Hi,
I messed up last year (sophomore) and got a B in Honor Geom and B- in Honors Algebra 2. I thought I could raise my grade in the winter/spring terms but the school fixed our grades based on Fall term. I got an A in Honors Algebra 1 freshman year. This year school forced me into CP PreCalc instead of Honors.
I’ve worked with private math tutor during last 8 months to raise my aptitude and currently have A+ in CP PreCalc. I’d like to take AP Calculus next year, but I’m not sure best way to prepare myself and convince the school to let me. I’ve considered taking PreCalc at a community course or Calculus during the summer. I’m also concerned that college admissions will not look fondly on my Sophomore grades. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you
J
Did you like precalc? I can say from experience that you don’t need an insane preparation during precalc to do well in AP Calc. I took a fun summer precalc course before my junior year, and I took AP Calc my junior year. Even though my summer course was super condensed and left out a lot of math, I ended up doing really well in the class and on the AP exam. It all just depends on how hard you’re willing to work and your natural math ability. It seems like you put in a lot of work to show that you are qualified, so you should just explain that to your counselor. As for nerves about the actual class, don’t worry too much. I don’t know what your school is like, but the class really was not bad at all for me.
With regards to your grades, a few slip-ups are fine as long as you grow from there. I got a B+ in geometry my freshman year, but I made sure to only get better. Getting into AP Calc and doing well will show colleges that you really do try your best in math, which is what they want to see.
Calculus is the normal course after precalculus. So if the precalculus course is of good quality, and you do well in it, you should be ready for calculus (AP or otherwise). You should not need to take precalculus again in the summer unless the high school precalculus course is of poor quality.
If you are concerned about whether your precalculus course taught you enough of the needed material, you can try this quiz:
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/rur/rurci3.cgi
What is your default next class after CP Pre-Calc? Is there a non-AP Calculus class that you would be expected to take?
I would suggest discussing your options with your current teacher. He/she would best understand your capabilities as well as the offered courses and be able to provide advice on where you would best fit.
^is right: talk with your current math teacher to see what’s the default option after Reg Precalc (is there an Honors Calc course you could take, for instance? What happens after that course, can you take AP Calc BC?)
You could also take the SAT Math 2 test in May and show a strong result as proof you’re ready for calculus.
Colleges will know 2019-2020&2020-2021 has been disturbed due to the pandemic. If you maintain A’s and take Calculus, you should be OK, it’ll just be one grade.
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