Honors pre-calculus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

Can you explain why? What does honors cover that AP does not? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

Can you explain why? What does honors cover that AP does not? Thanks!

Some schools got rid of honors and replace w AP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an important difference between pre-calc and the other MCPS math classes. People should only answer if they know specifically about pre-calc (and not assume it's the same as, say, Honors Alg II).

I have a kid studying applied math at an Ivy. She tells me that honors pre-calc was the hardest math class she took in HS (harder than AP calc).

Lots of kids who took 'honors' all the way through decide to move down for pre-calc.

Honors pre-calc sets you up so you can go straight into BC calc (skipping AB calc). (At least at our HS.)

Regular pre-calc has a bit less content, so you go into AB calc first, and then go to BC. (Again, at least at our HS.)

For most advanced classes, I agree with a PP's advice to try the advanced one first and then move down if necessarily. I'm not sure I'd say the same for this, but it's not a terrible strategy. Just make sure you move down if the kid is struggling.

This lines up with my DD’s experience: Alg2 H and Honors Pre Calc are the hardest math classes at her school. Most students avoid them and take the non-honors level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors, strangely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors, strangely

This can't be universally true since some schools seem to have gotten rid of Honors. Why are there 3 versions of this class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors, strangely

This can't be universally true since some schools seem to have gotten rid of Honors. Why are there 3 versions of this class?

There is three versions of lots of classes.(on-level, honors, AP). No one is required to take an AP class and some AP classes assume you have already had the introductory version or will make up the difference in missing content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors, strangely

This can't be universally true since some schools seem to have gotten rid of Honors. Why are there 3 versions of this class?

Because College Board likes money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 10th grader at Blair. He did great in Honors Algebra 2 last year but I suspect it was "honors" since Blair got rid of non honors Alg 2. He's signed up for Honors PreCalc but I'm fully ready for him to drop down if necessary. He's a bright kid but not a math whiz. Two specific questions for Blair:

1) Can anyone speak to the Honors PreCalc experience at Blair recently?

2) If he switches out after a couple of weeks - will it mean rearranging his whole schedule? He's a kid that doesn't love change and I can see this being stressful for him after getting into a routine for the rest of his classes.

Thanks.

Magnet honors precalc at Blair was very intense. Tons of homework. Not sure how that compares to just honors precalc. Might depend on the teacher. The first semester magnet teacher was beyond terrible

Magenta Precalculus covers Algebra 2 + Precalculus in only 3 semesters instead of 4, and also adds harder material/problems.

But if you are admitted to Blair, you would not think Honors Precalculus is scary at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

That just seems backwards to me.

AP Precalculus is designed for seniors who will never take AP Calculus or a college equivalent. It is not designed as a prerequisite for AP Calculus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

That just seems backwards to me.

AP Precalculus is designed for seniors who will never take AP Calculus or a college equivalent. It is not designed as a prerequisite for AP Calculus.

Then why are some schools replacing honors pre-calculus with this class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

That just seems backwards to me.

AP Precalculus is designed for seniors who will never take AP Calculus or a college equivalent. It is not designed as a prerequisite for AP Calculus.

Then why are some schools replacing honors pre-calculus with this class?

To boost AP metrics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

That just seems backwards to me.

AP Precalculus is designed for seniors who will never take AP Calculus or a college equivalent. It is not designed as a prerequisite for AP Calculus.

This may have been the original intent, but if you follow college prep discussions, this is not what is actually happening. I’m not sure which MCPS schools actually have this class though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 10th grader at Blair. He did great in Honors Algebra 2 last year but I suspect it was "honors" since Blair got rid of non honors Alg 2. He's signed up for Honors PreCalc but I'm fully ready for him to drop down if necessary. He's a bright kid but not a math whiz. Two specific questions for Blair:

1) Can anyone speak to the Honors PreCalc experience at Blair recently?

2) If he switches out after a couple of weeks - will it mean rearranging his whole schedule? He's a kid that doesn't love change and I can see this being stressful for him after getting into a routine for the rest of his classes.

Thanks.

Magnet honors precalc at Blair was very intense. Tons of homework. Not sure how that compares to just honors precalc. Might depend on the teacher. The first semester magnet teacher was beyond terrible

Magenta Precalculus covers Algebra 2 + Precalculus in only 3 semesters instead of 4, and also adds harder material/problems.

But if you are admitted to Blair, you would not think Honors Precalculus is scary at all.

That PP is not talking about Magnet Precal, just regular Hon. Precal at Blair. The Precal A teacher was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is more advanced - AP precalc or honors precalc?

Honors precalc

That just seems backwards to me.

AP Precalculus is designed for seniors who will never take AP Calculus or a college equivalent. It is not designed as a prerequisite for AP Calculus.

This may have been the original intent, but if you follow college prep discussions, this is not what is actually happening. I’m not sure which MCPS schools actually have this class though.

NP Honors students may be placed in AP Precalc, but the content was designed for seniors who might never take another math course. AP Precalc assumes no prior exposure to logs, the exam is two-thirds Algebra 2 content, and the course is taught with a more applied focus which was done to appeal to students who might otherwise not be interested in math. AP Precalc has students do regressions which are not needed for calculus. Honors precalc is better preparation for calculus.

[Anonymous]

Thank you PP for the info. Sounds like AP precalc is for on-grade level students who might take AP Precalc AB whereas honors precalc prepares kids for the AB or BC class.