I’m going to be a sophomore in the fall of 2018, and currently have an option to switch my schedule from taking AP Biology to taking Honors Physics.
Right now, the “AP Class” does not matter to me because I’ll eventually take both classes in my high school career, just debating which to do first.
Some background information on me: my weakness is math - I got around a 94 final average in Algebra II in my freshman year. I’ll be taking Pre-Calculus Honors this year. My overall concern is that the math in physics will be too difficult for me, but I also don’t want to take an AP Science class this year and then “downgrade” to a Honors class next year.
If you could share some advice, that would be very helpful! If you need any more information about me to give your opinion, please leave it in the comments below. Thanks!
Physics is all about the concepts and understanding how to apply those concepts into word problems. Also, math isn’t very big. You have to create equations and use those equations you create to the answer the question.
I’m of the belief that bio/chem/physics should be taken before AP Bio (or AP Chem or AP Physics C for that matter).
Algebra 2 as a freshman is advanced. A 94 is not weak. Please don’t say things like that - it sounds disingenuous.
It won’t be.
That is not evidence of weakness in math.
Check the prerequisites for the courses. Honors physics would be algebra-based at virtually all high schools. Concurrent with honors precalc, it’s hard to imagine you would have a problem.
My friend last year was in the same situation as you, except he also took AP Bio. For him, he told me AP physics 1 was really hard and he was a good math student. So I guess it depends not only on your math aptitude but as @NASA2014 said, about conceptualization and word problems and such as well.
94% in Algebra II does not really qualify as being weak in math, its still pretty good for most practical purposes. Honors physics (as opposed to calculus based AP) is just using simple algebra math, you should be fine. However if you just took honors bio, it might be best to directly follow up with bio AP, otherwise all those bio facts are easily going to be forgotten if you want to take AP Bio as senior. It also depends where your real interests are.
@nypapa
I agree with you, but most sophomores are not allowed to take AP Biology. That would depend on his high school’s prerequisite for AP Biology. For example, it is a known fact that a high school level chemistry course is a prerequisite suggested by the College Board to take before AP Biology. My school is a bit flexible and allows a student to take both Honors chem and AP Bio concurrently. The same way, every high school is different, so it would depend on the OP’s specific situation.
Usually the science sequence is Bio, Chem, Physics, and then an AP version of one of those. Why not Chem? If you can’t take Chem I would take Physics.
For me the pattern was Honors physical, AP Chem, AP Physics C Mechanic/E&M then AP Bio.
I really can’t comment on your math skills because as people have said a 94 is not bad if you think you have a firm grasp. One thing I do wanna say is if you think you are good at memorization take Bio. AP Bio is basically memorizing the crap out of everything, The AP exam is especially just reciting memorized fact. ON the opposite side, honors physic might not be the best class depending on the teacher, that is the one class I got an A- because the teacher could not teach and his tests made no sense.
On another matter I would recommend skipping Pre-calc tbh… I did it and went to AB after studying pre-calc for 2 month during summer. The concepts that you learn in Pre-calc raerly used in Calculus
Chemistry knowledge is generally required for AP bio. Physics is lots of word problems so if you struggle with abstract concepts and word problems go with Honors chem.
I would recommend the OP following the school’s math track as opposed to taking advice from HS students (or college students or adults for that matter) who are neither familiar with the curriculum at your school or your own ability. Just because some other kid did it does not mean it’s appropriate for you. It’s called pre-calc for a reason. Additionally, at many schools, the last couple of months of pre-calc is actually a start on the Calc AB topics. So skipping (assuming the school would even allow it) could put you a few months behind your classmates.