<p>After hearing all the horrible things about it, I am planning to skip Math 1B and take Math 54. I got a 5 on the calc bc test, but the problem is, I took calc back in junior year of high school, then stats for senior year. So my calc skills are definitely rusty right now. Should I really still skip 1B? And does anyone have any tips for reviewing for 54?</p>
<p>Go onto the math department website and try to take some of the sample math 1B exams. If you can do those, you’ll be fine. But to be honest, regardless, I doubt you’d do badly in Math 54 if you got a 5 in BC. Just take it and see if you can handle it. If not just drop it before the deadline! 1B is too risky to take!</p>
<p>I am in a similar situation with the OP, who got a 5 on BC but took it junior year. Because of that, I have forget much of calculus. Would it be wiser to selfstudy and review 1st semester and then take Math 54 next semester, rather than start with 1b? Why is 1B risky?</p>
<p>I just heard that 1B has a harsh curve and is a GPA killer ]: Does not want.</p>
<p>I’d recommend self-studying and, assuming you feel comfortable enough with Calculus BC material going into the fall, begin at Berkeley with Math 54. The Math 1B curve is notoriously difficult (one tagline I’ve heard about the class is that it is the “most failed class on campus”). Not to say that Math 54 is a cakewalk, but hopefully you’ll help your GPA by skipping Math 1B and save some time/tuition by getting a head-start on your math pre-requisites.</p>
<p>skip 1B, don’t worry about it for 54. the course will force-refresh your calculus skills later in the semester. 54 isn’t a calc class, so the integrals aren’t crazy by-parts or crazy u-subs everywhere. pretty straightforward, just focus on the linear algebra and intro diff eqxs.</p>
<p>Review the course outlines for 1B and 54 and the 1B final exams in the links found here:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1305840-freshman-math-faq.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-berkeley/1305840-freshman-math-faq.html</a></p>
<p>Note that 1B contains some introductory differential equations material that may not be in other calculus courses in high schools and colleges. So you may have to self-study that material if you go directly to 54.</p>
<p>The statement that Math 1B is the most-failed class at UCB is definitely an overstatement/overgeneralization. If you look at the most recent term available in schedulebuilder, you’ll see that one of the instructors gave 19% “F” grades but the other two gave 3% and 2%. And the one who gave 19% is retired now.</p>
<p>Just go straight to Math 54. You will be brought up to speed on differential equations quickly enough. All the calculus should come flooding back.</p>