<p>I have recently passed the EXCEL program phase 1 but it requires that I be enrolled in Calculus to start the semester to be fully accepted. I took Calculus AB last year as a Junior but I am taking AP Stats this year and it has been a while since i have taken Algebra and Pre Calc. I took a couple of practice tests for Algebra and it is pretty detailed and is not an overview in which i thought it would be. I think I might have to go through each chapter to relearn everything. Also I don't think I will be able to pass through the Pre Calc and Trig exams if they are that detailed. </p>
<p>I don't want to take Algebra in college so a 70% is a must for me right now. I just wanted to know two thing, one, is the actual exam as difficult as the practice exams? I know some of the practice AP exams I have taken in the past are actually harder than the real AP exam, to get you ready. Also is it the same format? Is it still fill in the blank? </p>
<p>Second, is it foolish to think that I would be content starting off freshman year at Pre Calc or Trig instead of Calc? I want to be an Engineer so naturally I would like to be in Calculus to start off, but I don't want to fail a class because I do not remember the things I learned from Pre Calc and I feel like if I were to take the class over I will be more likely to succeed in Calc. Also is there any other way of getting into the EXCEL program without taking Calc my first semester because I couldn't pass the placement exams? Thanks for taking the time to read this</p>
<p>I don’t know if EXCEL requires that you pass the placement exams into Calc I, because if you passed the AP exam, you already have credit and are exempt from taking the placement normally. I also thought EXCEL could start before Calc I, but I might be wrong. However, I know of someone in my Chem class right now that took Pre-calc Fall semester and is in the EXCEL Calc I class now.</p>
<p>The disadvantage of starting in Pre-calc/Trigonometry is that you IMMEDIATELY put yourself two semesters behind, unless you are a Comp Sci major (for Engineering fields). If you look at any Engineering flow chart, you literally can’t take anything besides the intro class and chem without the intro class and you need Calc II for almost anything higher than Physics 1. </p>
<p>However, if you don’t feel comfortable taking Calc I, then don’t let the above discourage you. It’s better to take the extra semester or year to get your degree then it is to fail the class because you aren’t ready.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response The Ticks. I checked the EXCEL program again and it said that the first 200 students with the appropriate placement score will be guaranteed acceptance, so I am assuming that the only way to get in is by passing all 3 exams</p>
<p>Excel says that you have to be enrolled in PreCalc or Calc during your senior year of HS, not freshman year of college:</p>
<p>“Students should be enrolled during their senior year in a Precalculus or Calculus course. Statistics is not a Calculus course. If you are enrolled in Statistics make sure to also enroll in either Precalculus or Calculus.”</p>
<p>Also, they say that the first 200 students will be accepted and that the second phase of admission is the MPT. How do they collect your scores? Only when you’re done with all three (or fail a test)?</p>
<p>Actually, you do need to sign up for Pre-Calculus or Calculus your freshman year in college if you choose to do the EXCEL program, regardless of what you took in high school. This is why some students who took advanced levels of math opt not to do the EXCEL program, but when I attended the informational meeting for EXCEL during a UCF open house I was told that they are looking to add more advanced tracts in the future.</p>