AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Phys: order, difficulty, prerequisites?

[Anonymous]

Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even bother with AP classes. Get your child set up to start early college in 10th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

Thanks—do you know if kids that take AP physics 1 as a fresh or soph typically go on to take the higher level later? My kid has friends who took it as fresh, and he will be taking it as a sophomore. He’s already done Algebra 2. I think he’s taking precalc next year. I think he’s thinking AP physics 1 sophomore year plus AP Java, then AP chem as a junior, then the advanced AP physics as a senior woth maybe enviro added in as an elective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

Thanks—do you know if kids that take AP physics 1 as a fresh or soph typically go on to take the higher level later? My kid has friends who took it as fresh, and he will be taking it as a sophomore. He’s already done Algebra 2. I think he’s taking precalc next year. I think he’s thinking AP physics 1 sophomore year plus AP Java, then AP chem as a junior, then the advanced AP physics as a senior woth maybe enviro added in as an elective.

That sounds like a great plan!

For the OP, I echo the PPs comments about the rigor (or lack thereof) of the "Honors" Biology and Chemistry courses in MCPS, but I think it's fine for your child to focus on the transition to high school, and really nailing Honors Pre-Calculus, and knocking out those prerequisites freshman year.

So, I'd recommend:

Honors Bio
Honors Chemistry
Foreign Language
Honors English
APUSH or AP Government depending on what your school offers 9th graders
Honors Pre-Calculus

This will put your child in a good place to take Calculus AB or BC sophomore year, plus AP Physics and maybe another AP science class if freshman year goes really well.

Don't forget that your kid also needs to knock out a year of PE credit, and a year of Health. Health can be done over the summer or through Virtual Academy, but PE has to be in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

Thanks—do you know if kids that take AP physics 1 as a fresh or soph typically go on to take the higher level later? My kid has friends who took it as fresh, and he will be taking it as a sophomore. He’s already done Algebra 2. I think he’s taking precalc next year. I think he’s thinking AP physics 1 sophomore year plus AP Java, then AP chem as a junior, then the advanced AP physics as a senior woth maybe enviro added in as an elective.

This would depend on the individual kid’s desire path. Students interested in Engineering definitely take AP Physics C. Those interested in more natural science would focus on AP Bio/AP Chem.

Plan out the four years but don’t feel like you can’t divert from the plan. Take each year as it comes. Never know what the kid may find out they like.

Have they tried an engineering course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

Thanks—do you know if kids that take AP physics 1 as a fresh or soph typically go on to take the higher level later? My kid has friends who took it as fresh, and he will be taking it as a sophomore. He’s already done Algebra 2. I think he’s taking precalc next year. I think he’s thinking AP physics 1 sophomore year plus AP Java, then AP chem as a junior, then the advanced AP physics as a senior woth maybe enviro added in as an elective.

Not at DC's school. Most of them just took AP physics in 9th for college and never go back to a higher level science. FWIW everyone DC knows who did that regrets it as the grading was harsh and they struggled through the class and the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

Thanks—do you know if kids that take AP physics 1 as a fresh or soph typically go on to take the higher level later? My kid has friends who took it as fresh, and he will be taking it as a sophomore. He’s already done Algebra 2. I think he’s taking precalc next year. I think he’s thinking AP physics 1 sophomore year plus AP Java, then AP chem as a junior, then the advanced AP physics as a senior woth maybe enviro added in as an elective.

Not at DC's school. Most of them just took AP physics in 9th for college and never go back to a higher level science. FWIW everyone DC knows who did that regrets it as the grading was harsh and they struggled through the class and the test.

Its a tough class, its not because the teacher graded harshly, it is probably that by comparison most classes are graded in the favor of higher outcomes for all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

AP Physics 1 is definitely not the class to start with in 9th Grade.

[Anonymous]

Do they still have the reactions section on the AP Chem exam? That to me was the hardest part of any AP Exam, as it's all memorization and it's just unpleasant (but does prep you for doing the same thing in Orgo). I think I studied as much just for that one section as I did the rest of my exams combined.

I would not take AP Bio and AP Chem at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious for those that are interested in engineering—if you take AP physics 1 as a freshman or sophomore, do they then take physics c as a junior or senior?

Also ffyi. If your kid is at WJ, the apex bio class is much harder than honors bio. They may rework it for next year—my understanding is that a lot of kids ended up dropping it because it was too hard for even advanced freshman.

Most students are not taking AP Physics 1 freshman year and at this point I don’t know a lot of people recommending the class to Freshman. It has one of the lowest if not the lowest pass rate.

The idea of the AP Physics 1 course is sound especially in terms of the Physics First model of education. However, I think kids need a better Algebra foundation than most have in order for it to work. Teachers likely need some more professional development as most Physics teachers are used to having upper level students who have taken more math. It would also be better if it was constructed into an on level class instead of an AP.

AP Physics 1 is definitely not the class to start with in 9th Grade.

I agree. DD took it freshman year and struggled a lot. She barely studied and didn’t know she had to. They should wait until at least 11 where they will have established good study skills. They also need a good understanding of math.

[Anonymous]

AP Physics 1 is the right course for 11th or 12th graders who are interested in engineering but aren’t on a math pathway to finish BC Calc by 12th grade. It’s not developmentally appropriate for 9th and 10th graders (too much abstract reasoning) and APC is a better 11th or 12th grade choice.

Everyone else should take AP Physics C concurrent with (or year after) AP BC Calculus. You don’t need another physics class as a prerequisite (although often kids get interested in more physics after an introductory class.)

-HS physics teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP Physics 1 is the right course for 11th or 12th graders who are interested in engineering but aren’t on a math pathway to finish BC Calc by 12th grade. It’s not developmentally appropriate for 9th and 10th graders (too much abstract reasoning) and APC is a better 11th or 12th grade choice.

Everyone else should take AP Physics C concurrent with (or year after) AP BC Calculus. You don’t need another physics class as a prerequisite (although often kids get interested in more physics after an introductory class.)

-HS physics teacher

I agree with this. I teach AP Physics 1 and it is a tough class. It is only one period and it is a challenge to get kids who have never taken physics before up to AP level. I actually like this class because it provides a strong conceptual physics foundation. Kids who do more physics later will have a solid foundation to build on. Kids who don’t keep going with physics also benefit from being exposed to rigorous physics content. It is a much more difficult class than Honors Physics. The grading has to be harsh as the AP exam questions are high level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they still have the reactions section on the AP Chem exam? That to me was the hardest part of any AP Exam, as it's all memorization and it's just unpleasant (but does prep you for doing the same thing in Orgo). I think I studied as much just for that one section as I did the rest of my exams combined.

I would not take AP Bio and AP Chem at the same time.

Indeed, it may be impossible to do so because of double period instruction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP Physics 1 is the right course for 11th or 12th graders who are interested in engineering but aren’t on a math pathway to finish BC Calc by 12th grade. It’s not developmentally appropriate for 9th and 10th graders (too much abstract reasoning) and APC is a better 11th or 12th grade choice.

Everyone else should take AP Physics C concurrent with (or year after) AP BC Calculus. You don’t need another physics class as a prerequisite (although often kids get interested in more physics after an introductory class.)

-HS physics teacher

That's for AP Physics C, full year single period, Mech only.

If they want E&M too, they should take Physics 1 first, so that Phys C Mech + EM in 1 credit is more accessible.
These students can do Phys 1 in 9th, since those students are strong with math and abstraction.