I am currently in Honors Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry and I need an 85% average to move on to AP Calculus AB (the teacher is not good…everyone agrees, but that’s besides the point), anyways I’m considering taking regular calculus next year (junior year) and taking AP Stats senior year. I plan on majoring in stem, probably biology. Would taking regular calculus be bad? I just feel like it would be better for me because I am not the best at math but still want to take calc because I want to go into bio. Thanks!
I have an 83% average currently so I have to do really well on the final if I even want to consider AP Calc.
Take the level class in which you can be a little challenged, but still get a high grade.
Does AP replace the honors level for the next class up in math? By that I mean is the only choice between AP Calc AB or “regular” calc (no in between honors option)?
If you have reason to believe you won’t do well in AP (perhaps due to the AP teacher, perhaps due to a lower-than-desirable-83%), then your choices are clear:
- Take the level down where you can be confident of performing well.
- Plan for supplementary learning outside of class (tutoring, Khan Academy, summer prepratory work, etc.). This will involve some additional time and possibly an cost to you/your family.
- Take AP Calc AB over the summer (bypassing the teacher, but very risky because your pre-calc grade wasn't as solid as it could be), move on to Calc BC next school year.
I would have your parents and your GC weigh in on this too.
Thank you so much! There is no in between option. It’s either AP Calc, AP Stats, or Calc. I could work my bit off to get higher than an 85% average, but if I don’t I’ll probably take regular calc. If I get higher than an 85%, I’ll study over the summer to make sure I get stuff.
“Option 3” is not a real option.
I agree with the advice to take a course where you can be challenged but do well. From your description, it sounds like regular Calc is a good choice.
Can you do regular calc junior year and then AP Calc senior year? A lot of students at my school did this, and it gave them the opportunity to have a really solid background in calculus before taking a harder level.
In my opinion, calculus is a little different than precalc w/trig. Other than some identities and working on the unit circle, I felt that calc didn’t build on anything I learned in precalc. You might end up doing better, but it depends!
Regardless, you are planning on majoring in STEM, so even if you don’t take AP, it’s good to at least have some background in the subject.
Sounds like regular Calc is the best option for you - you’ll be challenged but not overwhelmed.
(If you do really well, might you be allowed to take AP calc AB or BC senior year?)
I would try to get 85% so you have the option open. As others have said, it would be a good idea to learn some calculus over the summer (Khan academy is literally the best free option) and if you find that you are okay, take AP AB. If you really struggle in it then just take reg calc. The point is you will have the summer to test out which calc you can do well in as long as you leave yourself the opportunity to do so.