<p>Right now i'm in Pre-Cal Pre-AP with 100+ and i'm in Math club(uil) at my school. Im wondering if it is even a possibility that I could self study with something like PR for the Calculus AB test. </p>
<p>Also I know this will be misplaced but I'm in Physics Pre-AP with 97. Would I be able to self study with PR for AP Physics B ?</p>
<p>you could do both. it depends on how you study.
i could even self study vector calc if i had enough time</p>
<p>honestly grades are all relative. So I can’t really just judge by the grades. </p>
<p>Calc seems doable if you have strong algebra skills. I’m in it right now and pre calc isn’t a big part of it but algebra is. </p>
<p>for physics I would talk to the teacher and see what the class covers and what the test covers and go from there.</p>
<p>I have a couple of friends at my school that self studied for the AP Calculus BC exam on their own, when they were in Honors Pre-Calculus. Both of them took the test in may, and one of them got a 4 and the other got a 5, so they both advanced to Multi-variable Calculus (the highest math course offered at my school). I have another friends that did the same thing, expect he did it at the end of his freshman year (yeah he’s the smartest kid I know), and currently he’s doing a Differential Equations Independent Study course.
Basically what I’m trying to say is, it’s definitely a possibility to self-study, if you are strong in math and have interest. If you choose to take this option, make sure you have enough supplementary material, as 1 Barron’s book is not enough to score a 5 on the test.
Good Luck!</p>
<p>Sorry for the typos in the previous post, I’m not very proficient at typing. :p</p>
<p>It is a possibility. However, do realize that:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Half of what you will be learning will be totally new concepts: Calculus. If you can get this part down, then props to you. But know it well. AP Calculus test-writers love to screw around with phrase wordings, and you may not realize its concept(s) you already know how to do.</p></li>
<li><p>The other half will be reliant on your algebra skills. Otherwise…you’ll have a rocky road ahead of you</p></li>
<li><p>Gets lots of supplemental period. I highly recommend PR. Barron’s is doable, but the writers of that book put it on steroids, making it harder than the actual AP test. Go to the College Board’s online store and order released MCs. Get FRQ’s from CB’s AP Calculus website and go through them when you’re ready.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>If TheMathProf drops by this thread by any chance, he may offer a bit more in-detailed advice. :P</p>
<p>Yes, and I suggest that you talk to the current AP Calculus BC/AB teacher at your school, maybe she can give you handouts/quizzes for practice, etc.</p>
<p>Some of friends have taken the AP test and gotten a 5 while they were in pre-calc. The thing is you have to grasp all the material easily. Basically you have to be good at math.</p>
<p>I’m in Precalc now, and I’ve heard that algebra is more important than the trig stuff (for AP Calc). Is this true?</p>
<p>I’m in AB right now, and with my academic schedule, if I was in Precal, I would not be able to study. It’s a really hard class that really requires devotion. I mean if your goal was 4 or 5 you could probably do it, but if you want really “get” it you’re looking at 1-2 hours EVERY DAY which is quite a lot.</p>
<p>About trig for AP Calc, algebra is much more important. For now all I had to really know is the tangent, Pythagorean, and double angle identities/formulae.</p>
<p>@FutureVpFinance: Your algebra skills will be tested like no other in AP Calculus AB. Know it well, top to bottom.</p>
<p>(I’m a current BC student; I’ve experienced this as a AB student last year)</p>