I am currently taking AP Calc AB. I just took a practice exam and got a 4 so let’s say that I get a 4 on the real exam. Should I still take Calc 1 in college even though I’m getting the credit from AB? I plan on majoring in Engineering so if I didn’t take Calc 1 I would just go straight to Calc 2.
You need to take a very careful look at what is in Calc 1 in the university that you will attend. For an engineering major, Calculus is something that you need to be very comfortable with (you WILL use it again).
There also might be restrictions if you get credit at the university for having passed the AP exam, regarding which calculus classes you are allowed to take. In the cases that I have seen getting AP credits amounts to the university giving you credit for already completing some specific course, so they won’t want you to take the same course again.
Are you able to contact the math or engineering department at the university that you will be attending and ask them?
This is a pretty easy decision to make. Get your hands on the Calc I syllabus and old tests, either through a Google search, or by calling the department directly. Take the tests. If they’re easy, move on. If you’re a little rusty, brush up on Kahn Academy (this never hurts anyway), and move on. If it’s over your head, repeat. Good luck.
Agree with #2 on trying the college’s old calculus 1 final exams to check your knowledge.
Be aware that college math courses will cover material faster than high school calculus AB.
Just a warning. Eons ago I got a 5 on the Calc BC exam. Placed out of two quarters of calc at Northwestern (biomedical engineering major). I got a C in the calculus class my freshman year. It definitely made me re-think engineering and I ended up switching majors after freshman year. If either of our kids find themselves in this predicament, we won’t report AP scores and have them start fresh in college.
The counter to @homerdog’s experience is my son. He got a 5 on BC and an A in Calc III (and every math that followed) and has been ahead ever since. It was an honors section where every student in the class scored a 5. Many had the experience mentioned above. Some scored in the 30s on the first test in a class graded on a strict 90, 80, 70 scale. Why? They assumed a 5 on the AP fully prepared them to be ready. For some it does. For some it does not. There is a large variability in the quality of math teaching in high school and the AP test can’t capture that. There are HUGE advantages to being ahead IF you are ready. Using the method above, originally passed on to me for my son by @ucbalumnus 3 years ago, you will know.
Most schools would advise you on what to do. I recommend taking the advice.
Some schools will place you based on a diagnostic test. So, they decide for you.
My University allowed you to skip one quarter of calc with a 5 on AB or a 4 on BC, you could skip 2 quarters with a 5 on BC. This was in a 4 quarter calc sequence.
OP’s other posts mention UF and UCF (Florida and Central Florida presumably).
Here is UF’s MAC 2311 (calculus 1) practice exam page: https://teachingcenter.ufl.edu/vsi/mac2311/
Note that UF has a special version of calculus 2 for students with calculus AB credit, called MAC 2512: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/courses/descriptions/mathematics.aspx#mac
Back in February you planned on majoring in Business, and now it’s engineering? UF and UCF will let you switch majors, fairly easily, so you do have time to explore.
As a business major, this is an easy choice, skip calc 1, Calc 2 isn’t required for bus admin, Finance only requires the easier Survey of Calc 2 class, and economics are recommends Calc 2 if you plan on pursuing graduate study.
For engineering, Calc 2 is by far the hardest in the Calc series at UF (or UCF). It’s a real PITA. You have a choice to make on Calc 1. First, take that practice exam that UCB linked above. If you struggle in it, then you should take Calc 1, no matter how you scored on the AP test.
Otherwise, take Calc 1 to better prepare you for Calc 2 and to pump up your GPA for the road ahead (which is what my daughter did at UF).
Or, skip the class and roll into Calc 2, but be prepared for the rigor on day one. I highly recommend Study Edge (at UF), to help prepare for the exams. (this is what my son will do at UF, but he’s skipping into Calc 3)
You’ll need to make that choice.
At UF’s preview, during the summer, they likely will not have the AP scores yet, so they will enroll you in Calc 1. However, once the fall semester starts, during “add/drop”, you can drop Calc 1 and add Calc 2 (UF will have your AP scores by then).
Good Luck!
A 4 on the AB exam would be enough of you’re a business major who will take 'calculus applied to business 2" but not enough for an engineering major.