Should I take Pre-Calculus honors next year or Pre-Calculus over the summer?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m a current sophomore struggling in math (hardcore procrastinator :/). Right now, I’m holding a B- or a B in Algebra 2. First quarter ends in two weeks so if I try my very best, it’d be possible to earn a grade of an A- or higher. I plan to take BC in my senior year btw.

Also, the reason why I’m struggling in math is because I just transferred to a small private high school late. If I transferred earlier, then it’s possible for me to maintain a grade of an A- or higher.

So if I do earn a grade of an A- or higher for 1 year, should I take pre-calculus over the summer and take calculus ab in my junior year or do pre-calculus honors in my junior year and hopefully pass with an A- or higher to meet the prerequisites for calculus BC? My goal is to take BC in my senior year so that I have experience with calculus before I enter college.

FYI, I plan to major in computer science.

2

It looks as though the best course of events for you is to take honors pre-calc next year and review some essential algebra and trig concepts over the summer. Unless your school counts it as a pre-requisite, calc AB usually shouldn’t be taken before BC since one of the semesters overlaps(in most schools).

Great major btw.

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If you are getting a B/B- in Algebra then please DO NOT take Pre-Calculus over summer. Even if you do pass it, you’ll be in for a rude awakening in Calculus.

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@super5000ify BC before AB? I’m assuming you meant to say to take AB first?

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@WorryHurry411 No, at many schools, AB isn’t taken at all; all of calculus is learned in pre-calc and calc BC.

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@super5000ify I wouldn’t generalize and say “at many schools.” Every school in my area counts AB and BC as a sequence.

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@Shanban1607 And in every school in my area, AB is not necessary for BC.

Hence the reason why I stated the two alternatives in my original comment and based the optimal decision for OP on whatever their school offers.

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Most students in our district take AB first but usually after taking BC, they regret wasting their time as you revise all of AB stuff in first semester of BC. Most who are strong in maths, skip AB.

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^^^^^^^^ that is what happens in our high school as well

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@WorryHurry411 procrastination at its finest :stuck_out_tongue: I still haven’t developed study habits, yet. Eh… starting next week, I’ll set those bars high lol(facepalm).

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Also, should I take geometry at a community college for credits? I haven’t taken geometry as a class before so is it recommended that I should?

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Over the summer of next year, I’m actually planning on self-studying Pre-calculus w/ trig through khanacademy’s website.

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@inVisiblee , did you go straight from Alg 1 to Alg 2? If you are making Bs in Alg 2.

I would work on your study habits and if you are doing all the homework then you might need another source, such as Khan, or another textbook from another author

I would supplement your Alg 2 class with another Algebra 2 source which would require you to study on non school work Algbra 2.

I would not rush ahead. I think getting to precal in 12th is just fine.

If you don’t have a strong foundation in math it will call a failure in high math.

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@VANURSEPRAC , yes I did go straight from alg 1 to alg 2. Surprisingly, I scored the 79th percentile specifically on the math section (75th percentile and above is passing rate) on the entrance exam for the private high school I recently transferred to.

Yes, I agree with you. My study habits are pretty lame but starting next week, I’ll try whatever it takes to develop better study habits. Anyways, first quarter ends in two weeks and if I try my very best, I should be able to work my way on earning a grade of an A- or higher.

I’m not rushing. Well, in your interpretation, technically I am but I’m actually not. My goal is to have experience with calculus before I enter college. As long if it’s calculus ab or bc in my senior year then I’m fine with that.

“If you don’t have a strong foundation in math it will call a failure in high math.”
You’re wrong and you’re right. Last year, I didn’t really have a strong foundation in math and my teacher (dunno why I’m blaming on my last year’s math teacher) was absolutely terrible in teaching math. I had a really hard time understanding the way she teaches math and her freakin indian accent.

I decided to not to try in that depressingly, boring class for the entire year and ending up earning a grade of a C in 1st semester and a D- second semester. Like for example, I tried self-studying common core confusion 1 (math class I took last year) but I simply gave up after 20 - 30 minutes.

Fast forward to second semester, I slowly became depressed. I decided to not try in school and so I… consequently earned those mediocre-like grades…(except intro to comp sci cuz I somewhat enjoyed it and happily achieved a grade of an A- lmao.)

Yeah, that pretty much sums of the story of my terrible experience in my freshmen year. Sorry for bothering you to read my super long response (ultimate facepalm).

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I wish you luck.

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@VANURSEPRAC Thanks! Thanks for taking your time providing feedback as well :smiley:

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@TrumpFTW I’m definitely sure the school won’t “force” me to take calc ab and calc bc as a sequence. I checked the prerequisites for BC like over 10x lol.

I’m planning to take pre-calculus honors in my junior year. Then in my senior year, I’ll take BC if I’m qualified to take the class.

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The only thing that you need to know for Calc is trig. Other than that Pre-Calc is pretty much forgotten by the time you get to AP Calc. I would definitely take it over the summer, the class sucked, and it was a waste learning all these things you will either not use again, or re learn in one day.