Calc I (Math 115) or Calc II (Math 116)?

Many people have advised that even if you get a 5 on your AP Exam and test out of Calc I, you should take it. However, it’s a little bit hard for me to bite the bullet on that because the AP Exam was crazy expensive and I’d be sacrificing 4 credits.

Has anyone just taken Calc II? If so, how did you do?
Same for Calc I - do you think you should have moved into Calc II or was Calc I enough?

Thanks!

Hello there. I am part of the first group- I tested out of Calc I through AP Calc AB (BC wasn’t offered in my HS). Here’s my two cents:

Calc II was pretty easy (got an A), and it wasn’t too different from what I might have thought. Just more in-depth when it came to integrals.

Usually, they tell us to take Calc I because it might teach you some things that weren’t reviewed in HS, but my professor gave us a quick lesson on anything important we might have needed from Calc I, and it wasn’t anything too time consuming, so if you have a chance to just go for Calc II, you might want to save your time and do it.

But again, that’s my two cents.

My D took AP Calc BC and got credits for Calc 1 and 2. She went straight to Calc 3. It was a little bit challenging but not that difficult to get a B. Calc 4 turned out to be easier.

I don’t have AP calc credit, but in my placement test results, it recommended me to take beyond Calc 1, like Calc 2 if I wanted to. I already signed up for Calc 1 but should I take Calc 2 instead?

@ThePariah You can’t take Calc 2 unless you have credit. I have already asked my advisor.

Oh, okay. My Calc class in HS was BS anyway, didn’t learn that much.

The placement exam would not place you anything higher than Calc 1.

It said that I could take something higher if I took advanced math class in HS or had credit, but I’ll take Calc 1.

If you scored a 5 in AB, you are definitely ready for M116… Just make sure to keep up with HW and do not miss lectures…

Many years ago, I placed out of 115. I regretted it. Better to be solid in your 115 understanding than advanced in the sequence.

Note that the placement exam only test up to precalc knowledge. By itself, it cannot place you anything higher than Calc 1. You need to show additional proof (e.g. by AP examDE, etc) in order to be placed to anything higher than Calc 1.