How hard is Calc BC exam?

<p>123 - if you have already covered all the BC material, why don't you self-study something else next semester? Multivariable would keep the stuff fresh that you will need for the AP exam, but also put an additional twist on it to keep you challenged. When you get to college you can then take a placement exam to get cred/placement based on having had multivariable.</p>

<p>Actually, I'm planning on taking multivariable online next semester.</p>

<p>If you are taking multivariable online next semester, why do you need to spend an hour a day being bored in the AP calc class? Couldn't you just use that time to work on multivariable and review for the AP test when it's closer to time for it?</p>

<p>I'm in my final stages of Calculus BC preparation (self-study, no APs offered here). BTW 123, I am interested about the online course you were talking about earlier. Can you PM me more info about the course?</p>

<p>And Sagan, MIT's lecture notes had been a great assest during my preparation. Check out 18.01's lecturenotes in the OCW.</p>

<p>It's U Texas distance learning. It's cheaper and more independent than similar programs I've found.</p>

<p>my son did that. 408D, right? He did their linear algebra too. High points for price and flexability. Slow turn-around, so it wouldn't really be good for someone expecting a lot of feedback before going on.</p>

<p>BC CALC ROCKS! I'm actually not dying in that class this year. I did PreCal last year and decided to go for it. Honestly, it's not that bad, at my school anyway, but for the past 3 years no one has gotten below a 4 taking that class. AP Physics is supposed to be a lot rougher. I don't know how it is for you guys.</p>

<p>Yeah my bc calc class this year is pretty fun.. everyone in the class actively participates in learning and the teacher's great.</p>

<p>Haha, AP physics is definitely a lot rougher in terms of the ap results that my school gets. One year there was like a 10-15% pass rate. :eek:</p>

<p>If you look up the statistics for the Calc BC test, you will find that the majority of the test takers get a 5.</p>

<p>Actually, 39.8% of test takers get a 5 on Calculus BC. I think you meant that 50.3% get a 5 for their AB subscore. That's still a lot, though.</p>

<p>to respond (a little late) about the issue of a teacher "hand selecting" students -- One of the reasons there's such a violent reaction to this idea is the danger of the teacher not using valid criteria for the hand selection; it's not so much an issue of heterogeneous v. homogeneous grouping as it is of discrimination. When my mom was in high school, calculus was an "invitation-only" class - and it just so happened that no female students were ever invited, or learned that the class existed! Funny coincidence. The same could happen with black students, or kids who aren't quite as well-liked (for trivial reasons), etc. If people will be excluded, that's fine; but make it clear WHY.</p>

<p>BC's a cinch (precalc's a cinch too)
dont worry about it
just get used to solving problems and using your graphing calculator</p>

<p>i am taking BC this year and its not that bad but i have a feeling the test is going to be a little more difficult than i think. i know my taylor polynomials and lots of the hard BC stuff, but I am having trouble with the intevral of convergence stuff and lagrange error bound and stuff. its kinda hard but theres still a while until the exam so I think theres time to study.</p>

<p>is lagrange on the test? we skipped it</p>

<p>Yes Lagrange is on the test.</p>

<p>Lagrange multipliers? No. Error bound? A little bit.</p>

<p>In my county, AP courses are paid by the state so... about 30 people are taking BC calc which AB is taught during first semester and BC is second semester. The teacher has an excelent schedule and she has a record of 80% getting 5's and the rest passing with 4s and having only 1 person failing the AP during her 3 yrs of teaching BC (but that person was failing the course and was recommended not to take the exam)
so far BC is a killer hahah amount of hw is incredible and well... I guess you just have to be asian (sorry for the stereotype but my bc class about 70% are azns) or just be naturally talented in math.<br>
THe way our classes go.. we dont write philosophy papers like 123 did but we do math all day long.. starting with going over hw, then teaching a lesson (covering a whole section of the book in 1 day) then starting on the astonishing amount of hw in class so we dont have to spend 3 hours at home. Also we have a test every friday in the morning (30 min before school starts) and we get the second part of the test during class (about 60 mins) - morning = non calc -- class = calc allowed</p>

<p>The teachers say that the only difference between AB and BC is that BC kids learn integration first semester and AB kids learn it second. My best friends are all in BC and they say it's all right. I'm glad I'm not because AB is mad easy. The teacher, however, uses questions from erstwhile BC AP tests to make tests for us. It's not that different.</p>

<p>The main difference with AB and BC would be that BC also requires students to know infinite series and sequences (tough meat of calc) with polar/parametric equations and integration by parts (such as how to integrate lnx dx)</p>

<p>I think the whole hand selecting kids for an AP class doesnt make much sense for the same reasons others are pointing out. BC calc is not that hard, if someone could go through the whole selection process there really is no need for a teacher to get a 5. On the the other hand it makes more sense when devoting time to AIME or AMC. The difference between AB and BC is a focus on integration, and polar coordinates, series and sequences. It shouldnt take more than a month to cover that given you have a good foundation to build on.</p>