<p>Okay, I am currently taking AP Calculus AB at my school, but I wanted more of a challenge. My question is, should I self-study and take the BC exam instead of the AB one? I am great with math and want to be an engineer. My only concern is that the BC exam will be extremely more difficult than the AB exam, and I don’t know how much more material to cover.</p>
<p>Two side questions: </p>
<li><p>How much extra stuff is on the Calculus BC exam?</p></li>
<li><p>What is the AB subscore (is that the multiple choice section score)?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Edit: PS- I have already covered derivatives and a lot about integration.</p>
<p>Although I don't have experience taking the AB Class and the BC Exam, The exam was not that difficult-</p>
<p>I believe there are only a few more topics to cover from AB to BC:</p>
<p>Integration by Parts
Parametrics
Motion along a Curve
Polars
Series (HUGE!)</p>
<p>I took Calc last year, so I've forgotten a lot of the differences, but if you put effort into it, the test won't be considerably more difficult, especially with the lenient curve. I believe it is around 60-70% to get a 5 on the BC Exam.</p>
<p>As far as the subscore goes, it's approximately half of the multiple choice questions, three of the free response questions, and approximately half of a fourth free response question.</p>
<p>If you're great at math, then I say take the BC exam.
There isn't a horrible amount of additional material to cover (although sequences/series were really challenging for me), and the curve is more generous.</p>
<p>i am in the exact same situation, and the thing is that AB gives a lot less credit than if you can do good on the BC. i'm going to self study and so is this other guy in my class- if youre going to spend the $80 it would be more worth it to just try BC. Youre probably sharp enough at math to do well if you really put some effort in.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I believe there are only a few more topics to cover from AB to BC:</p>
<p>Integration by Parts
Parametrics
Motion along a Curve
Polars
Series (HUGE!)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I took BC last year and this sounds about right. If you're planning to self-study, Taylor and Maclaurin series will probably be the toughest part. Maybe go over it with a math teacher and see if you think you'll be able to master it?</p>
<p>it's basically the same stuff (like the others have said). As long as you are solid with AB, BC shouldn't be much of a problem. </p>
<p>Integration by Parts, parametric, + motion a long a curve are pretty logical; usually just application of AB stuff.</p>
<p>W/ sequences and series, there's actually stuff you have to memorize (unless you want to learn how to derive everything), but it's not bad unless you don't take the time to memorize them. If you know everything else 100% then i don't think you even need to learn that to get a 5. But that's assuming you do well in everything else. XD</p>
<p>@Kowloon: whatever do you want to take BC for if you're taking humans?</p>
<p>@snowia: I guess you're right, en route to the AP BC now</p>
<p>@nhsharvard: may i ask what book you're using currently?</p>
<p>@everyone else: it's pretty hard to put it down clearly but BC is definately self studiable provided you have the necessary determination. the one thing i've found about calculus is that it requires lots of practice. in my school, polars itself is a seperate course, a really hard one by itself so i'd be inclined to say polars is hard (though the AP standard of it seems to be rather well...) Series isn't as hard as I've seen some people claim it to be, it's just subject to lots of silly errors (which even I make)</p>