Should I take AP Calculus next year?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m an IB diploma candidate, so AP Calc would be Math HL, as opposed to Math SL (“the easier”). This is for my schedule next yr (junior yr).

I’m hesitant about taking it because I think it’ll be too hard. I’m okay at math (if I really try), but I’m not one of those “math geniuses”. I got A’s both semesters of algebra and geometry. I’m currently in algebra 2 w/Trig and I got a B- last semester (I didn’t try as much as I could have). However, this last semester of math, I’ve gotten over 100%, 100%, or really close to a 100%, on most of the tests. I got a 93 last quarter, and a 99 this quarter, so my semester grade is a 95. I know I’ll get an A this semester. This is the hardest part of math, but I’m doing the best I’ve ever done in all my years of doing math. Maybe it’s because I’m more motivated?

But I’m not sure if I should take AP Calc, even if I’m doing well this semester. I feel like if I remained motivated, I could so it. But I’m too scared. I would like an A in the class.

What so you guys think?

2

I am not a math genius either and I currently have an A in Calc BC. Getting a good grade in the class is easy. Actually understanding what you are doing is a different story. I recommend that you take the class and not the AP test. I wasted 90 bucks on it. Don’t worry. Calculus is not what people make it out to be. It is just like any other math class where you learn a bunch of rules and learn to problem solve and use the formulas. You could also do precalc first. That is what everyone at my school does.

3

Thanks you!! Any more suggestions?

4

Personally, I think that the AP Calc test is one of the easier AP tests. Don’t get me wrong: the math is difficult, but you really only need to master two topics (the derivative and the integral). However, if you’re in Alg 2/Trig right now, you might want to take a Pre-Calc class before taking AP Calc.