Hey guys,
I’m a sophomore currently in Alg 2 Honors with a decent A and next year I have the option to take either Math SL, a pretty easy class, or Math HL, a really difficult class with a very low percentage of As. I have been told that Math HL is the hardest course in the school and that no one is prepared for it. On the other hand, Math SL is quite easy to get an A in and be prepared for. The problem is how highly selective colleges will see it. If I take Math HL, I will go to Math HL 2 (or AP Calc BC) senior year no matter what. For Math SL, I will go to AP Calc BC if I get As both semesters. So the question is even if I do get As in Math SL both semesters and end up in BC, will it look better if I don’t do that and take Math HL which is an inherently harder course? Also, please try to keep in mind that my schedule will be pretty difficult next year, regardless.
You are a very smart person for having ALG II Honores and an A. What i recomend you do is take the Hard class and prep for it during summer. Maybe study an hour a day? So when you get to school you will have 60+ hours under your belt, that may be more than many study and entire year!
Buenos suerte
-cheers
Take the more difficult course, I say. Even if you get a B, it’ll be better than an A in the easier one.
I agree with the above commenters. Challenge yourself and if needed, prep the summer. It will pay off in the long run!
thanks guys! I would just like more feedback on this so bump bump bump
Just take Calc BC. I’ve never really understood the American high school system’s emphasis on pre-calculus. I took Calc 1 and 2 (equivalent to BC) immediately after Algebra 2 and I know plenty of other people that have had no issue doing the same. If you’re a decent student, you can pick up the trigonometry you need along the way, and honestly I think using it for calculus will help you gain a mastery of it more easily. I like to joke that I only really learned algebra in my calculus courses.
Math HL1-> Calc BC will give you a very strong foundation if you plan on majoring in stem (engineering, CS…) or premed (because Calc1 and Calc2 are required and will thus be a breeze.)
Math SL is not THAT easy, it’s equivalent to Calc AB at a slower pace. Having math Sl only, or complemented by BC, would be absolutely fine for all colleges. Remember that most colleges don’t even distinguish between AB and BC as long as you have Calculus.
What’s the rest of your schedule like? What do you intend on majoring in? What colleges are you aiming for?
I’m sorry for the late reply to these comments, but thank guys. I think I’m going to go for HL Maths! Also, @camus45 I agree, PreCalc is extraneous imo, but I wasn’t allowed to skip it.
@MYOS1634, you’re right as well. Kids who take HL 1 breeze through HL 2 and usually get a 5; however, SL kids also have a pretty easy time in HL 2/BC. Math SL is known at my school to be easy if you had taken Alg 2 Honors. The rest of my schedule consists of the other two hardest classes at my school: English HL (notoriously difficult as well), Chem HL (AP Chem but a lot more labs), History SL, Psych SL, AP Spanish, and AP Computer Science. I intend on majoring in Neuroscience, and I am aiming at Ivy Leagues.
I wouldn’t take Math HL, unless it suffices in making your GC not check “most rigorous”. You’ll need a couple 7’s and they’re almost impossible to get in HL2 math, so depending on your school’s record for getting students to 7s, you would HAVE TO have 7 in Chem and English. Tall order.
No matter what, take the corresponding AP tests in order to get the credits (ie., after HL1, take AP calc AB, after English HL take English Language/lit, after Psych SL take AP Psych, etc.)
How do you have an A in Algerbra 2 Honors?
I’d like to bump this for any LAST minute advice as I HAVE to tell me counselor tomorrow which one to take. Math SL, at my school, is extremely easy and has a good teacher, while Math HL is hard and has a bad teacher. I really appreciate any advise!
I’d probably do the SL-BC combo (although I know nothing about IB), as if the class has an easy teacher, it should be easy to get an A. However, you have to make sure you get an A in the class.
If you think you’re good at Calculus and/or will be able to self study the material, take HL.
Elaborate specifically, on what is covered in each course, respectively.
Most HL courses that I know of assume some knowledge of basic calculus concepts.
At my school, Algebra 2 Honors, which I’m sure you took in the 5th grade @PurePhysics, is the only pre-requisite for the Maths HL I. I took Algebra 2 H, did well, and reviewed over the summer with Khan Academy just to refresh my mind. No knowledge of calculus is necessary. Maths SL typically covers the same amount of coursework for the first year except that it is a 1 year course while HL is 2 years and covers Calculus BC the second year. In that sense, the material in both classes is equivalent to what you would get in a PreCalculus/Trigonometry class. However, although the material is usually similar for the first year between HL and SL, the teachers are polar opposites. Our Maths SL teacher is a brilliant teacher that really gives great lectures and has a fairly easy class with a high chance of an A. On the other hand, Maths HL has a teacher that is nearly incapable of teaching, so the class is essentially a self-study (which I actually enjoy) as the teacher provides excellent advice and assistance if you ask a question, but does nothing else whatsoever, with notably difficult tests. I also may add that I am at the top of my class with a lead of 0.14 GPA points against my #2, who is in Maths SL, so any B would likely cause me to drop. However, I do actually enjoy a challenge and am leaning in the direction of Maths HL as I love a good self-study (I essentially self-studied all 5 of my APs last year as the teachers were horrendous and pulled off 5s). Also, I will likely use the AoPS books to supplement my IB Maths HL book as they provide a tremendous self-study resource and matching difficulty for any level of high school maths. The couple of those who took Maths HL and received As advised me to not take it, but others in the class who received As said that those people had their grades drop significantly and are hence timid of recommending it to others. A very smart girl who dominated her IB junior year told me just to work hard and keep at it to do well in the course, and I plan to heed that advice and give it my best.
ah, I see. You really should be fine. HL looks remarkably better on an application than SL, even with a lower grade. AoPs books are decent, but if you’d like, you could employ your time doing calculus topics.
It’s completely manageable with just a little effort and a bit of ingenuity.
@PurePhysics Yes, I feel the same way. Do you, by any chance, have an opinion of Khan Academy so as to do calculus topics? I am really looking to advance my maths significantly this year because I realize how much I enjoy it.
I’m pretty neutral towards the calc on khan Academy… You certainly can’t go wrong by watching them.
I’d use ocw, and online resources. In my opinion, self-studying calc I-III out of textbooks is atrocious…