AAP math track

[Anonymous]

Which year do you do AP stats if starting Algebra 1 in 7th? Looking at McLean HS catalog. See AP stats and Mutlivar/linear but does is not an AP? Trying to understand sequence.

[Anonymous]

It’s been awhile, but I don’t believe there is a prerequisite for AP Stats, so anytime. Some kids will take it as their only math course senior year. Multivar/linear after Calculus.

[Anonymous]

I teach AP stats. The only prerequisite is algebra 2. After that, you can take it any point, concurrently with another course or as a stand alone math class.

The only thing I wouldn’t do is step off the calculus track to take stats if you plan to go back to calc, as it is so different. Most advanced kids take it concurrently with calc or after they finish calc at my school.

[Anonymous]

Alg 7th leads to Calc BC 11th. I think Multivar is an option in 12th but only 4 or 4.5 points? So if trying to max out GPA for regular decision applications, it might be better to hold off on that and do AP Stats in 12th instead… although would be considered a bit less rigorous. Depends on a variety of factors like how much you value maxing out the GPA metric, whether student is planning to progress further in theoretical math, if they plan on taking Physics C senior year, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alg 7th leads to Calc BC 11th. I think Multivar is an option in 12th but only 4 or 4.5 points? So if trying to max out GPA for regular decision applications, it might be better to hold off on that and do AP Stats in 12th instead… although would be considered a bit less rigorous. Depends on a variety of factors like how much you value maxing out the GPA metric, whether student is planning to progress further in theoretical math, if they plan on taking Physics C senior year, etc.

Yeah, if going into computer science, math, etc. in college then doing Multivar/Linear Algebra in 12th is really useful for knocking that course out of the way and opening up options for other classes while in college, which in turn makes grad school easier and more interesting and so on.

[Anonymous]

Is track same for IB schools? I thought for IB there are some 2 year long math courses. Is that calculus for 2 years? Or are math classes same for IB program where do algebra 2 then pre calc then calc then multi-var?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alg 7th leads to Calc BC 11th. I think Multivar is an option in 12th but only 4 or 4.5 points? So if trying to max out GPA for regular decision applications, it might be better to hold off on that and do AP Stats in 12th instead… although would be considered a bit less rigorous. Depends on a variety of factors like how much you value maxing out the GPA metric, whether student is planning to progress further in theoretical math, if they plan on taking Physics C senior year, etc.

Yeah, if going into computer science, math, etc. in college then doing Multivar/Linear Algebra in 12th is really useful for knocking that course out of the way and opening up options for other classes while in college, which in turn makes grad school easier and more interesting and so on.

Exactly, whereas if going into Data Science, Social Science, etc. then I'd prioritize AP Stats as it's more directly applicable as a foundation to their future studies, along with the GPA bonus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is track same for IB schools? I thought for IB there are some 2 year long math courses. Is that calculus for 2 years? Or are math classes same for IB program where do algebra 2 then pre calc then calc then multi-var?

I teach at an IB school. IB math classes are survey courses. They'll have some calc, some stats, some discrete math, all rolled into one class. Analysis has more calc, applications has more stats, but both have some of everything, which means the problems include some of everything--your statistics questions could have calculus embedded, while in AP stats there is no calc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alg 7th leads to Calc BC 11th. I think Multivar is an option in 12th but only 4 or 4.5 points? So if trying to max out GPA for regular decision applications, it might be better to hold off on that and do AP Stats in 12th instead… although would be considered a bit less rigorous. Depends on a variety of factors like how much you value maxing out the GPA metric, whether student is planning to progress further in theoretical math, if they plan on taking Physics C senior year, etc.

How does Physics C tie in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is track same for IB schools? I thought for IB there are some 2 year long math courses. Is that calculus for 2 years? Or are math classes same for IB program where do algebra 2 then pre calc then calc then multi-var?

I teach at an IB school. IB math classes are survey courses. They'll have some calc, some stats, some discrete math, all rolled into one class. Analysis has more calc, applications has more stats, but both have some of everything, which means the problems include some of everything--your statistics questions could have calculus embedded, while in AP stats there is no calc.

So is applications class in IB akin to taking AB calc and analysis to taking BC calc? Asking NOT in the subject matter material being covered but if the lesser track AB calc is similar to taking applications (and BC calc similar to the analysis)? Thanks and a related kudos to HS kids taking classes that mix the math elements- gads, for sure seems harder math world than mine from 1000 years ago.