Progression for strong but not spectacular math student

[Anonymous]

DD, rising junior, is a strong student but math is her weakest subject. She’s just barely managed As in Honors Geometry (9th) and Honors Algebra 2 (10th). She’s registered for Honors Precalculus (11th) and considering AP Calculus (12th). Is that the normal progression? Do most kids who aren’t math savants take precalculus?

She thinks she wants to study biology or environmental science in college.

[Anonymous]

Yes precalculus is normal for a college-prep liberal arts high school education.

College requires Precalculus and Calculus for college graduation, and expects precalc ks in HS for STEM majors.

Your can drop down to non-honors precalc in 11, and/or non-AP calc or calc AB or AP stats or non-AP stats.

[Anonymous]

Very normal.

[Anonymous]

Fair warning: many consider honors precalc the hardest math class in HS.

[Anonymous]

At our school, Honors Precalculus is the hardest math class and the teachers show no mercy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fair warning: many consider honors precalc the hardest math class in HS.

This is because Algebra 2 teaches almost nothing, because, kids who don't want math are forced to take it for graduation, and then precalculus is stuck making up the slack after the honors kids spun their wheels for a year previous.

[Anonymous]

Is precalculus trigonometry? I don’t remember taking it in HS many years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is precalculus trigonometry? I don’t remember taking it in HS many years ago.

Among other topics, yes.

From the course bulletin:

"Precalculus completes the formal study of the elementary functions begun in Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. Students focus on the use of technology, modeling, and problem solving. Functions studied include polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, rational, radical, piece-wise, and trigonometric and circular functions and their inverses. Parametric equations, vectors, and infinite sequences and series are also studied."

[Anonymous]

Might want to consider regular precalc and then Calc AB. Honors Precalc can be brutal so depending on the rest of her schedule, might not be worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might want to consider regular precalc and then Calc AB. Honors Precalc can be brutal so depending on the rest of her schedule, might not be worth it.

+1