AP physics double period or honors physics?

Anonymous
My DD is a global ecology student and they are required to take either AP physics 1/2 which is a double period or honors physics in 11th grade. A lot of her friends who have taken AP physics 1/2 have said it is a very difficult course. My DD is interested in biology and want to go premed track, so would it be better for her to take honors physics and score well rather than struggle with AP physics? She is seeing a lot of her friends choosing AP physics 1/2 and feeling a bit pressured . So far she has done honors bio, honors chem and she wants to do AP bio (double period) in 12th. I think it is better to take honors physics and do AP psych as it is more relevant to biology track in college. What do you guys think?
Anonymous
Personally I would encourage her to do honors physics and AP bio, but ultimately I would leave the decision in her hands.
Anonymous
My DS is in Global and he’s taking Honors Physics next year too. He’s taking a heavy other workload and we feel it’s too much.

I have an older child who is a Bio major in college. Make sure your kid takes AP Chem as a senior. It’s one of the worst weed out classes in college!

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My DD is a global ecology student and they are required to take either AP physics 1/2 which is a double period or honors physics in 11th grade. A lot of her friends who have taken AP physics 1/2 have said it is a very difficult course. My DD is interested in biology and want to go premed track, so would it be better for her to take honors physics and score well rather than struggle with AP physics? She is seeing a lot of her friends choosing AP physics 1/2 and feeling a bit pressured . So far she has done honors bio, honors chem and she wants to do AP bio (double period) in 12th. I think it is better to take honors physics and do AP psych as it is more relevant to biology track in college. What do you guys think?


I don't think AP Psych offers anything special to Biology preparation. Physics is required for pre-meds. Choose what you think she can handle.
Anonymous
Not at Poolesville, but AP Physics 1/2, which is Algebra based, is definitely a challenging pair of courses leading to 2 AP Physics exams. They have also shifted AP Physics C, the Calculus based course, into a double period class, but it has always had 2 exams.

If the workload for Jr year is otherwise very difficult, no need to pike on.
Anonymous
Is the expectation to take 2 AP Physics exams at the end of the year? AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2? If so, that is a lot to take on.
I assume they cover AP Physics 1 in semester 1 and AP Physics 2 in semester 2?
I hope the teacher is good because that is a lot of material to get through to kids even with a double period
Anonymous
Take the Physics class she is going to do well and that aligns with her interest. Take the AP Bio.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:My DD is a global ecology student and they are required to take either AP physics 1/2 which is a double period or honors physics in 11th grade. A lot of her friends who have taken AP physics 1/2 have said it is a very difficult course. My DD is interested in biology and want to go premed track, so would it be better for her to take honors physics and score well rather than struggle with AP physics? She is seeing a lot of her friends choosing AP physics 1/2 and feeling a bit pressured . So far she has done honors bio, honors chem and she wants to do AP bio (double period) in 12th. I think it is better to take honors physics and do AP psych as it is more relevant to biology track in college. What do you guys think?


Talk to her counselor about AP Physics 1 - just 1 and not 2 - only, a one year single period course. I am pretty sure it is being offered in other schools in MCPS and if they offer it in Poolesville, this is probably a better choice than honors physics. The course code according to the MCPS bulletin is SCI 2072 A/B.

See page 29 of http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2024.pdf. Good luck!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DD is a global ecology student and they are required to take either AP physics 1/2 which is a double period or honors physics in 11th grade. A lot of her friends who have taken AP physics 1/2 have said it is a very difficult course. My DD is interested in biology and want to go premed track, so would it be better for her to take honors physics and score well rather than struggle with AP physics? She is seeing a lot of her friends choosing AP physics 1/2 and feeling a bit pressured . So far she has done honors bio, honors chem and she wants to do AP bio (double period) in 12th. I think it is better to take honors physics and do AP psych as it is more relevant to biology track in college. What do you guys think?


Talk to her counselor about AP Physics 1 - just 1 and not 2 - only, a one year single period course. I am pretty sure it is being offered in other schools in MCPS and if they offer it in Poolesville, this is probably a better choice than honors physics. The course code according to the MCPS bulletin is SCI 2072 A/B.

See page 29 of http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2024.pdf. Good luck!


This is good advice. If she can just do AP Physics 1 as a single period, that would be best for most kids. AP Physics 1 and 2 together is a lot to handle
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DD is a global ecology student and they are required to take either AP physics 1/2 which is a double period or honors physics in 11th grade. A lot of her friends who have taken AP physics 1/2 have said it is a very difficult course. My DD is interested in biology and want to go premed track, so would it be better for her to take honors physics and score well rather than struggle with AP physics? She is seeing a lot of her friends choosing AP physics 1/2 and feeling a bit pressured . So far she has done honors bio, honors chem and she wants to do AP bio (double period) in 12th. I think it is better to take honors physics and do AP psych as it is more relevant to biology track in college. What do you guys think?


Talk to her counselor about AP Physics 1 - just 1 and not 2 - only, a one year single period course. I am pretty sure it is being offered in other schools in MCPS and if they offer it in Poolesville, this is probably a better choice than honors physics. The course code according to the MCPS bulletin is SCI 2072 A/B.

See page 29 of http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2024.pdf. Good luck!


This is good advice. If she can just do AP Physics 1 as a single period, that would be best for most kids. AP Physics 1 and 2 together is a lot to handle


Yes but the problem is , her global ecology program requires that the students take both AP physics 1 and 2 or take honors physics. I looked at the curriculum and whatever areas the honors physics is covering is covered in AP physics 1 and 2 combined... I guess that is why they have requirement to take both... but good advice to check with the counselor ... will definitely do that.
Anonymous
Old thread but any news on AP Physics at Poolesville now? Can Global take only AP Physics 1 instead of having to take 1 and 2?
post reply Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Message Quick Reply
Go to: