Help me understand HS math path to get to calc b/c

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Well it happens ALL the time. BC is just the year long version of Calc whereas AB is the half year version. Same subject, more material.

No Multivariable? That is the 12th grade math for the kid who takes BC in 11th.

The problem is not all schools have multivariable so kids run out of math classes. Not sure what we will do. Our school pushes slowing down as they don’t have advanced math.

They can take AP Stats which is very useful.

That still leaves one more year of no math as you are required to have four years of math if you start Algebra in 6th.

The scenario was "12th grade math for the kid who takes BC in 11th."

[Anonymous]

I would do AB and then BC. Would get him a tutor over the summer to get him ready for AB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS went from honors pre-calc AB (as a junior) to AP Calc BC, not because he likes math or wanted to pursue STEM, but he wanted the challenge before college. It was hugely difficult - took hours of studying every day, reviewing class material and online videos/explanations to supplement. He eventually managed a C and a 3 on the AP test. That didn't seem to affect his college prospects as a humanities major, but if yours wants to pursue engineering, not sure I would recommend it.

I am confused by the bolded. There is no course called "honors pre-calc AB." There is AP Calculus AB. There is also honors precalculus and AP precalculus (the latter of which, confusingly, is less rigorous than honors precalculus). Which course did your son take prior to AP Calculus BC? Thanks for clarifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Well it happens ALL the time. BC is just the year long version of Calc whereas AB is the half year version. Same subject, more material.

No Multivariable? That is the 12th grade math for the kid who takes BC in 11th.

The problem is not all schools have multivariable so kids run out of math classes. Not sure what we will do. Our school pushes slowing down as they don’t have advanced math.

They can take AP Stats which is very useful.

That still leaves one more year of no math as you are required to have four years of math if you start Algebra in 6th.

The scenario was "12th grade math for the kid who takes BC in 11th."

Some kids take BC in 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Well it happens ALL the time. BC is just the year long version of Calc whereas AB is the half year version. Same subject, more material.

No Multivariable? That is the 12th grade math for the kid who takes BC in 11th.

The problem is not all schools have multivariable so kids run out of math classes. Not sure what we will do. Our school pushes slowing down as they don’t have advanced math.

They can take AP Stats which is very useful.

That still leaves one more year of no math as you are required to have four years of math if you start Algebra in 6th.

The scenario was "12th grade math for the kid who takes BC in 11th."

Some kids take BC in 10th.

Not many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Really? So, you’ve never heard of it. It’s pretty common. My kid is doing it.

Nope. Technically you aren’t even supposed to go on to AB from on level pre calc but it definitely happens. It’s, of course, common to go from Honors Pre Calc to BC. What schools allow on level to BC? I suspect these posters are confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Really? So, you’ve never heard of it. It’s pretty common. My kid is doing it.

Nope. Technically you aren’t even supposed to go on to AB from on level pre calc but it definitely happens. It’s, of course, common to go from Honors Pre Calc to BC. What schools allow on level to BC? I suspect these posters are confused.

What are you talking about? Normal is to do ap ab or bc depending on the track you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do AB and then BC. Would get him a tutor over the summer to get him ready for AB.

People who say to do this - doesn't it mean the whole first half of BC ends up being review?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do AB and then BC. Would get him a tutor over the summer to get him ready for AB.

People who say to do this - doesn't it mean the whole first half of BC ends up being review?

Yes, a the first semester, bc the second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do AB and then BC. Would get him a tutor over the summer to get him ready for AB.

People who say to do this - doesn't it mean the whole first half of BC ends up being review?

Yes, and for most kids, the review is good - gives them a chance to really understnd the material. Alternative is to breeze through AB too quickly in one semester and then be overwhelemed when you get to C in the second semseter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am confused by the bolded. There is no course called "honors pre-calc AB." There is AP Calculus AB. There is also honors precalculus and AP precalculus (the latter of which, confusingly, is less rigorous than honors precalculus). Which course did your son take prior to AP Calculus BC? Thanks for clarifying.

Sorry - maybe should have added a slash. It was Honors Pre-Calc A in semester 1 and B in semester 2, so I think the letters only refer to the two terms. It's MAT2048A/2048B in the MCPS catalog: https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/CourseDetails/Index/MAT2048A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Really? So, you’ve never heard of it. It’s pretty common. My kid is doing it.

Nope. Technically you aren’t even supposed to go on to AB from on level pre calc but it definitely happens. It’s, of course, common to go from Honors Pre Calc to BC. What schools allow on level to BC? I suspect these posters are confused.

What are you talking about? Normal is to do ap ab or bc depending on the track you want.

Not the PP, but I think they are talking about what a child takes after on-level pre-calculus. The MCPS "pathway" is that on-level pre-calculus leads to calculus with applications, and that you can't access AP Calculus AB without having taken Honors Pre-Calculus first. At least on paper, doing on-level is an off-ramp and it's hard to get back onto the AP math track. It happens, but it requires dispensation.

This is one thing that bothers me about the advice on DCUM to "just drop to on-level" for kids struggling in first quarter honors pre-calculus. It's fine and good, but kids should know the consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Really? So, you’ve never heard of it. It’s pretty common. My kid is doing it.

Nope. Technically you aren’t even supposed to go on to AB from on level pre calc but it definitely happens. It’s, of course, common to go from Honors Pre Calc to BC. What schools allow on level to BC? I suspect these posters are confused.

What are you talking about? Normal is to do ap ab or bc depending on the track you want.

Not the PP, but I think they are talking about what a child takes after on-level pre-calculus. The MCPS "pathway" is that on-level pre-calculus leads to calculus with applications, and that you can't access AP Calculus AB without having taken Honors Pre-Calculus first. At least on paper, doing on-level is an off-ramp and it's hard to get back onto the AP math track. It happens, but it requires dispensation.

This is one thing that bothers me about the advice on DCUM to "just drop to on-level" for kids struggling in first quarter honors pre-calculus. It's fine and good, but kids should know the consequences.

The HS course bulletin shows that both Calculus with Applications and AP Calculus AB share the same prerequisites: either Precalculus or Honors Precalculus. AP Calculus BC has a prerequisite of Honors Precalculus only.

http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2025.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either next year Cal AB, then BC or Pre-Cal to Cal BC. Most kids at our school do Cal AB, then BC, but mine went directly to BC.

I’ve never heard of anyone going from on level pre calc to BC.

Really? So, you’ve never heard of it. It’s pretty common. My kid is doing it.

Nope. Technically you aren’t even supposed to go on to AB from on level pre calc but it definitely happens. It’s, of course, common to go from Honors Pre Calc to BC. What schools allow on level to BC? I suspect these posters are confused.

What are you talking about? Normal is to do ap ab or bc depending on the track you want.

Not the PP, but I think they are talking about what a child takes after on-level pre-calculus. The MCPS "pathway" is that on-level pre-calculus leads to calculus with applications, and that you can't access AP Calculus AB without having taken Honors Pre-Calculus first. At least on paper, doing on-level is an off-ramp and it's hard to get back onto the AP math track. It happens, but it requires dispensation.

This is one thing that bothers me about the advice on DCUM to "just drop to on-level" for kids struggling in first quarter honors pre-calculus. It's fine and good, but kids should know the consequences.

The HS course bulletin shows that both Calculus with Applications and AP Calculus AB share the same prerequisites: either Precalculus or Honors Precalculus. AP Calculus BC has a prerequisite of Honors Precalculus only.

http://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/publications/HSCourseBulletin2025.pdf

One of the differences in Honors precalc is that it previews limits and continuity from calculus, so Calc BC doesn't need to spend as much time as AB on a slow start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do AB and then BC. Would get him a tutor over the summer to get him ready for AB.

People who say to do this - doesn't it mean the whole first half of BC ends up being review?

Most years of math review much of the previous. But AB and BC overlap much more.
Still, it's good for the many, many kids who raced to calculus without getting a strong foundation.