I will be going into freshman year this fall, and I was wondering what science course I should take. In 9th grade, our school offers all 3 sciences at regular level. In 10t grade they offer all 3 sciences plus AP bio. In 11th and 12th we ave all the regular and AP sciences. My goal is to do al 3 AP sciences. Is this possible? What science should I take in freshman year year? Should I take bio over the summer?
Is there a school guidance counselor you can speak to? Most schools have a standard progression for their science courses and each school has their own policies regarding honors/AP progressions.
At my D’s school the progression was:
9th Bio
10th Chem
11th Physics
12th AP bio, chem or physics.
Students had to take the H courses before they could take the corresponding AP.
It was possible to double up in sciences 11th and 12th grade. Typically high achieving students would do physics and AP bio in 11th, and AP chem and AP physics C senior year.
Again, talk to the school counselor. They will be your best source of advice.
Thanks for the response! Sorry for all of the typos!!
What have you taken so far? I agree that you should take all 3 sciences - Bio, Chem, Physics in 9-11 if you haven’t taken any yet. Then an AP course in 12th.
You could double up with an AP in 11th, but I wouldn’t recommend it at the expense of finishing the three core courses And two lab sciences at a time can be difficult in terms of schedule.
I wouldn’t recommend Physics freshman year. It’s very math-based, and even though I took algebra-based physics, having some calculus exposure helped me a lot, to be honest!
This was my progress: Bio, AP Chem, AP Physics 1, AP Physics C/APES
I think most schools have students take Biology or some introductory science course freshman year. A lot of students also benefit from taking biology before AP Bio. At my school, it’s required.
Bio (9), AP Bio (10), AP Physics 1 or AP Chem (pick 11 or 12)
If you also want chemistry or physics background, you could take one concurrently with AP Bio sophomore year, but that might be a lot of work and depends entirely on your school.
I don’t think you should take any course over the summer; you want to make sure you have a strong foundation in all the classes. I agree with the above posters; you should talk to a GC and see what’s typical for high-achieving students at your school.
At my HS, the super-high achievers do Bio → Chem → AP Physics 1 + AP Chem → AP Bio + AP Physics C. Definitely take bio first and then chem. Physics you should take whenever you concurrently enroll in precalc.
In my kids’ HS, the kids who have had Algebra 1 in 8th grade (or before) start with physics, then chem, then bio…so that’s what the stronger students typically do.
AP classes aren’t allowed until Junior year. Depending on grades and level in physics and chem, some students will take AP Bio, some bio/honors bio. Then an AP science senior year.
Agree with the others that you need to talk to your counselor. Hard to advise what’s appropriate at your school.
FWIW, our HS progression is:
9th - Regular or Honors Bio
10th - Regular or Honors Chem
11th - Physics (regular, honors or AP/IB) + could add a 2nd science, either AP/IB level or something like earth science
12th - AP/IB level of any science, or earth science or astronomy or ecology
Also, at our school most of the AP sciences require two class periods to allow for the lab part of the class.
My math-loving but not-science-focused kid took regular Bio, regular Chem, regular Physics, and plans on AP Physics in 12th.
My science-lover is taking/panning Honors Bio, Honors Chem, Physics (level TBD)+IB Bio or Chem (depends on which she likes best in 9th-10th), 2nd year of IB Bio or Chem+IB Environmental Systems