Regular Precal this year, BC Calculus next year...etc.

Test Preparation AP Sciences
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<p>I know this is kinda long, but if you feel that you could give me good advice, I would really appreciate it if you would take the time to read this..</p>

<p>I am currently a junior.. I'll be honest, I was kinda late to realize how important school was so I took some easy classes over the years :/</p>

<p>But senior year I want to catch up so that I'm more prepared for a science major in college (something pre-med related). I'm usually pretty quick to catch on in math, I got an 800 on the SAT I math section, but I am only in regular precalculus this year.</p>

<p>At my school it usually would go, Pre-AP Precal -> AB calc -> BC Calc</p>

<p>as I said, i want to go straight from REG precal to BC.. I know this will obviously be a challenge, so I was thinking about maybe getting an AB or BC calc book from barnes and noble to help build up my understanding of the concepts so I'm not TOTALLY freaked out when I first walk into that class..</p>

<p>Another jump I'm making is from regular chemistry, then took a year off, to AP chemistry..</p>

<p>at my school it usually goes, Honors Chem 1 -> AP Chem 2</p>

<p>but, as i said, I'm going from REG chem 1 to AP chem 2 after taking a year off!!</p>

<p>Obviously I know this will also be a challenge so I'm hoping to maybe go through a chemistry book at the library over the summer as well as the calculus book..</p>

<p>so ultimately my question is.. could you please recommend me some books to look through at the library, or even another way to prepare over the summer before I walk into the class so I'm not so behind..</p>

<p>THANK YOU IF YOU ACTUALLY READ THIS, I APPRECIATE ALL ADVICE!!</p>

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<p>bump 10char</p>

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<p>bump 10char</p>

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<p>Hey! I’m in honors pre calc now, as a junior. Our school exposes juniors to adv pre calc and then calc ab senior year–i’ll be taking BC at another school in the district.</p>

<p>Honestly, in our pre-calc class we haven’t done too much. The first half of the year was about re-learning what we did last year, basically. </p>

<p>We hit calculus in January/Febuary, and it is pretty simple too. You could probably have a fundamental understanding of what I learned this year in less than 5 hours of reading, and you could master it in 10. </p>

<p>You’ve probably already done most of what I’ve done.</p>

<h2>Limits, tan line, derivatives, D of trig functions, rate of change problems, rectolinear problems</h2>

<p>If you’re smart (which clearly you are), you can definately do it. </p>

<p>I would def go to B&N over the summer (or right now?) and pick up a calc book to look at. Actually, I should do this too ^_^. </p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>I have a similar problem that maybe some of you could help with. My school only offers Calc AB, but I really really want to take the BC exam. How much of a challenge would this be? I know that my teacher is going to be going over the AB material all year, but I do I learn the rest of it early and spend the second semester going over BC stuff on my own time?</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot for the replies guys</p>

<p>Tenebrous- I think you have the right idea. Pay attention in class and make sure you have AB down solid, then go to the library and buy a BC book and go over it by yourself. You should be fine if you do that, good luck.</p>

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<p>@jd: I was going to do that, but I think we might finish the AB material late. I don’t want to have a month or less to go over the entire BC content.</p>

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<p>yeah I would start looking at BC stuff around December-Januaray regardless of when you finish AB stuff.</p>

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<p>TBH, BC calc encompasses AB Calc, its just an extra 2 chapters… skipping should be no prob really as long as you grasp the basics.</p>

<p>Even if you take the AB class, you could still take BC exam after studying 2 chapters…</p>

<p>And also, our district has an option of after taking Precalc, go directly to AP Calc BC class, but not all schools offer it. Most of the schools go Precalc - Ap Calc AB, Advanced Calc(where you take AP Calc BC)</p>

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<p>TBH someone in our district who had an AB school selfd BC in about 2months. I’m not sure how he thought it was, but you can definately do it.</p>

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<p>thanks for the help guys, I have finally decided on my senior schedule…</p>

<p>AP Chemistry
AP Biology
AP Physics C
AP English Literature
AP Government/Macroeconomics
AP Calculus BC</p>

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<p>jd989898: I am in the same situation as you. I’m taking Precalculus as a Junior going into Calculus BC and I’m going into AP Chemistry having taken regular Chemistry in 10th grade. If you enjoy those topics and you are willing to work for good grades and a 4/5 on the AP exam, you shouldn’t be worried.</p>

<p>Also, can you expect those classes you chose for your senior schedule to work out? I originally planned to take AP Chemistry, AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, AP Psychology, and AP Statistics, but I have to drop both Psychology and Statistics (I’m planning on self-studying AP Computer Science as a trade-off though). Even if you can take on that schedule, you shouldn’t take classes you aren’t at least pretty interested in because you are going to kill yourself with the workload.</p>

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<p>@ bugerking316 </p>

<p>TBH, tons of seniors take 6+ APs lol. </p>

<p>What I woould question though, is taking so many AP Sciences. That’s basically BIo, Chem, and physics all in 1 yr. Not sure if that would work out.</p>

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<p>I’m wondering if that would even fit into a school schedule. In my school, that would take up at least an entire day at my school with a ton amount of luck. I know there are seniors who at least 6 APs, but I don’t think someone should take so many AP classes if they aren’t interested in them. It probably won’t help that much to get into colleges anyway. At my school, it is rare for a student to take more than 3 AP exams in their senior year, and there are people who get into Cornell, Harvard, etc.</p>

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<p>@burgerking</p>

<p>It all depends on alot of stuff. Like ECs and recommendations and SATs and all that fun stuff</p>

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<p>Yeah, that’s what I’m saying :smiley: I didn’t want this person to spend so much time with AP courses that they lack in other important aspects.</p>