<p>my school only offers IB Studies and IB Math Methods... I'm in Methods 1 right now, and then I'd take 2... and afterwards I'd take AP Calc BC.</p>
<p>What is IB Mathematics like? Is the course being phased out because I don't know of any schools in my district that have if, if the school has the IB program.</p>
<p>Anyways, I think Stats is easier than Calc, but calc is a lot of fun, if you like math.</p>
<p>michael_pham,</p>
<p>IB Mathematics isn't being phased out; it just isn't widely offered because many American high schools aren't up to par with IB Mathematics. </p>
<p>One of the magnet schools in my area offers up to Calc BC, but recommended all their students to take IB Math Methods only because they had a good chance of pulling a good score from it, while they would still struggle on the IB Mathematics exam (or wouldn't score as high... most bright math kids, engineering-bound kids get around a 5, maybe a 6... most good math kids score around a 4, and smart kids who aren't exceptional in math might get a 3 or possibly a 4). But don't let these scores deceive you cuz IB Mathematics is really hard!</p>
<p>Remember, for IB Mathematics, you're competing against top students from Europe and Asia, and their math background frankly is much better and far more advanced than the vast majority of American high schools' math programs.</p>
<p>The simple solution: Take both.</p>
<p>But if you can't, take Calc. Stats is wicked easy and doesn't even seem like math.</p>
<p>Statistics is writing essays with numbers.<br>
Calculus is doing math with letters.
:)</p>
<p>i love calc and i hate stats. in fact, i despise it. in fact, i want to kill every single test of significance, theta with the mean population of the stupid null hypothesis of a sample's standard deviation over square root of n. </p>
<p>mr. stats man, i hate you and i wish you did not exist.</p>
<p>Is there a level of IB Methods that is equivalent to IB Mathematics?</p>
<p>Or what would I do if I maxed out Methods and Calc BC before high school is over?</p>
<p>What do you learn in IB Mathematics, I'm just curious... it sounds like a hard class, but also fun.
Like would level 1 of IB Mathematics be the course right after Calc BC?
And is there a way to take it if your school doesn't offer it?</p>
<p>calc kids don't give stats enough credit. they all bash it for how easy it is, yet at all the mu alpha theta competitions i kill them on the tests. if it's so easy, why don't they do well on it?</p>
<p>stats rocks my world!</p>
<p>"Is there a level of IB Methods that is equivalent to IB Mathematics?"</p>
<p>the math level is : IB Mathematics > IB Math Methods > IB Math Studies</p>
<p>"Or what would I do if I maxed out Methods and Calc BC before high school is over? And is there a way to take it if your school doesn't offer it?"</p>
<p>what grade are you in? if youre taking BC as a junior, then all i guess you can take is stats as a senior. IB won't let you take the exam unless you've spent a certain amount of hours taking the corresponding class at your high school. i wouldn't worry about it, just do your best on Math Methods if that's all that's offered. but if you're a junior, perhaps ask your school or IB coordinator to set up the IB Mathematics program just for you, and even if that means independent study with a calc teacher, then at least you're getting the classroom hours credits and you'll qualify to take the exam. [read my advice at the end of my post]</p>
<p>"I'm just curious... it sounds like a hard class, but also fun."</p>
<p>It can be fun, especially if you love math and if you love calc. the kids who went on to be engineering and science majors at my school didnt seem to mind IB Mathematics at all... i think it was pretty fun for them. </p>
<p>michael_pham, sounds like you're someone who'd enjoy the challenge. i'd suggest asking your IB coordinator to see if he/she can set up a program where you meet with a calc teacher during the school year so that way you get your hours and you can have your calc teacher guide you for the internal assessments (math projects) and also go over practice problems with you.
i remember two students at my high school finished BC by the time they were juniors, so they ended up just checking into my calc AB class to meet with the calc teacher so they'd get all their hours and get the help that they needed. but this is also because my high school did offer IB Mathematics.</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore... I do like challenges and math/science are two favorite subjects of mine.</p>
<p>I wouldn't get to BC until Senior year because the IB program doesn't let me skip math courses, but I've been studying it on my own.</p>
<p>I'll talk to my counselor about it later on this year.
I'm applying to a different school that does not have IB, but has courses that are higher than AP, so if I get in, I don't think I can take IB courses because they don't offer them.
If I don't get in, then I'd like to challenge myself in math/science.</p>
<p>I decided not to take pre-IB physics I because it was taught to slow, so I jumped straight into AP Physics concurrently with pre-IB chem.</p>
<p>I don't plan on going into engineering, I might do a science major, but I plan to go into the medical field.
So I guess I really have no use for these advanced math courses, but regular math courses don't challenge me enough.</p>
<p>well, a typical pre-med track does require you to finish one level above calculus ab and bc in college, i believe, as well as a series of biology, chemistry, and physics. </p>
<p>don't worry if your school doesn't offer IB. take advantage of what your school offers. what's even more impressive is if you can self-study and score well on difficult AP math/science exams without taking the class.</p>
<p>I was looking at the IBO site and it looks like IB Math Methods 1 = IB Mathematics HL 1.
IB Mathematics 2 is when it gets more rigorous than Methods 2.
So I guess I'm learning the same material right now. </p>
<p>I plan to self study many AP's if I don't stay at my current school. I'll probably take the exam for Comp Sci. AB (taking A this year), Physics C (taking B this year), Calc BC, and maybe Stats next year.</p>
<p>We do the AP program at my school, but AP Stats is ridiculuously easy and AP Calc is impossible.</p>
<p>To the OP- It seems like you're deciding between
1) IB Math Studies SL (stat based)
2) IB Math Methods SL (pre-calc/calc based) or IB Math HL (calc based + other topics)</p>
<p>I would choose based on what you want to do. If you're interested in psychology, for example, Math Studies (stats) would be a good choice. If you're interested in engineering, Math HL is definitely the class you need to take. I don't think easiness is an important factor in your decision (although calc IS harder). Even Math Methods and Math HL include stats in the curriculum. :) </p>
<p>michael_pham- The calculus in IB Math HL does not really go beyond the Calc BC AP level. Therefore, as far as calculus goes, IB Math HL is not any harder than Calc BC. However, IB Math HL does cover several topics not really covered in AP: discrete math, Eucl. geometry & conic sections, set theory, analytical geometry, etc. If you want to go further in calc, your school might offer calc III. If not, you might be able to study it on your own (I don't know how good you are in math). There are schools in CMS that offer calc III/MV calc; I'm not sure if yours does.</p>
<p>stats is easy and pointless...calculus is tough, but interesting</p>
<p>I love my AP Stat class because <corniness> it feels rewarding to prove stuff by manipulating numbers and I love my ti-89 </corniness>. My stat teacher is awesome. I love my AP calc class, too, but my teacher is so-so.</p>
<p>Calculus is so much better...
Its fun too</p>