Calc AB vs Calc BC
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Anonymous
The question is really why didn't your kid just start in BC? (Which I realize is irrelevant now, but to anyone reading this and planning ahead) To slow down the acceleration? Because they struggled in precalc? Because they had other things going on? Most kids don't find themselves in that set up because either they are taking calc for the first time senior year or they jump to BC first their junior year. |
Anonymous
| New poster here. Due to a scheduling conflict at the school, my 11th-grade DC had to either drop down from BC to AB Calc or drop their HL IB bio class altogether. DC wants to be a bio or related major in college so moved to AB Calc. But they are a very strong math student. Wish they weren’t put in this position, but so it goes. If they want to apply to highly selective schools and will be studying science, should they go ahead and do BC Calc next year even though there will be a fair amount of overlap from this year? I’m thinking that BC is expected for STEM candidates? |
Anonymous
This probably is dependent on teacher and school. My HS AP Calculus class was definitely harder than the Calculus class I took at VT. I think I just had a really tough Calc teacher in HS. |
Anonymous
That’s because by the time you took calc at VT, it wasn’t your first time. |
pettifogger
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Most kids would find it quite boring as most of the material in BC is a repeat of AB. |
Anonymous
Is there any way to do calc at NVCC as a senior? That would be less repetitive than Calc BC, give guaranteed college credits at state schools, and still check the box of high rigor. Or are they taking IB math since they're doing IB Bio? Then I wouldn't worry, they're already getting advanced math twice, don't do it 3 times. |
Anonymous
| I'm the poster whose kid planned to take BC in 11th and had to drop down to AB to accommodate the rest of her classes. Yes, they are doing full IB, so they are now in IB SL Part 2 (the version that is supposed to be the equivalent of Calc AB) rather than in IB HL Part 1 (which is also listed at Calc BC). Senior year, they will be done with the IB math requirement and could take AP Stats or AP Calc BC. The prospect of taking Calc at NVCC as a senior is intriguing, if she could fit it in her schedule, time-wise. Thanks for this suggestion! |
Anonymous
But if you are going into stem wouldn't this be better than taking statistics senior year? Or do you take BC over the summer and then linear algebra senior year? Generally curious. My son got a B in Precalc honors so is taking AB this year as a junior but wants to major in STEM. |
Anonymous
Every AD DC talked to said they are just looking to see that a kid took a calculus course. Statistics is a great class to take for STEM majors. Also colleges know most of the kids (like 98% of them) will retake calc in college anyway. |
Anonymous
| Isn’t AP Calc AB a prerequisite to BC at some schools? |
Anonymous
| There’s nothing wrong with taking AB then BC. My son did it bc let’s face it math instruction wasn’t great during virtual school and he felt he needed a strong foundation in Calc to go into engineering |
pettifogger
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With respect to college/STEM, I would say that learning the material well/getting an A is more important than which class to take. If he doesn't mind seeing the same calculus concepts for at least half a year all over again, then taking BC is fine, but it would be very good to be able to get an A in the class for STEM/college purposes (Something to consider: Would a kid be able to earn an A if he is unmotivated by over half of year of material because he thinks he already learned it and knows it?). Otherwise, taking AP stats instead is also fine, and might be easier to get an A with less effort. I don't think BC is really a requirement as most kids take calc again in college regardless, as others said, especially in STEM majors. AP stats does have more of a reputation for being watered down than BC calc, so there's that as well, but it could also be dependent on who teaches it (a more rigorous college level stats course would definitely make use of calculus to help elucidate statistical concepts, similar to physics... I don't believe AP stats uses calculus). As for your suggestion of taking BC over the summer and linear algebra senior year, that would be the most challenging/aggressive path, but I'd caution it unless your son shows strong interest in putting a lot of effort and is actually interested in doing that (you mentioned B in precalc, which suggests he would have to work very very hard to get A's, especially in linear algebra). |
Anonymous
Not in FCPS. Typically, the math pathways have you taking Calc AB if you are not strong in Precalc/Trig Honors, OR if you took non-honors Precalc/Trig. If you took the Honors version of precalc/trig and did well, then you go on to AP Calc BC. It's an either-or situation, not both in FCPS. (I'm sure there are a few people who do AB and then BC, but it is NOT the standard pathway in FCPS.) |
Anonymous
| My DS took AB and BC in the same junior year with guidance approval. Senior year took Multivariable. |
Anonymous
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I know one kid who took BC as a junior and after first quarter dropped to AB because his grade was abysmal. Retook BC as a senior since he wanted to go into engineering in college.
That's the only one I know who took both in FCPS. |