Opinion on taking honors PreCalc over summer.

Hello,
I am currently a sophomore taking math 3 (aka algebra 2). My plan is to take an honors precalc course over the summer at my local community college and then take AP Calc AB, or BC (don’t really know the difference!) next year as a junior. I’ve been doing good in my algebra 2 class so far, and I really want be ahead in math. Please let me know your guy’s opinions! I really appreciate it, thank you!

I think it’s a great idea.

My S did this last year. Watch out for the short term classes. They won’t cover everything the semester long classes cover. When S took Calc right after he didn’t have enough foundation from pre-calc and struggled, even with a tutor. The tutor said it would be difficult for him to do well with all that he had missed from the short pre-calc class. He is now taking a semester long pre-calc class.

Most pre Calc is a year long course. So if you condense that into 4-6 weeks you’re going to miss a lot. Are you the kind of math student who can figure things out as you go? Will your calculus teacher be willing to give you a lot of extra help if you need it?

IMO calculus was the first time math got hard and without a solid foundation it will be tricky.

My opinion: for most sophomores finishing algebra 2, taking precalc at their high school, during junior year, is the wiser choice. You will still have time for a calculus class senior year. I believe any supposed “advantage” in taking more than one year of calculus during high school is negligible and may not be worth the risk in the quality of preparation from a short-timeframe precalc class. Instead, find something nonacademic to do for the summer, such as a job.

AB vs BC following precalc would depend on how your high school structures its calc sequence. For some, BC includes the AB material, while other high schools teach the AB material as a prerequisite to their BC course. Tyipcally this information is available in your high school’s course catalog online or in any document laying out their math track options.

Why?

It sounds like you are on track to take calculus as a senior without the summer class. So ask yourself these questions:

  • Can you find anything more interesting to do next summer than taking a CC class? Colleges don't are not looking for academic drones.
  • Have you spoke to your math teacher and guidance counselor in your HS to determine if the condensed CC summer pre-calc course would be an adequate preparation for AP math curriculum?

– In another post you said you have a B in math for the first semester sophomore year – so you are not breezing through algebra 2. What makes you think that rushing through the next course in your math curriculum would be a benefit you?

-If you take calculus as a junior what math would you take as a senior?

My feeling is that you are better off taking the full pre-calc class junior year and calculus senior year.

You are already ahead in math if you will take precalculus in 11th grade and calculus in 12th grade.