move onto onlevel calculus the next year so my teacher was not able to recommend me for AP Calculus. I eventually signed a waiver form to get into AP Calculus AB the next school year. Will it be hard for me to grasp the material since I was not in Accel/Honors Precalc? I ultimately wanted to take Calc AB because I might as well just get the AP credit and I feel I am strong in math and I quite like math. I’m going to end this year in my precalc class with a 95. And I know I can’t really compare that for what’s to come next year. I know my basic trig functions and etc. But i mean there must be a reason why onlevel precalc students can’t be recommended for AP Calc at my school, right?
Idk, if you’re good at math you’ll probably have no problem. I took regular precalc online (there wasn’t an honors option) and skipped to AP Calc BC (the pre req was technically honors precalc). I would check with your teacher for next year to see if there are any specific concepts you should review or study this summer (Khan Academy is amazing for this!!). Honestly though, if you’re motivated and good at math, you should be fine. One question though, if you’re good at math why are you in regular precalc?
Basically whatever math course level you’re stuck in in middle school will be the same level throughout high school. To me that seems really unfair since anyone can develop a better understanding of math as they grow all through high school. So this is why I am in regular precalc. You would have to submit a waiver form to get into a higher level class and get advice from your counselor. I talked with my counselor but she dismissed my efforts and determination to get into AP Calc AB. I submitted the waiver in anyway. Was the transition between regular precalc online to AP Calc BC difficult for you?
Bruh I self-studied Calc AB. Here is a step by step guide you must follow to review for the AP Test
First, get a Princeton Review book(very good for LEARNING) and do all the problems including the EXAMPLES, DRILLS, and the TESTS (skip the FRQs in the practice tests because they aren’t accurate). Also get a REALLY good calculator. I recommend TI-84 Plus CE. It is color coded and very fast. You are going to be doing a lot of graphing on the calculator so you better get a good one that has a clear image. Go online and search up how to use it if you have problems. (Important: If you are SELF-STUDYING, do every single example and drill in this book TWICE before you do the multiple choice tests which you only have to do ONCE)
Also, get Barrons. It is NOT GOOD for LEARNING, but good for PRACTICE. I got it to do more practice problems and I did all the drills once. Also, don’t be discourage by Barrons because the questions are like 3 times harder than the actual test questions. Don’t do the FRQs since they aren’t accurate.
Second, print out more MCs online. (search in google: calc ab mc 2012 pdf, 2008 pdf, 1998 pdf). Go to the Website: “Mr. Calculus” to print out detailed answer explanations for the MC.
Third, print out FRQs from 2017-2000(including the ones that are Form B). Print out the “scoring guidelines” version from College Board to save paper. Cover the answers when you are doing the FRQs.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/232050.html
Start doing them one FRQ a day at the beginning of April EVERY SINGLE DAY only skipping the weekends, all the way up to the day of the test.
For more detailed answer explanations of the FRQs go to the Website: “Mr. Calculus.”
If you follow every single one of these steps I guarantee that you will get at least a 4. (53%)
Also, I suggest that you take the class, this self-study experience was crazy hard and I felt suicidal at times. It will be a lot easier if you have someone to teach you instead of just figuring things out yourself.
I don’t know what my score is yet but I’m 100% sure I got a 5. Btw I am not the only person who has done this there are many others who have self-studied Calc AB and got 5’s on College Confidential.
I started preparing two days before winter break all the way up to the day of the test.
Good luck!
You should be able to go calc ab, precalc is precalc.
@escapethesun No. I didn’t have any trouble. I recall not liking limits that much, but it was stupid cause we learned a much easier way to solve them before the AP test anyway.