<p>I was originally planning to take AB next year, seeing as how it follows precalc at my school, however, my school also offers BC. My friend said that they're pretty much the same class plus like 1 chapter?? I didn't believe him because why would they say BC is the equivalent of the 2nd semester of college while AB is the first?</p>
<p>AB is the first semester of college calculus</p>
<p>BC is a year's worth of college calculus</p>
<p>basically, BC has (basic) integrals while AB only covers derivatives</p>
<p>AB is a ****<strong><em>, BC is really big *</em></strong>***************</p>
<p>BC is AB plus some extra topics (maybe a month to six weeks extra, but that translates to a much faster-paced class throughout the year). If you are talented at math (did extremely well in precalc), enjoy it, and want a challenging math class senior year, take BC.</p>
<p>If you did OK in precalc, but didn't find it all that easy, or if you have a lot going on and don't want to spend as much time on math senior year, AB is a better bet.</p>
<p>For the MOST PART, the only difference is 2 Chapters. This includes Power Series and another chapter of something else that isn't covered. For the most part, it's pretty much the same thing. Of course BC goes a little deeper into everything.</p>
<p>bc has more content
ab is not as fast paced, thus less content</p>
<p>amount of credit conferred.</p>
<p>BC essentially covers more material at a faster pace than AB.</p>
<p>Don't you have to take AB first before you take BC? At least that's what my school requires.</p>
<p>davidng, your school does things differently than the OP's school--your school's BC curriculum probably reviews the AB material faster and spends more time on test prep and the new BC topics. </p>
<p>Some other schools, like mine and the OP's, teach BC so that it's geared to students who have had precalc only. This makes it a faster-paced, more difficult class.</p>
<p>Does anybody know how many schools are like Davidng's? The normal progression at my daughter's school is to take AB if you take precalc in 11th grade; BC is treated as 2nd year calculus, which you would only get if you take geometry in 8th grade (5 students out of 275) or take Honors Alg II/trig (which incorporates Precalc), giving you an extra year for calculus.</p>
<p>What ses said is how it works at my school. If you are strong at math, take BC calculus. If you aren't, take AB calculus.</p>
<p>my high school (it was magnet goes)</p>
<p>Algebra 2 -> Precalc -> CalcBC -> Multivariable -> Linear Algebra/DiffEq -> NumberTheory, Date Structures</p>
<p>THere's so many classes in the sequence because freshman take a placement exam determining whether they get placed in Alg2, Precalc, or Calc. And believe it or not, there are SOME freshman who make calc.</p>
<p>
[quote]
And believe it or not, there are SOME freshman who make calc.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not surprising. One freshman takes AB, but then, BC in sopho, so..</p>
<p>
[quote]
For the MOST PART, the only difference is 2 Chapters.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Perhaps in your school, but the standard AB curriculum is 6-7 chapters of a calc text, and the BC curriculum includes the next ~7.</p>
<p>ses is correct. Check out a syllabus at any local Uni.</p>
<p>jesus truazn8948532 your school offers linear algebra to high schoolers?? ok well thanks for clarifying, i'm actually kinda surprised, thought BC was like a completely separate year</p>
<p>DuckTape:</p>
<p>many high schools do offer Calc AB as a full-year class since it's a slower math pace, but the typical schedule is AB-BC in one year, essentially completing AB in the first semester.</p>
<p>My school offers Calc BC as the Honors pace, and you can only take it if you're on the honors track.</p>
<p>For example:
Alg2Honors-->Precalc/CalcA-->CalcBC-->CalcD(2nd sem)
Calc A=First semester of Calc AB, supposedly.</p>
<p>The regular track is as follows:
Alg2-->Math Analysis-->CalcAB-->CalcCD</p>
<p>Calc CD is not an AP class; it's an honors class at our school, but they mainly prepare for the Calc BC test second semester.</p>
<p>There's no way to jump to the honors track if you're on the regular track, which sucks really.</p>
<p>Basically, the honors class takes a year's worth of Precalc in a semester.</p>
<p>um i am seeing some really inaccurate stuff. i dont know how some schools work, but my school does AB as derivitives (A) and the first half of integrals (B). BC is the second half of integrals (B) and the C part is another section not covered in AB. whether it is harder or not, there is no way you could take BC without knowing AB, you would be a fish out of water. You should take both, in alphabetical order</p>