High school math track question
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Anonymous
| My DC is a sophomore student and deciding his courses for junior year. DC is doing Algebra 2 this year and selected AP Precalc AB for next year. Can DC take Calculus BC in senior year? We checked that, to get into a good engineering school, the minimum DC should do is CalBC. In that case DC has to change his course to AP precal BC so as to take Cal BC in senior year. |
Anonymous
| Ask his math teachers or better yet, one of the precalc teachers and/or counselor. Since when did they become so many differentiations of precalc? It shouldn’t even be considered an AP class. Now there is an AP precalc AB and a AP precalc BC? This is bananas |
Anonymous
I believe there is just AP pre alc but some schools gear sections towards the kids planning on AB and others BC so that the kids have the right base. |
Anonymous
| PP here. The school website says AP Precal AB and AP Pre cal BC. And in the video they have shown that AP precal AB can take AP cal AB next year. This is kind of blocking a pathway to taking BC if one wants to level up to AP Cal BC from AP Precal AB. |
Anonymous
| What is being taught in the pre calc classes? Not familiar with that class as school system we came from did Alg 2/Trig, then Analysis and then Calc AB or BC. Is precalc another name for trig and analysis? |
Anonymous
| We were told AP Pre-cal BC is pre-req for Cal BC. Pre-Cal AB kids will take Cal AB. |
Anonymous
| You need to know derivatives to take calculus BC. |
Anonymous
|
"We checked that, to get into a good engineering school, the minimum DC should do is CalBC. "
Is not true. |
Anonymous
Did deeper. Why were they recommended for Precal AB? If your kid is struggling math, fix that before accelerating further. Otherwise they'll fail the other level curses and definitely won't ft until a good school. Or don't "fix" it, and continue at a healthy pace that fits your child's ability and interest. |
Anonymous
Not true, derivatives are part of the BC syllabus. If a teacher skips it, that's on them |
Anonymous
Calc AB = Calc 1 (one year in HS but one semester in college) Calc BC = Calc 1 + Calc 2 Multi-Variable = Calc 3 |
Anonymous
Subset of Traditional Precalculus == AP Precalculus Traditional Precalculus == AP Precalculus BC (fcps attached this BC suffix to mean it is more than the substandard AP Precalculus) Equity advocates raised concerns that the lowest-level math AP, which has recently been AP Calculus AB, was too challenging to study for. In response, the College Board proposed creating a new AP course based on the topics in Traditional Precalculus, which was also considered still too difficult by equity advocates. As a result, the College Board developed AP Precalculus, a subset of Traditional Precalculus topics, aimed at students who don’t plan to take AP Calculus AB/BC but still want the satisfaction of earning AP credit. Equity achieved. Since AP Precalculus is a subset of Traditional Precalculus, FCPS renamed the latter to AP Precalculus BC, with the "BC" indicating a more advanced level. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/a-ne...ath-pipeline/2022/05 |
Anonymous
|
FCPS Advanced Math Student with strong STEM interest:
12th Math electives, AP stat, etc. 11th Multivariable + another math elective 10th AP calculus BC 9th AP precalculus BC (previously known as Precalculus) 8th Algebra 2 Trig FCPS Advanced Student with strong STEM interest: 12th Multivariable + another math elective 11th AP calculus BC 10th AP precalculus BC (previously known as traditional Precalculus) 9th Algebra 2 Trig FCPS Typical Student with STEM interest: 12th AP Calculus AB or BC 11th AP Precalculus BC 10th Algebra 2 trig 9th Geometry FCPS Student with little STEM inclination: 12th AP Precalculus AB (subset of traditional precalculus) 11th Algebra 2 trig 10th Geometry 9th Algebra 1 FCPS Student meeting minimum requirement for HS graduation: 12th Algebra 2 trig 11th Geometry 10th Algebra 1 9th Algebra 1 Part 1 https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics |
Anonymous
DC is interested in the Computer Science direction. In that case, the first track (doing Geometry HN in summer) is ideal? Algebra 2 is prerequisite to take AP Computer Sci A or Principal (forgot which one), I thought. Also, the first track allows one to take AP Stat, which seems related to CS. Maybe the grade is more important than doing the max acceleration? |
Anonymous
Compared to Precalculus/Calculus stream, AP Statistics is a relatively easier course and can be taken whenever it fits into the schedule. Geometry HN in summer versus year long depends on the student's mathematical ability. Irrespective of when Geometry HN is completed, Algebra2/precalc/calc/multivar moves quickly from topic to topic with little repetition if relied solely on school class/homework. Most not-so advanced students use outside resources to reinforce concepts and for extra practice. CS math progression will go beyond multivar/discrete in college. It's all about balancing student's capabilities verses showing rigor with coursework along with decent grades for improved chances at competitive colleges in-state or out. |