<p>Is it wise to take both the AP Caclulus BC test and the AP Calculus AB test at the same time? For example, not take the AP Calculus AB class, but still take the test while taking the BC Calc class and taking the test? Does this prove to colleges that you know everything in AB and BC? Would you just recommend taking the BC test if you already know everything in the AB but haven't taken the actual AP CAlculus AB test? Would colleges naturally assume if you get a 5 on the BC Calc test, you would be good enough to get a 5 on the AP Calc AB Test also? I know their is an AB subscore portion on the BC calc test but would it still be necessary to take the AP Calc AB test?</p>
<p>I don't think its necessary to take the AB test if you take the BC.. because yeah, there's a subscore.</p>
<p>well because there is a signficant overlap in terms of questions for the AB and BC exams, one cannot take the AB and BC tests the same year. at many schools calc bc is just a review of calc ab with a few added topics like infinite series and polar/parametric eqns so i guess if one took calc bc and did well it would be assumed that he/she has a mastery of calc ab material. however at other schools calc bc starts off with a quick review of ab material and then the bc topics and then other stuff like multivariable/vector calc so i guess you really should ask either former students from your school or your teachers.</p>
<p>No you can't even do that...One can't take both tests. The collegeboard prevents that. If you're really ambitious take the BC test, Colleges treat that just as much as if someone took the AB test.</p>
<p>Well you're not necessarily as good in AB if you do well only in BC; I know several people that get lower scores on the AB Subscore than on the actual BC test.</p>
<p>Is only the BC section looked at by colleges?</p>
<p>AB calculus is just a subset of BC and thus a BC course should cover the AB portion. The BC test has an AB component for which you get a separate AB subscore. Colleges that give credit for AB will give it based on that subscore if it is high enough and your BC overall isn't. You really cannot take the separate AB and BC test in the same year because they are always given in May on the same day and at the same time, and so you need to choose. Moreover, there really is no reason to take both if you take the BC.</p>
<p>would it be okay to take the AB class and AP AB test one year and then take the BC class and AP BC test the next year?</p>
<p>Does the AP Cal AB subscore count toward the AP awards?</p>
<p>As to taking AB course and test one year and BC course and test the next, there are actually some high schools that divide their courses that way, requiring you to first take an AB course before you can take BC (what they are basically doing is turning a one year BC course into two years). And at others you can possibly do it but that will depend on the high school's own rules as to what you can take. </p>
<p>The AB subscore of the BC test does not count towards the AP awards. To date, I have yet to figure out how having the AP award means anything extra for anything -- having the scores to submit to the college is all that counts.</p>
<p>the ab subscore of the bc test does not count.. but the ab test counts..
so if u took ab one year, and bc the next, you would have two calc scores to get national/distinction/honors</p>
<p>What prep books are good for Calc AB and BC, respectively?
I'll be taking the classes, so I'll need books for reviewing, taking practice tests, and teaching myself the material that my class didn't cover.
I'll take AB this year and BC next year.</p>
<p>so is it safe to assume if you get a 5 on the bc calc exam and a 5 on the subset AB exam of the BC calc test, colleges will naturally assume your proficient in both bc calc and ab calc?</p>
<p>Absolutely. Colleges that give credit for AP scores will generally give you credit for the first two college calculus courses (2 semesters total) for your BC score if it is high enough. They generally give credit for only the first college calculus course for the AB score. They do not view AB as being something different from BC; instead they view AB as just being the first half of BC.</p>
<p>if i get a 2 on calc ab, but a 4 or 5 on calc bc, what will colleges think?</p>
<p>^ That’s virtually impossible unless you purposely screw up the AB exam</p>
<p>Actually, I think that could be possible. If someone took Calc AB one year, didn’t prepare well or try, didn’t study, gets a 2, then next year takes Calc BC, and tries hard and learns it all, and then does really well on the AP. Unlikely, yet still possible.</p>
<p>Haha, AB and BC are literally at the same time. Unless you can be in two places at once (or have a time-turner), you can’t take both.</p>
<p>So, should I take AP Calculus AB instead of AP Physics? Why is AP Physics not recommended over AP Calculus?</p>
<p>I’m probably beating up a dead horse now, but you cannot take both AP Calculus AB and BC in the same year. That’s why CB schedules them at the exact same time.</p>