I am currently a sophomore in high school and have been struggling in my calc class… Math has always been my best subject, the class that I never worried heavily about. I first got into the AIME in 7th grade and have never gotten anything lower than a A in a math class. However, this year, I dont understand why I am struggling in Calc. Last year, my pre-calculus class was ridiculously easy because I had learned all of it myself (tried to skip, but got a 86 on the final when the cutoff was 90). Because of this, I literally wasted a year doing nothing. Now, I have a B+ in my class and I really need some help or advise…
Separate question, but do you think a 5 on the AP test would help the teacher move my grade up?
err, you’re struggling in calc because you struggled to get an A in pre-calc and will probably struggle for all subsequent math classes unless you hit some random exponential mental growth or change your learning methods
srry brah
@Hawkace agreed lol not that many people take it as a sophomore
Im in a very similar position as you, Sophomore struggling in Calc BC, while I did very well in Pre-Calc, though I always get a couple questions off from making AIME. Im not entirely sure why its so hard, but I suspect its because of a couple reasons.
- Ive never really had to study math before, I practiced some outside of school and was always well ahead and could understand stuff easier. So I was never really trained to study math. Other older students are more accustomed to studying and learning with the teacher, which helps them.
- Calculus BC is also very different from other math topics, From Algebra to Pre-Calc, the classes have many similarities with the previous one and just builds up, but Calculus teaches alot more new things that was never covered in previous math classes. Pre-Calculus and especially AIME practice don't help with integrals and derivatives.
I’ve heard for a lot people that Calculus is the first hard math class they take.
Im dont think teacher would move your grade up from doing well on the AP exam as it is separate from your class.
AP Calculus BC isn’t meant to be easy, it’s meant to be challenging. It’s good that you’re somewhat struggling, at least you’re human.
You shouldn’t do BC Calc after pre-calc, unless your pre-calc was basically half calculus.
Buy study guides, study with other people, watch Khan Academy videos. You must be missing some concepts if you are doing poorly (even if you consider poorly not managing an A).
Many people self-study AP classes, you can self-study and take the course. Sometimes the study guides are better than the course.
I’m wondering though, do you have a drastic need to be that far ahead in math? Or is that normal at your school? BC is usually junior or senior year, even for kids targeting Ivies and other top schools.
And often it is better to take Calc 1 at your college so that you learn what their focus is. It can be quite a revelation when a student finds out their AP class was focused on the test and their college calc classes focus on applications.
I also have to agree with others who say Calc BC is meant to be challenging, its much more fast paced than if you were to take Calc AB. I chose BC, because we had the option to take it instead of AB in my school, which most honors pre calc students decided to do, plus I didn’t want to fall behind and expected it to be much easier.
I live in the Northern Virginia region, which is highly competitive in math. In middle school I took Algebra 2 with 16 other students, which is where I learned most of Pre-calc . Those 16 went on to go to TJ, (number 1 high school), I was left in my regional high school 
. Also our Pre-calc class was almost Calc 1 (limits, derivatives, etc…), so most of the students who take Pre-calc go onto BC
Probably not, but the point is moot until such time as you actually get a 5 on the AP test.