Self Study for AP classes

<p>Hey, I just wanted to ask if anyone could give me a good opinion on how I should set up my AP's. I'm a math and science student and plan to take AP Calc AB/BC, AP World History, APUSH, and maybe AP Comparative Government as well. So, I will be a sophomore next year and I was wondering if I should take AP Calc AB or BC (I am a strong math student, but I don't want it to be too hard for me). Also, I plan to self study the AP Comparative, while taking a combination of Honors World History and self-study for the AP World test. I'd like to ask if it is wise to take all three history/humanities AP's along with AP Calc. Also, I was wondering if any of you know an AP course that is relatively easy to self-study with resources like books and the Internet because my school only offers about 7 AP's, and I plan on taking more. Also, if its possible please give me a rough estimate of the amount of effort I would need to put into each respective AP course/test. Keep in mind that I do enjoy learning history, but I don't have a lot of prior knowledge in the subjects. Sorry for so many questions and thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Doing more than one history is doable I suppose if you really like History.</p>

<p>AP Human Geography, AP Enviromental Science, and AP Psychology are the easiest to self study.</p>

<p>Does your school offer both AP Calc AB and BC? If so, then sign up for BC and self-study AB over the summer (won’t be too bad if you’re devoted). This is the best choice for a STEM student. </p>

<p>And each history class you take is a HUGE time drain. 3 history APs… may be too much for sophomore year. How about spreading it across the next 3 years?</p>

<p>Thanks for your responses, and I do love history, but I am taking them so that I can make some room for more science AP’s later on. Also, is AP Calc AB a prerequisite to AP Calc BC. I’ve asked around and the answers are all mixed. I guess my question would be do you have to take AP Calculus AB to take AP Calculus BC, if that makes sense. Thanks.</p>

<p>Calculus AB is like a subset of Calculus BC. Calc BC covers all of AB and more. </p>

<p>In college, Calc AB would be equivalent to 1 semester of Calculus, while BC would be 2 whole semesters. </p>

<p>For example, in the textbook I used ( Calculus by Larson, Hostetler, Edwards), Calculus AB is the first 6 or 7 chapters (omitting a few lessons in each chapter), and BC is the first 9 chapters, including all of those omitted lessons. </p>

<p>BC goes further and deeper than Calculus AB, so I recommend taking the BC class and self studying Calculus AB. The self-studying could take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on how efficient and devoted you are.</p>

<p>If you do, you will be fresh with derivatives and integrals once you start the BC class. The BC class will then review all of the AB material in the first few months.</p>

<p>If I do not self-study AP Calc AB and come into a BC class without prior knowledge of it, will I not be on the same page as everyone else?</p>

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<p>As BurnOut said, AB is essentially a subset of BC, intended for students that do not want to pursue a math course at a college pace. The prerequisites are identical; you’ll be fine.</p>