AP Precalculus vs Honors Precalculus

[Anonymous]

My 9th grader is taking Honors Algebra 2 currently and we're looking at options for next year between AP Precalculus vs Honors. Does anyone have any idea if there's a big difference between the 2 courses? Obviously the AP one would be ideal but we don't want to overshoot and have her take a class that will be extremely challenging for her. She'll also be taking another AP class. Thanks for any insight.

[Anonymous]

AP Precalculus will be a new class offered for the first time in 23-24.

[Anonymous]

AP Precalculus is a new course for 2023-2024, so people probably don't have experience with it.

[Anonymous]

(And since it's new, maybe talk to to the teacher to see what he or she might recommend based on your student's current performance)

[Anonymous]

I don't believe AP PreCalc is offered at our high school. At least, it wasn't an option when my 9th grader registered for classes last month.

Even if it were offered, I would advise my 9th grader to take honors. Her older sister - now a junior - took Honors Pre-Calc. The class is difficult enough plus the teachers at her school weren't the best in teaching Honors Pre-Calc, I see no reason for her to do AP Pre-calc.

[Anonymous]

Check with your counselor because this is a new class at MCPS. As it is currently, there is an enormous difference between Precalculus and Honors Precalculus. Many drop down during the first few weeks of school.

[Anonymous]

Given that the AP is new next year, it may very well Le that it covers the same content as honors pre calc currently does. I would talk to the teacher to understand any planned differences.

[Anonymous]

I am wondering if colleges will give credit it? Is AP just really a brand name now?

[Anonymous]

AP Precalculus is unique from all other APs because Precalculus is not a college-level class. Michele Breen, Math Department Head, says, “Typically, AP classes are for college credit. Precalculus is a senior-level course so it is a new thing for the College Board to offer a non college-level class as an AP”.

The College Board says the goal of the new AP Precalculus course is to prepare a much broader group of students to thrive in college math courses by giving them an opportunity to take a class at the college-level intensity in high school, regardless of where they start in high school math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP Precalculus is unique from all other APs because Precalculus is not a college-level class. Michele Breen, Math Department Head, says, “Typically, AP classes are for college credit. Precalculus is a senior-level course so it is a new thing for the College Board to offer a non college-level class as an AP”.

The College Board says the goal of the new AP Precalculus course is to prepare a much broader group of students to thrive in college math courses by giving them an opportunity to take a class at the college-level intensity in high school, regardless of where they start in high school math.

What a bunch of BS. Are they going to start offering AP English 9 & 10. Sick of the money grab!

[Anonymous]

Honors Pre Calc prepares you for AP Calc BC (though many will still take AB). Is AP Pre Calc designed to prepare for AB or BC? I wonder if Honors might be the more rigorous class?

[Anonymous]

Will colleges even give credit for it? It doesn’t looks like our school (BCC) Is offering it next year.

[Anonymous]

Which schools are offering it? It doesn't show up in the MCPS course listings for 2023-24. https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseLists/Index/234/#Mathematics_Courses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP Precalculus is unique from all other APs because Precalculus is not a college-level class. Michele Breen, Math Department Head, says, “Typically, AP classes are for college credit. Precalculus is a senior-level course so it is a new thing for the College Board to offer a non college-level class as an AP”.

The College Board says the goal of the new AP Precalculus course is to prepare a much broader group of students to thrive in college math courses by giving them an opportunity to take a class at the college-level intensity in high school, regardless of where they start in high school math.

What a bunch of BS. Are they going to start offering AP English 9 & 10. Sick of the money grab!

Total money grab. What a joke that College Board is considered a nonprofit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The College Board says the goal of the new AP Precalculus course is to prepare a much broader group of students to thrive in college math courses by giving them an opportunity to take a class at the college-level intensity in high school, regardless of where they start in high school math.

But there won't be college level intensity given 50% minimums, the expectation of ongoing retesting, skewed semester grade calculations favoring higher grades, restrictions on the number of assignments and their point values, no consequences for missing many classes...