<p>Taking high school physics (or AP physics B/1/2) concurrently or after calculus might seem odd for some students, who can see the obvious applications of calculus that the teacher is not telling them about because the course does not require calculus as a prerequisite or corequisite (high school physics typically requires just algebra and geometry, possibly listing precalculus and trigonometry as a corequisite).</p>
<p>In any case, if she will be taking both physics and AP biology, and the decision is just in which order to take them, the decision is a relatively minor one. Perhaps other factors like time-of-day scheduling may influence the decision – if one class is offered at fewer possible times, it may make sense to take it junior year if it fits the schedule, so that the class offered at more possible times has a lower chance of conflicting with a desired senior year elective.</p>
<p>" If a student is on the non-accelerated math track (algebra as a freshman, etc.) they don’t even get to calculus by the time they graduate, but on the non-accelerated science track would still get to physics by senior year." This is why most high school physics classes are not calculus-based even though physics makes more sense with calculus.</p>
<p>“Taking high school physics (or AP physics B/1/2) concurrently or after calculus might seem odd for some students, who can see the obvious applications of calculus that the teacher is not telling them about” I also took algebra-based physics after completing calculus so yes, I recall there was a lot of beating around the bush and it would be simpler if the teacher could use calculus. All the students in my daughter’s calculus class had already completed algebra-based physics, or were concurrently enrolled, and I remember thinking she’d be having an easier time if she were in physics. </p>
<p>Many have contributed good thoughts but here is an opinion from an engineer with a D that is a senior this year. Seeing physics/concepts at the high school level is valuable and makes the college version not so strange. The AP Bio curriculum is undergoing some changes this year and next year and at this point I’m not sure what you are getting. If D is interested in a serious bio major in college she should take it at the college anyway. Also colleges that require multiple SAT IIs don’t usually want them in the same field. (BIO 1 and 2 are not really level dependent; one is ecology and one is micro)</p>