<p>Ok, so I took a year's worth of AB Calculus and we didn't cover any of the BC topics. Last minute, I decided to take the BC Exam (just to see how things turn out) and the AB Exam. Basically, you take one "late" because they are on the same time. A friend had told me that if I got all the AB questions right on the BC, I could land a 4. I bought a review book for BC and as I was walking to the test center, looked over the topics, but gave up after realizing I would never understand series or sums. I guessed on most of the BC mutiple choice and left the BC free-response question completely blank (except for any yes/no/true/false "guessable" parts)... and I got a 4...lol</p>
<p>Oh and I got a 5 on the AB.</p>
<p>Actually, I felt the BC was a lot easier than the AB for some reason. I guess you can feel you can get a lot more wrong.</p>
<p>But don't take my advice....it might just have been luck, what do you guys think?</p>
<p>I don't know if InfernalChaos's story checks out -- I was thinking that it is against the rules...Anyway, let's add more credibility to this thread:</p>
<p>I took Calc AB sophomore year, took the test, and took Calc BC test junior year. All I have to say is...Take the BC test if you're in AP Calc (doesn't matter if it is AB or BC). At my school, we learn things like trig sub and integration by parts even in Calc AB. I'm not sure if other schools do this... Anyway, one of my friends self-studied parametrics, polar, and all of Calc C in one weekend. He got a 5. Scoring well on the BC test with AP Calc + studying is VERY possible. I feel like I wasted $83 taking the AB test my sophomore year. </p>
<p>Basically, take the BC test...AB test is a waste of money.</p>
<p>My school doesn't let you take BC before you take AB, so I pretty much had no choice. </p>
<p>But I would definitely suggest taking both anyway. For one, it's not all about scores. You shouldn't be proud of self-studying, not understanding the subject, and getting a 5. That speaks badly of the system, not well of you. </p>
<p>For one, I don't think many schools offer anything higher than Calc BC. So there's no rush to get it out of the way if you're in junior year (or below). Second, my math teacher (very smart woman) told me a story of this genius at our school who skipped ahead of our school's math and went to higher levels of Calculus in a local college. He said he regretted it, because even when you take courses you know you get to go over the fine details.I feel a lot more confident in Calculus having spent two years on it. I have to take a course in college about the theory of calculus (it's a prerequisite for math majors), but I really don't want to because doing limits and differentiation and integration over and over again got me to take closer and closer looks each time.</p>
<p>^ No offense, but I strongly disagree with chris07. </p>
<p>Even if your school forces you to take AB before BC, I do not recommend taking both exams. I mean, after all, you get an AB subscore with your BC test which is equivalent to a full AB test. Plus, if you take the AB class one year and BC the next, you are better prepared overall for the AB portion, having had two years of experience with it.</p>
<p>Besides, self-studying does not mean you do not understand the subject. If you can get a 5, that clearly indicates you have at least a decent grasp of the knowledge. And why not be proud? You managed an impressive feat without the help of anyone else (well, perhaps some people). Of course, I agree that understanding is more important than the grade, but the grade generally suggests understanding and there's no reason to say that self-study = not understanding.</p>
<p>With Math tests the grade definitely does NOT indicate understanding, there's no argument that the two Math AP's have the biggest curve there is. Throwing some mathematical logic in here, If you really understand the material then you will get a 5, but the converse is not true. I never said self-study meant you would do bad. I was addressing a user above who was proud of pulling off a 5 when self-studying poorly. </p>
<p>Also, it sounds like you're not a math person. There are about five Calculus courses, depending on which college you go to. Obviously each course builds on the previous one, but Calc I (i.e., Calc AB) is going to be your foundation for every single Calculus course you take after that. Everything else is just Calc I at a higher level; you're still integrating and differentiating, just using different techniques and principles. So of course you will be solidifying your AB foundation when you take AB. I think that was my point. </p>
<p>Your point seems to be that the AB test doesn't matter when you take Calc BC. I'm not worried about the tests, I'm talking about content and education. Take regular/honors Calc I if your school offers it, and then take AP Calc BC if you want. I'm just recommending not cramming two Calcs into one year for showy purposes. I know this is one AP wasted for those of you whose life goal is to take more AP's then you can count on your fingers and toes, but some of us don't think that way.</p>
<p>Chill, bro, I see what you are saying. I thought you were talking about the tests, but you are talking about the courses themselves. My mistake.</p>
<p>Though you are mistaken about me and math. I am probably pursuing it as a major and I am talking Calculus 3 are a college/HS dual credit next year and I am the captain of our math team ;)</p>
<p>Oh ok. Cool, I'm a math major too (I might have mentioned that before). I did the College in High School Calc III thing too, it' pretty cool. Hopefully you'll get a better professor than I did, though (and I was at UPenn. So much for Ivy League reputation, that's why I picked Pitt over Penn).</p>