Calculus BC or AB Test?

Okay, just to keep this short, basically I took Calculus AB and BC in the same year (don’t ask). Would a college downgrade me after seeing that I only took the BC test, and not the AB, since I cannot take both during the same year? Should I be worried?

It’s very common at many high schools to take either AB or BC rather than taking the two in sequence. If you take the BC exam, you’ll get an AB sub score. I don’t think there’s any reason to take the AB exam if you’re taking the BC exam.

Think about it like two biology courses. Let’s say there’s a Biology I and Biology II. Now, let’s say a student takes the courses. Biology I focuses on Material A and Material B, while Biology II focuses on Material B and Material C. You can only take one test. If you take the Bio I test, you’re not testing yourself on the harder material, which makes you cheat through the system. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But wait, I’ll be missing the test on Bio I Material A.” Yes, but it’s better to miss the easier Material than the harder material.

Hope this helped,

  • Simon
    Class of 2019

No. As you said, you cannot take both tests the same year, and everyone in admissions knows that. 99% of colleges will not give credit for both anyway, although some might give credit for a strong AB subscore if the total score is too low for credit.

The BC teat covers both AB and BC topics