<p>AP Sciences are usually accepted as credit/placement out of introductory college courses... for a reason. They are difficult. Many people on CC are highly intelligent overachievers who don't necessarily reflect what most kids would have to do to achieve success in AP science classes. I would strongly reccommend (unless you are also a very high achiever) that you take a regular/honors course before moving onto AP, your life will be much easier!</p>
<p>I had previous bio, and I will have previous chem. My best friend is currently deciding whether to take AP Chem without chem...I think it'd suck.</p>
<p>My D's school encourages honors/gifted to go straight to the AP sciences without the pre-reqs: 9th, AP Bio; 10th, AP Chem, 11th AP Physics. My D did the AP bio in 9th, and she got an A and a 5 on the exam, but I tutored her when I realized her first year teacher was floundering, as was her class. (I have a masters in bio ed so I did a lot, a lot of reviewing <g>). For chem and physics I've insisted that she take the honors courses first and then the AP, which bucked the school's wishes, but I felt it was best for her to get a better foundation since she'll be in a science/math field in college. There's a good chance she could have gone straight to AP, but she's having enough difficulty coming up with electives to take and this strategy helped with that, too. </g></p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>In my school, we have to take the prior class. HOWEVER, at my school, the explanation for accelerated physics - we use Project Acceleration instead of having honors classes - states: </p>
<p>
[quote]
A Lecture-Lab course that follows the AP Physics-Level B syllabus, covering mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, electromagnetism, and modem physics. This course will help the student to prepare to take the SAT-II in Physics and the AP Physics-B Exam. (AP Physics B exam can earn college credit toward the medical profession or a non-technological major field.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So maybe our Accelerated Physics class is actually AP Physics B without the mandatory AP Exam or the extra weighting? Hmm...</p>
<p>We have to take the level 1 course first. AP sciences are really only senior classes because you need 3 years of science before you take them...</p>
<p>In my school, you just jump into most of the AP sciences. The only exception is bio. 8th-graders are chosen to take the regular 10th-grade bio class, so when you get to 10th grade you take AP Bio.</p>
<p>I'm taking AP Physics now and I never took physics before, and I'm doing okay. It's mostly math, so if you're good at math you should be fine. </p>
<p>Next year I'm taking AP Chem, which I'm afraid of. How is that class? Anybody? I've never taken a chem class before, and I heard AP Chem is like, the hardest class ever. Apparently there's a senior with an 11 average right now, and the smartest senior in our school who got into Yale can't even get an A in that class... =</p>
<p>It's the same at our school as above post's, but we take mandatory bio in 10th grade, and can do AP Bio in 12th. </p>
<p>And, to answer clarinetz' question, it is quite possibly the hardest class I've ever taken. It's quite math-oriented, but pre-calc doesn't seem to help all that much, even though it's mandatory. You also have to be good at figuring out labs. I wish you good luck.</p>
<p>Interesting. For us, one must take bio first.
Then you take AP Bio, but it is paired with "Bio II", a semester each. This is so they can make it a year long class. They can't just call it AP Bio for the whole year, but the class cannot be taught in just one semester. Bah.</p>
<p>So I've basically had 3 bio classes in HS. And will have 3 chem classes as well, since it is the same. I hadn't really thought about that until just now. Neat.</p>
<p>Hi, I took honors chem, honors bio, honors physics as well as their AP counterparts.</p>
<p>For bio, it is definitely doable. AP bio itself is a huge hassle and you will likely blaze through chapters and chapters of reading. However, the textbook you will likely use (Campbell) is very descriptive. I suggest you get a Barron's AP review book to go along with the class.</p>
<p>For chem, it is definitely doable. However, I would learn stoichiometry on my own before the class starts if I were you. That is the foundation for the math problems in chem. Also, try balancing some equations (you probably won't spend much time learning to balance equations in class, so learn it on your own).</p>
<p>For AP physics C, I highly recommend against it. Although this is the most commonly taken-AP-science-without-taking-the-other-version of the three subjects, the calculus is very hard to learn without a good foundation in algebraic physics. If you decide to take AP Physics C, I highly recommend having taken the honors or regular version before and to take BC Calculus concurrently.</p>
<p>Shoot some of your schools are the BEST! I have to take Bio/Chem 1 before I take the AP classes. And ALL of our AP science classes are double blocked! I really don't get it. I know other schools that do single block after Bio/Chem 1, and then there's a few of y'all here who just jump right in, and I'd have loved either of those, so you can see why I'm ultra mad at this. It's eating up my schedule! To top it all off, we only have 7 classes per year anyway (I've tried to find a way around it; no go!) and I have no periods left for anything besides core classes + language. EEEVVVIIILLL!!!</p>
<p>piccolojunior, im doing the exact same thing as you.</p>
<p>this year im in Bio H
Next year, Chem H and AP Bio
11th grade, AP Chem and AP Phys (idk which one)</p>
<p>my school only offers AP Bio. most take it as a senior. all students have to take normal bio in 10th to graduate. most juniors take bio 2 to prepare for the AP.</p>
<p>In our school, you have to take some form of bio, chem and physics to graduate. it stinks becuase I really don't like science and I have to take physics. Ugh.</p>
<p>
[quote]
piccolojunior, im doing the exact same thing as you.</p>
<p>this year im in Bio H
Next year, Chem H and AP Bio
11th grade, AP Chem and AP Phys (idk which one)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>lol dont. Do better than me. I still wish I hadnt wasted 8th and 9th grade.</p>