<p>I was referring to those (not necessarily you) who don't understand the range of systems out there. If I recall correctly, there was discussion earlier about the differences among schools in organizing their curriculum. Some offer a choice of AB or BC, some offer AB followed by BC, some offer only AB, some offer AB with some students self-studying the rest of BC, etc.</p>
<p>OK, let's go over it again.</p>
<p>BC calculus is paced like college calculus. Let's call it 100 miles per hour.</p>
<p>AB calculus is paced at half that speed. 50 miles per hour.</p>
<p>Both AB and BC start at the same place. Calculus Knowledge (CK) = 0.</p>
<p>So if you master BC calculus, at the end of your high school year, you will have completed the equivalent of one college year or two semesters of calculus. CK = 1. If you took AB instead, you will have mastered a half year or one semester of college calculus. CK = .5 </p>
<p>There would be no reason to take AB and BC at the same time, unless you wanted be really confused. It would be like listening to a song in your right ear, and listening to the same song in your left ear played at half the speed.</p>
<p>You said your son wants to take AB. I see no reason not to let this be his choice. I can see if he were going into science or engineering, a school might wonder why he didn't opt for BC. Other than that, I don't think it would have an effect sufficient to outweigh his experience in suffering through a class he doesn't want to take.</p>
<p>My daughter is at an Ivy. She didn't even take AP level calculus.</p>
<p>"So if you master BC calculus, at the end of your high school year, you will have completed the equivalent of one college year or two semesters of calculus.
There would be no reason to take AB and BC at the same time"</p>
<p>Some schools offer a choice between AB and what they call BC but really should call "ABC".</p>
<p>Finishing BC is the end of a certain college sequence, but it is an exaggeration to call it one college year, at least for math and science types at good schools, where BC is often finished within first term freshmen year and a large number of students start with multivariable calculus and linear algebra first year.</p>
<p>Too late to edit. I meant to say:</p>
<p>Some schools offer AB to be follewed by what they call BC but is really just "C" , after a review of AB and possibly adding some topics. Many offer a choice between AB and what they call BC but really should call "ABC".</p>
<p>Stanford has decided to require economics majors to take multivariable calculus / linear algebra as a prerequisite to economics courses after the beginning two quarter sequence. This includes the econ policy types, not just the mathematical economics types.</p>
<p>Of course, its possible to take the BC-level course as a first term freshman and not be behind, except that you may be in a course with sandbaggers who have already been exposed to BC or didn't get a high enough grade on the AP exam.</p>