AP Calc AB or BC?

[Anonymous]

DS is in 9th grade taking Honors Precalc, with usually a 95% average. If he takes AP Calc BC in 10th, the school offers AP Stats and multivariable calculus with differential equations as extra classes for 11th and 12th grade.

His math teacher told him to pick what he wanted. DS is worried about getting a lower grade than a 95% in Calc BC, but also likes taking the hardest tracks, because he's very competitive. He's had no trouble so far with the advanced courses he's doing this year and he wants to have a good enough profile to be considered for top schools (we know it's a lottery). Most days he finishes his work in a few minutes at home, because he does most of it at school.

Personally I feel that he's up to it, but I don't want to stress him out.

Any insights on how hard Calc BC is compared to Calc AB, or any advice, is much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

It depends a lot on your school. At my kids' private school, AB is totally straight forward calculus. BC is an exceedingly difficult class--the tests always have the concepts applied in new and different ways. The problems are things the kids have never seen before on homework, in lecture etc. At this school, only about 10/80 kids take BC so it's really only taken by the very strong STEM kids who will go on to study math or engineering in college.

At other high schools (most publics) both classes are pretty straightforward--the BC class just covers another semester of material (calculus C).

[Anonymous]

Assuming the school is following the AP curriculum and not going rogue, AB will not prepare as well for multivar. Take BC.

[Anonymous]

It's a difficult class - but by that I mean that my son who normally gets an A+ in math is running a B+, almost A-. I would take it.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you.

I didn't know AP classes differed between privates and publics. My son is in public school.

So I suppose the next question is: how does it look for college admissions to have a B in Calc BC, rather than an A in Calc AB?

[Anonymous]

Depends on how it’s taught. My son was the same as yours in 9th. We are at a private and most kids take AB…my son was told to take BC. At our school, they teach BC like the kids already took AB. So, BC starts with a monthlong review of AB then goes right into new topics. So, my kid was basically screwed trying to teach himself all of AB in a month. His teacher was an unhelpful ding dong. So, he basically did AB on Kahn academy while taking BC. He ended up with an A- (only non A/A+ grade in his life) and a 4 on the exam.

Ended up fine, but it was a complete PITA for him and if he hadn’t done lots of outside work his grade would have been crap…lots of C+to B grades were given.

My son’s ding dong teacher did at least warn him to not take multivariable as a junior (bc it will go on college apps). That was good advice bc current class average for that class is C+…while my son is sitting on an A+ in linear algebra.

[Anonymous]

So I suppose the next question is: how does it look for college admissions to have a B in Calc BC, rather than an A in Calc AB?

If you want to study math/STEM/engineering in college, and your school offers BC, you should take it.

[Anonymous]

Mine went directly to bc in 10th. It’s been fine but the teacher is absent a lot so we had to get a tutor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on how it’s taught. My son was the same as yours in 9th. We are at a private and most kids take AB…my son was told to take BC. At our school, they teach BC like the kids already took AB. So, BC starts with a monthlong review of AB then goes right into new topics. So, my kid was basically screwed trying to teach himself all of AB in a month. His teacher was an unhelpful ding dong. So, he basically did AB on Kahn academy while taking BC. He ended up with an A- (only non A/A+ grade in his life) and a 4 on the exam.

Ended up fine, but it was a complete PITA for him and if he hadn’t done lots of outside work his grade would have been crap…lots of C+to B grades were given.

My son’s ding dong teacher did at least warn him to not take multivariable as a junior (bc it will go on college apps). That was good advice bc current class average for that class is C+…while my son is sitting on an A+ in linear algebra.

Sounds like a bad teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here, thank you.

I didn't know AP classes differed between privates and publics. My son is in public school.

So I suppose the next question is: how does it look for college admissions to have a B in Calc BC, rather than an A in Calc AB?

They don’t differ as much as people say. They are trying to justify private. It really comes down to the teacher. Get a tutor. There are good lower cost ones online.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. The thing is, DS doesn't know what he wants to do in college, or for a career. That's why I want to keep all options open. He's a great writer too, draws as a hobby and plays an instrument. I am very grateful to have such an academically successful kid, BTW. But I am concerned with balancing his mental health with his desire to always be the top student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. The thing is, DS doesn't know what he wants to do in college, or for a career. That's why I want to keep all options open. He's a great writer too, draws as a hobby and plays an instrument. I am very grateful to have such an academically successful kid, BTW. But I am concerned with balancing his mental health with his desire to always be the top student.

Your son should take BC. Anyone with an A in honors precalc as a freshman should take BC.

AB is for people who want calculus before college but don't have any interest in math careers (get the math requirement checked off and never take math again), or who need a little extra time to process the math and want to split it across multiple courses. At my (highly regarded public) school, it's for kids who have never taken honors math before, or who had Cs and Ds in honors precalc, or honors kids who want that 4th math but are applying to RISD or Juliard to do something artsy with 0 math. Anyone who is successful in honors precalc and has sights set on STEM or unknown pathways does BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here, thank you.

I didn't know AP classes differed between privates and publics. My son is in public school.

So I suppose the next question is: how does it look for college admissions to have a B in Calc BC, rather than an A in Calc AB?

How they are taught can differ between schools regardless of whether private or public.

Have you talked to any other parents at your son’s school?

[Anonymous]

I don’t see any reason not to take calculus BC Sounds like he is good at math, with no issue getting 95% in precalc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. The thing is, DS doesn't know what he wants to do in college, or for a career. That's why I want to keep all options open. He's a great writer too, draws as a hobby and plays an instrument. I am very grateful to have such an academically successful kid, BTW. But I am concerned with balancing his mental health with his desire to always be the top student.

Is your kid at JR? Mine is and is taking AP Calc BC in 10th. We did ask the teacher last year and he recommended that class instead of AB. Kid is doing well, studying way more than last year for sure, A - so far.