In 7th grade, I took Algebra 2 in an online un-credited course via ALEKS. Now, in 9th grade, I am currently in geometry, and have to choose my classes for next year.
While it would’ve been preferable to skip geometry, I came into my new school late so I was unable to do so, and I am considering to skip Algebra 2, because I am 99.99% sure that I can pass the exam. However, I was told by my counselor that skipping the class would be on a normal regular 4.0 scale base, and getting anything besides a 100 on both exams (you have to take one for each semester) would lower it accordingly. I have to sign up for the test by May 12th, and the test will take place in mid-July, giving me about 2 months to review for it.
My plan is that if I DO take the exam and pass it, then I will go into AP Calculus AB after I study Pre-Cal over the rest of the summer. Obviously, if I don’t pass, then I will take Honors Algebra 2, equivalent to a 4.5 on the GPA, in which I am sure I will get good grades in.
Judging from my situation, what do you think I should do? Please remember that I am signed up for AP Biology, AP World History, and AP Physics 1 next year, and Calculus AB would add to that workload. Does the GPA boost from AP Calculus AB outweigh the regular Algebra 2 credit from the acceleration test, or should I just go ahead and take it next year?
The GPA bump or hit from one class on a 4 year GPA is infinitesimal. A weighted GPA only matters in the context of your HS for ranking. Colleges will either look at your UW GPA, or will reweight according to their own parameters.
So if you take AP Calc AB next year, what do you take Jr year? Calc BC? And then what do you do for math senior year? If you have post-Calc BC options, then that’s one thing. But if you don’t, then it makes little sense to accelerate so far and so fast.
Why is the choice between algebra 2 and calc in 10th? Suppose you review over the summer to try to test out of Algebra 2 and then take Precalc in 10th?
I would suggest finding out what is covered on the test by asking the Algebra 2 teacher nicely for copies of the syllabus and a final exam review packet. Find out if the class covers some trig as some honors algebra 2 courses might.
I most probably will not take a pre-cal class in high school because of how accessible it is to be self-taught, and I know numerous people who skipped pre-cal and learned it over the summer, who are currently doing perfectly fine in AP Calculus AB.
Besides that, thanks for the advice on asking the Algebra 2 teachers for a syllabus, I didn’t even think of it!
@skieurope In Junior year, I will take AP Calculus BC, and in senior year I have two options, to either take AP Stats or have a free period to focus more on extracurriculars or more science APs, since I would already have 4 math credits.
Thanks for the reply though, I didn’t realize that I might be accelerating too fast for no use. Definitely considering your advice now.
If you are a STEM major, I would probably advise taking a year off of Calc based math and taking Stats/No Math senior year, as it will make it hard to get back into the type of math you will be taking in college. An option could be using something like Khan Academy to review and re-study the class, but that probably won’t be as effective as simply having recently taken the class.
I’d suggest either testing out of Algebra 2, then going AP Stats 10th --> AP Calc AB 11th --> AP Calc BC or just PreCalc 10th --> AP Calc AB 11th --> AP Calc BC 12th.
A few more thoughts: I agree with @skieurope that it makes little sense to self-study two years of math over the summer if your school does not offer calc beyond the BC course.
In addition, I would explore, with a critical eye, whether the Aleks course in 7th grade sufficiently prepared you to skip your high school’s algebra 2 course. You would know more by seeing what the high school course covers, not just topics but the difficulty of the problems involved. A table of contents is not enough information.
For what it’s worth, different schools have slightly different sequences when it comes to AP calc; some set it up so that a year of AB is a prerequisite to a year of BC, while others cover the AB material within the one-year BC course. In my area, the usual sequence for an advanced student would be honors algebra 2 with trig, honors precalc, AP calc BC, and last, calc 3 if the student has time.
I agree with @dax123. No point accelerating to end up with no calculus-based math as a senior. These topics are like a foreign language - it’s harder to get back into them after having taken a year off. Since you’ll undoubtedly need calculus in college, I’d slow down.
Is calculus-based physics an option senior year? Otherwise, I agree that calc BC senior year is better. You need something senior year that keeps calculus fresh in your mind.
The basics of algebra 2 are pretty standard, but there are some “extra” topics that vary somewhat from textbook to textbook so definitely get a list of what will be on the exam. I don’t see a need to skip both algebra 2 and pre-calc. One year of “regular” math before starting calc AB may be helpful.
All three of my kids took Aleks Algebra 2 and Aleka Beginning College Algebra before starting public school in 9th grade. They all started in pre-AP (honors) Algebra 2 in 9th grade and found that there was some overlap, they learned much that they didn’t cover in Aleks. Most importantly the format was completely different, there is no ‘retesting’ in our public school if you make a stupid mistake it will bring down your grade.
As a parent that has had 3 kids do Aleks, I would STRONGLY suggest you take honors Algebra 2 and not skip it, a strong foundation in Algebra is essential for future success in math and science classes.
For what it’s worth, we homeschool until ninth grade. For math we used Singapore Math for elementary levels, supplemented with the Keys To … series workbooks, especially for fractions and measurements. Starting in 5th grade we switched to Aleks and supplemented with literature based texts like Murderous Maths and used Khan Academy. My kids were granted credit for Aleks Beginning College Algebra for high school Algebra I because it’s accredited by ACE, they took the credit by exam test for Geometry and started 9th grade in Algebra 2. I think Aleks is a great program but it does not cover all the material the Pre AP (honors) Algebra 2 covers.
I agree…if you are going into something STEM then you want to be taking some type of calculus (AB, BC, Multivariable) senior year so you don’t forget it. Can you take dual enrollment classes if you finish BC?