<p>What's the credit policy for AP / IB exams?</p>
<p>No credit. All frosh classes are pretty much aimed at students who have done well on the AP exam in that subject. If you are particularly advanced in some field, you can take placement exams to get out of the course. The reason that we can't accept AP credit is that the first year Caltech courses are significantly harder and cover significantly more material than the AP exams.</p>
<p>whoa... yea well i guess u guys elect most guys who have calc and some ap sciences down anyway. so do most ppl take the "placement exams" before starting frosh year?</p>
<p>You really need to include that in the acceptance letter or even the application form. You know, "List all AP classes you have taken (P.S. You won't get AP credit for any of these)." It would save you a lot of time.</p>
<p>A fair number of people take the placement exams, but not many place out, and the first year courses are more than enough to keep your hands full, even if you have the AP course down pat.</p>
<p>Pretty insane -- a lot people who were pretty amazing in math in high school go back to single-variable calculus freshman year. Not pointless, of course, since it is all proof-based and completely different. Harrison advised me to have Diff Eqs and Lin Alg done by that time I get to school if I wanted to place out of any math at Caltech. True? I realize none of that applies to me, but my mind, unlike my hard drive, is not exactly going to fill up anytime in the forseeable future.</p>
<p>I wonder if the placement exams are proof based... If so I will need to work on my proof writing skills more because my Multivariable and Diff. Eq. classes were/are exercise based...</p>
<p>I'm thinking it might be nice to test out of chemistry... but I'm kind of looking forward to proof-based math courses and I really want to soak it in...I don't know I guess I'll have to see...</p>
<p>If we know we are going to Caltech by April, is there any disadvantage at all of not taking the AP Exams in May?</p>
<p>I heard that you have to get out of Math 1a and 1b at the same time. Is that true? Also, are those single variable calc and linear algebra?</p>
<p>did you apply / get accepted to Caltech frozen-tears?</p>
<p>frankthetank:</p>
<p>Yes and yes. In order to take Ma2a first term, you have to place out of both Ma1a and Ma1b.</p>
<p>They are indeed single variable calc and linear algebra.</p>
<p>linear algebra is pretty pwn.</p>
<p>So I'm pretty cool with most of the problem sets in Ma1a that I've seen. The last problems are pretty tricky though...</p>
<p>I'm wondering, are the placement exams comparable to the problem sets or harder or easier? I'd think they might be a tad easier just because you aren't allowed the same resources for the test as you are for problem sets...but I mean, I have no idea which is why I'm asking.</p>
<p>The placement exams are a little easier than the problem sets, I'd say.</p>