<p>So I'm a little confused about the Chicago Calculus placement test, I'm wondering if you could enlighten me.
Last year I took the BC Calculus exam and got a five, does that give me automatic placement into any class? Or do I have to confirm what I've learned with a placement exam?
Are there several levels of exams, or is there one general one for placement?
Am I expected to study or not? Does Chicago give out practice placement exams if I am?</p>
<p>Also, I want to know what the appropriate placement would be for me. I did discrete mathematics this year (and perhaps I will take on some independent study in multivariable calculus this semester)
Would it be more appropriate to go into the 150s or 160s? What, essentially, is the difference?</p>
<p>Also, does placement also apply to language? Or would a five on the Ap exam (French in my case) already put me into a certain level?</p>
<p>You should definitely take the placement. Everyone does, and it's necessary if you plan to take any future math courses. You don't need to study, though you may want to look over a few calc concepts beforehand so that you remember them. There are two placement tests: a mathematics test for those who have never taken calculus, and a calculus test for everyone else. Both test get progressively harder, and the calc test ends with questions beyond the calc sequences (so for placement into intro to analysis, analysis, or honors analysis). You generally take the math class that the test assigns you to, so you don't have to worry about which class you should take unless you feel your placement is out of line with what you expect. A 5 on BC is generally considered through material from 151 and 152. A senior with a 5 on BC who does well on the placement is usually placed into 153 but strongly encouraged to take 161. With additional math background, you may be placed out of calc entirely, particularly if you have studied proofs.</p>
<p>If you do not plan on taking more French, you're set with a 5 on the AP. I believe if you plan to study more language, you need to take the placement exam (written and oral). To pass language competency without the AP, you must reach a particular score on the placement and pass an interview in the language.</p>
<p>Dannonwater, the reason the lecture notes don't look easy is because it's not material normally covered by high school Calculus. I am actually surprised that it's like a condensed version of discrete math. In fact they aren't on a deep level either.
I agree with you, the material looks a lot easier than I expected.
Thanks for the links, ohiomom and weasel.
I'm still not clear on the difference between 153 and 161. Which one do most students go to straight after BC Calc?
And is the placement exam a test of knowledge or potential?</p>
<p>If you want to go on in math or you really like math, you would take the 160s. Honors calc is entirely theoretical and requires proof of every step used. That is why the material may look simple: it's the same material as high school calc, but it's covered from a wholly theoretical perspective. The 150s and 130s incorporate proof, the 150s more than the 130s, but are not theoretical the way the 160s is. 153 is like a continuation of BC calc (though some of the material is actually repeated) but faster paced and with more proofs. Every calc sequence is three courses long, so you have 131, 132, 133; 151, 152, 153; 161, 162, 163. The material of 153 and 163 is similar, but the approach and methods are different. The reason many students are placed into 152/urge to take 161 is because students cannot be placed into 162 or 163. If you are going to take Honors Calc, you start with 161.</p>
<p>I believe the math placement exam is also used for physics placement. Last year when discussing his physics and calc courses, S once said to me, the questions aren't all that difficult, it's those damn answers!</p>
<p>Okay, here's an alternate situation- I got a 3 on the AB test last year (A's in the class, just didn't wind up rocking the exam) and plan to take introductory calculus again because math is not my strong point and it's been a while since actually applied the material. Should I take the calc placement exam or the regular one?</p>
<p>there's no reason to take the regular test. if you take the calculus one and don't answer a single question you'll place into 131. unless you don't want to take calc, take the calc test.</p>