If she knows the material well (based on the old exams), repeating it would be a waste of time and tuition. Better to have more elective space (later) to take additional interesting courses (in or out of major) instead of wasting time and tuition on something she already knows.
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She would need a 5 on AP physics C to be able to use it to fulfill PHYS172 (mechanics) or PHYS272 (E&M).
And here are Purdueâs old exams for these courses:
https://www.physics.purdue.edu/academic-programs/courses/phys172/exam_archive/
https://www.physics.purdue.edu/academic-programs/courses/phys272/exam_archive/
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I think that she shouldnât repeat a class unless she doesnât feel comfortable with the material.
While the math series at Purdue is no joke, there were plenty of parents on our FB group kicking themselves for not supporting their kids to skip Calc I when they could have. It seems to be a myth that Calc II is so much harder than Calc I.
The other thing to consider is that depending on major, starting in Calc II will eliminate having to double up on math somewhere else down the road sophomore year.
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@KMat1 - I just re-read your initial question. If your D has already taken MVC, have her try that exam as well. My D found LA and Diff Eq much easier than Calc II and III.
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However, @KMat1 wrote that the multivariable calculus course was a high school course, rather than a college course, so the student would not get credit for it.
Purdue math does have provision for credit-by-exam. After the student completes MA166 (calculus 2), she can try the credit-by-exam for MA261 (multivariable calculus) if she believes that she could skip MA261 based on what she learned in the high school course (which she can pre-check using old MA261 final exams).
https://www.math.purdue.edu/academic/undergrad/on-campus-exam-information.html#Campus
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Thank you all for your advice!
Yes, college Calculus classes are difficult. But if a student doesnât understand the material, getting a free pass to the next, more advanced course isnât a good idea.
I agree that assessing a studentâs understanding of the material through previous syllabi, exams, etc., is the best way to make the decision. Just be sure to also know whatâs considered passing/successful. It doesnât require 80% on a college exam to get an B or better, indicating a sufficient understanding.
Fwiw, my D slogged through Calc 1 and forward. She also had a friend who started in Calc 2 and had to retake it. Iâm sure many other students are successful doing so. But I wouldnât base the decision on web searches.
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My son just accepted â- he has all 5s on the mentioned APs and took MV Calc. Although the consensus seems to say use the AP credits Iâm slightly unsure how this translates into meeting the FYE student required GPA?
My understanding (at least when my D was a freshman) is that using AP credits doesnât count for any grades and Purdue will use the next series of courses in determining the engineering index to transition to major. So if you place out of MVC, they will use the Purdue grade in diff eq or linear.
FWIW, my D tells people to use their AP credits, especially in math!
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This is so incredibly helpful as he strategizes 
Clarifying question regarding MVC, did your daughter place out of MVC/Calc III by taking the Purdue place out exam? You mentioned your daughter found LA and DiffEqu more palatableâŠis this a class after passing out of MVC?
My D only used AP credit to opt out of Calc I. In retrospect she said she should have skipped Calc II which to her, was the worst of the math sequence but she had conflicting advice. She loved Calc III, LA, DEq.
The math sequence differs slightly depending on intending major. My D is a chem E so they did LA first and then DE but I believe some majors reverse it. Your student should be easily able to look up the 4 year plan of study for his major. Purdue does a great job having that readily available.
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Thank you so much!
I think Iâve heard 5-10 current/recent Purdue engineering students say âtake the AP credits and run!â
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I would agree for a strong math student.
But math is fundamental to Engineering, so I think itâs good my oldest started in Calc 1, as painful as it was. She had AB and BC in high school, but it was always a challenge.
For a strong math student skipping 1 and 2, consider 271 Honors Multivariate. I think there were only ~40 students this last semester, vs 1,000 in regular 261, and my daughter found it to be a good class.
My daughter got her butt handed to her in honors multi variable calculus! She said there were about 25 in the class, including five females. Two weeks after it began, she was the last female standing. She said everyone in the class had represented their high school at state level math competitions. She got through it somehow and is actually finding linear algebra and discrete math easier. She said if she had to do it again, she would have taken regular level calc 3 and put up with the lecture hall.
A student trying to decide whether to skip a course with AP (or other) credit may want to try the collegeâs old final exams for the course. Purdue makes them easy to find for some math courses: Past Exam Archive - Department of Mathematics - Purdue University
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