Reply to Bad for students, who apply for CS or engineering, to take AP Calc AB and then BC?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Below is from college board website --
It is not just two more unites in BC. There are some additional contents in other units too.
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How AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC are different
AP Calculus AB focuses on topics that are taught in the college-equivalent first-semester calculus class. AP Calculus BC focuses on topics covered in both first- and second-semester calculus classes.

All topics in the eight units of AP Calculus AB are also included in AP Calculus BC. However, AP Calculus BC contains two additional units (Units 9 and 10), plus some extra topics in Units 6─8.

These topics are only taught in AP Calculus BC:

Additional techniques of integration (Unit 6)
Euler's method and logistic models with differential equations (Unit 7)
Arc length and distance traveled along a smooth curve (Unit 8)
Parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions (Unit 9)
Infinite sequences and series (Unit 10)[/quote]

Other quotes from the same page.

[quote]AP Calculus BC is similar to AP Calculus AB. It explores the same concepts and applications, only it adds a few new topics. In other words, AP Calculus BC covers more content than AP Calculus AB, though both courses require you to apply the same skills.

[b]All topics in the eight units of AP Calculus AB are included in AP Calculus BC.[/b]

Because both courses and exams cover many of the same topics, the prerequisites needed for both courses and exams are comparable. Recommended mathematics courses to take before either AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC include those in which you study algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, and elementary functions.[/quote]

No reason to take AB as a prerequisite to BC, because you’ll end up repeating AB in the BC class. I’m not sure why schools do this, I’m wondering if it’s to save money or because they wouldn’t have a cohort of strong students to fill a BC only class. It usually is small (private) schools that do this. It just seems like a trade off that’s not in the interest of the top students.

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I know schools offer BC directly, or AB then "BC post AB" course. I don't think the "direct to BC" class is the same as "BC post AB" class ... That is what some posts say that their schools require AB before BC. I think those type of BC course really is "BC post-AB" course. I don't think there is one straight answer about whether this route of AB then BC post-AB is good or bad. It all depends on each student's unique situation.[/quote]

Agree. The course will be taught a differently with the knowledge that everyone in BC was required to take AB. In many cases this would be the same teacher for two years or the same cohort of students together for two years. It's clear how much review is needed and how to keep things challenging both years. The teacher will show up first day of BC with expectations. Consider an English sequence, the important thing isn't so much the topics covered each year but the continued practice and reinforcement. Skills are maturing from junior to senior year in ways that are more important than the exact assignments. Math isn't so different. Every course can be catered to the abilities of the students, the course title isn't all important, the goal is a quality class all four years.

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