AP Tests this week, how are we feeling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the AP CS exam is 3 hours? Why would Wootton have it at 12 which leads to post dismassal?

I assume because everyone else on the East Coast is taking it at that time. My kid’s test started at noon today, as did their test on Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is stressed about the AP Physics 1 exam that is coming up on Friday

My kid has already decided not to take this exam next year! AP Bio tomorrow is already causing enough stress, and DC likes Bio (only taking Physics at all because a college DC is considering applying to ED strongly encourages it).

Same. My DS is a humanities kid and won't need the AP Physics exam for where he's applying at all.

DS opted for APES instead of AP Physics and ended up just fine. Got offers from many top schools as a humanities-STEM double major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is stressed about the AP Physics 1 exam that is coming up on Friday

My kid has already decided not to take this exam next year! AP Bio tomorrow is already causing enough stress, and DC likes Bio (only taking Physics at all because a college DC is considering applying to ED strongly encourages it).

Same. My DS is a humanities kid and won't need the AP Physics exam for where he's applying at all.

DS opted for APES instead of AP Physics and ended up just fine. Got offers from many top schools as a humanities-STEM double major.

That’s good. My kid says AP Physics 1 is his toughest class this year. He pretty much breezed through AP Calculus BC and found the AP test pretty straightforward but finds the physics more confusing. He is aiming for a 5 so we’ll see how it goes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is stressed about the AP Physics 1 exam that is coming up on Friday

My kid has already decided not to take this exam next year! AP Bio tomorrow is already causing enough stress, and DC likes Bio (only taking Physics at all because a college DC is considering applying to ED strongly encourages it).

Same. My DS is a humanities kid and won't need the AP Physics exam for where he's applying at all.

DS opted for APES instead of AP Physics and ended up just fine. Got offers from many top schools as a humanities-STEM double major.

That’s good. My kid says AP Physics 1 is his toughest class this year. He pretty much breezed through AP Calculus BC and found the AP test pretty straightforward but finds the physics more confusing. He is aiming for a 5 so we’ll see how it goes

Same boat. DC found Calculus super easy but classmates say the Physics teacher is exceptionally tough. Luck was on our side with that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

AP precalculus is watered down old regular Precalculus. AP Precalc doesnot prepare student for even AP Calc AB, let alone the even more challenging Calc BC. The entire purpose of introducing AP precalc is to address lack of diversity in AP math credentials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

+1 Same with my kid's school. He did say they did alg 2 review at the beginning of the year, but the curriculum included year-end units preparing the kids for calc bc.

The 2-tiered approach to ap pre-calc sounds pretty good. Additional units for those preparing for calc. Truncated curriculum for those kids headed to calc ab or stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the AP CS exam is 3 hours? Why would Wootton have it at 12 which leads to post dismassal?

The AP schedule--dates and times--is set by the College Board. Morning exams are at 8 am local time and afternoon exams are at noon local time. When an individual school would normal begin or end is irrelevant. All of the morning exams start before my kid's school starts in the morning, they just have to be there early.

[Anonymous]

How was Spanish today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

AP precalculus is watered down old regular Precalculus. AP Precalc doesnot prepare student for even AP Calc AB, let alone the even more challenging Calc BC. The entire purpose of introducing AP precalc is to address lack of diversity in AP math credentials.

It’s evolving from that original idea. Each school will vary in how students use it. Sure, some will end at AP Pre Calc. But many will take it sophomore or junior year and use it as a spring board for Calc AB or eventually BC.

At our school, there is a more advanced Pre Calc class. It’s call “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” but to admissions officers it probably sounds pretty similar to AP Pre Calc. In fact, “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” is the higher track class. It’s a demanding class that very few students take at our school.

Many students will be relieved to be able to take AP Pre Calc instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How was Spanish today?

Easy per my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

AP precalculus is watered down old regular Precalculus. AP Precalc doesnot prepare student for even AP Calc AB, let alone the even more challenging Calc BC. The entire purpose of introducing AP precalc is to address lack of diversity in AP math credentials.

It’s evolving from that original idea. Each school will vary in how students use it. Sure, some will end at AP Pre Calc. But many will take it sophomore or junior year and use it as a spring board for Calc AB or eventually BC.

At our school, there is a more advanced Pre Calc class. It’s call “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” but to admissions officers it probably sounds pretty similar to AP Pre Calc. In fact, “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” is the higher track class. It’s a demanding class that very few students take at our school.

Many students will be relieved to be able to take AP Pre Calc instead.

But good that they're still offering Pre Calc Honors with Calc A for students who want to go to BC. Most DMV districts ended honors precalc when they brought in AP Precalc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

AP precalculus is watered down old regular Precalculus. AP Precalc doesnot prepare student for even AP Calc AB, let alone the even more challenging Calc BC. The entire purpose of introducing AP precalc is to address lack of diversity in AP math credentials.

It’s evolving from that original idea. Each school will vary in how students use it. Sure, some will end at AP Pre Calc. But many will take it sophomore or junior year and use it as a spring board for Calc AB or eventually BC.

At our school, there is a more advanced Pre Calc class. It’s call “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” but to admissions officers it probably sounds pretty similar to AP Pre Calc. In fact, “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” is the higher track class. It’s a demanding class that very few students take at our school.

Many students will be relieved to be able to take AP Pre Calc instead.

But the AP Precalc exam won't evolve because the College Board will want to keep it accessible to non-honors students. The exam will continue to be comprised of 2/3 Algebra 2 content. The honors students that are being misplaced into the AP Precalc exam will presumably do well on the exam, meaning their AP Precalc scores will likely be bunched together and therefore may be fairly meaningless as a way of differentiating students for admissions to four-year colleges. Which means that calculus-bound students will have an AP Precalc credit that it not useful to them either during the application process or at college. A sub-optimal outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids in AP Pre-Calc at our school are juniors. It replaced the intensified/honors version of the class. They will go in to take AP Calc senior year.

Schools in this area have placed calculus-bound kids into AP Precalc. But the course was not designed for them. When launching the course, the College Board said they designed it for kids who would take precalc as a senior which is why the course was not focused on just preparing students for calculus. The CB said they expected most students taking the course would fit the above profile and urged districts to not exclude non-honors students from AP Precalculus. It has never been clear why DMV districts disregarded that advice and put honors students into AP Precalc but not non-honors students.

I don’t live in DMV and mostly juniors at our school will take it. After Alg 2, but before Calc AB.

Sounds like the College Board did not properly plan it.

It was a good plan as conceived. Students taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade or earlier have a chance to earn AP calculus credits in high school. But for students who take Algebra 1 in 9th grade, they only get to precalc by senior year (absent summer courses/doubling up) and do not have a chance to earn AP math credits. Therefore, AP Precalc was conceived as a way of giving 9th grade Algebra 1 students a chance to earn AP math credits too.

However, despite its conception, some districts have placed honors students into AP Precalc and not non-honors students as had been intended. Why? Hard to know. There is a popular movement now to discourage students from pursuing the calculus pathway in lieu of statistics/data literacy. AP Precalc would make the calculus pathway more attractive so perhaps non-honors students were excluded from AP Precalc to make it less likely they take the calculus pathway. Or, districts may be in an arms race with each other and want to give honors students as many AP credits as possible. Hard to know what the reason was. Maybe a combination of both.

The net result is a sub-optimal outcome where calculus-bound students are being directed into AP Precalc even though they don't need AP Precalc credits, while non-honors students are not being placed into AP Precalc even though they would benefit from AP Precalc credits.

My DC’s private has 2 AP PreCalc classes. One is for seniors maxing out at Precalculus and one is for students that are headed to AP AB Calculus the following year. The one for non-seniors has additional units so the students are ready for AB Calculus. It is basically the old honors precalculus class. They can only take BC after they take AB.

That system could work. AP Precalc has three units that are covered on the exam and an optional fourth unit. The exam content is roughly 2/3 Algebra 2. Potentially, the class for seniors might just cover the three units tested on the AP Precalc exam. The class for students heading to Calc AB would likely cover exam content plus the optional unit, which together would cover the content of a standard precalc course. The group that potentially suffers with AP Precalc are students heading to BC; traditionally, for them, part of precalc is spent on introductory calculus so BC is less rushed. That is difficult to fit into AP Precalc if students are being prepared for the AP Precalc exam. BC students would be better off with the prior honors precalc course.

My kid (soph) just took the AP precalc test this week. At his school, the final unit of AP precalc (which started two weeks ago and will end in June when school is out), is intro calc so that they will be prepared to take AP Calc BC next year. I think thats actually a pretty good strategy.

AP precalculus is watered down old regular Precalculus. AP Precalc doesnot prepare student for even AP Calc AB, let alone the even more challenging Calc BC. The entire purpose of introducing AP precalc is to address lack of diversity in AP math credentials.

It’s evolving from that original idea. Each school will vary in how students use it. Sure, some will end at AP Pre Calc. But many will take it sophomore or junior year and use it as a spring board for Calc AB or eventually BC.

At our school, there is a more advanced Pre Calc class. It’s call “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” but to admissions officers it probably sounds pretty similar to AP Pre Calc. In fact, “Pre Calc Honors with Calc A” is the higher track class. It’s a demanding class that very few students take at our school.

Many students will be relieved to be able to take AP Pre Calc instead.

But the AP Precalc exam won't evolve because the College Board will want to keep it accessible to non-honors students. The exam will continue to be comprised of 2/3 Algebra 2 content. The honors students that are being misplaced into the AP Precalc exam will presumably do well on the exam, meaning their AP Precalc scores will likely be bunched together and therefore may be fairly meaningless as a way of differentiating students for admissions to four-year colleges. Which means that calculus-bound students will have an AP Precalc credit that it not useful to them either during the application process or at college. A sub-optimal outcome.

Kids planning to take ap pre-calc > bc calc and possibly mv calc/la or beyond - and therefore possibly gunning for highly-selective schools, math/science, or impacted majors - are not looking for credit for pre-calc? There's no point. They can take the exam for the GPA bump (and yes I understand we are essentially paying $100 for that), or they can choose not to sit for the exam and, at my kid's school at least, that will mean foregoing the gpa bump. Maybe things will change in this regard as high schools begin to integrate the class into their current systems.

We all know that college credit for HS ap classes is mostly an <ahem> flawed system anyway. But that's the system we are in and we have to suck it up until it changes. How one chooses to try and use that system to their advantage depends upon the student, intended college and intended major.

[Anonymous]

AP Bio was very hard, according to my DD who studied really hard for it and had 100% in all her class tests / assignments. Ug.