Can you take calculus bc without ab

Have any of you done this before? They aren't courses that are taken consecutively Geometry- 8th, don't remember what I made, wasn't as high as usual.

Algebra II- 9th, , lowest test was a Precalth, 94, ditched the midterm because I had a and I felt sick that day. Arrogant might be you saying "wasn't as high as usual" or something. Different schools have different policies. At my old high school, they let you take BC without AB, and then you can take a Multivariable course.

The people that aren't good at Pre-Calc take Adv. Functions and Modeling or Discrete Math. The others take Calc BC. Calculus AB covers derivatives, definite integrals and the fundamental theorem of calculus. Calculus BC, on the other hand, covers a full year of college-level calculus over the same period of time.

It includes the topics covered in Calculus AB as well as parametric functions, polar functions, vector functions and analysis of series. If you did well in precalculus, especially if you found the class perhaps a bit too easy, you should consider going ahead to Calculus BC. Other factors to take into consideration regarding whether to choose Calculus AB vs.

The biggest difference is that BC includes two additional major topics. AP Calculus BC is very difficult, so students skipping AB should be confident in their abilities and have dedicated time for studying calculus.

However, for talented students this is probably the best option. Even if they struggle with the BC topics, the AB subscore on the exam can ensure they receive college credit for the AB portion of the course.

This is the standard pathway for many school districts. This ensures that when students take Calculus BC they have already been exposed to the main concepts and can focus on the more difficult concepts to ensure they get a 5 on the AP exam. As we discussed above, some schools require more class periods for BC Calculus since it covers more material. Would this cause you to have to give up an extracurricular, like band or newspaper? Or give you less flexibility in other parts of your schedule?

If you have to give up an extracurricular you're very involved in, a language course, or another AP class, you'll have to decide if taking BC Calculus is worth it for you. If you want to study science or engineering, it likely will be. But if you're undecided or think you're going into the humanities or social sciences, it might be better to take AB Calculus. Push for BC Calculus if you're fairly certain you want to pursue engineering , natural sciences, or pre-medicine studies in college.

BC Calculus will allow you to challenge yourself with a fast-moving, college-level math course, which will give you the skills you will need for engineering and science classes. And even if you have to take a few math classes in college, AB Calculus will give the preparation you need.

Often, some of the best math teachers at a school teach the AP courses. But it's also possible that less effective teachers end up in those classes, especially if more students than expected sign up for AP Calculus. So how do you figure out whether the AP Calculus teachers are your school are good? See the workload is like. Also see how the teacher integrates practice AP problems and full exams. If AP exam practice isn't part of the course, that can be a red flag.

Older siblings and their friends, as well as older friends from clubs and sports, are a good place to start. Don't trust student word-of-mouth entirely, but if you hear the same thing from multiple students "the BC calculus teacher is amazing!

If they have a high passing rate above the national average that's a good sign. If it's markedly lower, you might want to reconsider. One thing to keep in mind: it's possible that if your school has an excellent BC teacher but a less strong AB teacher, BC could actually be easier since you'll be learning the same concepts with a better teacher.

If you're especially reliant on your teachers in math classes, you might want to take the course with the better teacher. Which other math classes should you take? Check out our guide to the math classes you should take in high school. Interested in math competitions like the International Math Olympiad? One of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school in conjunction with how well you do in those classes.

Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. Halle Edwards graduated from Stanford University with honors.