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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Pp.  To be accurate, the teacher says you SHOULDN'T (not that you can't) sign up for BC unless you have an A in precalc.  I know that AP Precalc in this school is not equivalent to a true AP Precalc curriculum.  The real AP version does not cover as much.

The question I have is whether acing the true AP precalc curriculum is a good indicator of readiness/success in BC.  If not, why does College Board think it is or why do they set it up to be the gateway course.  The PP said it wasn't enough...so I would like more info on that.[/quote]

Acing AP Precalc would just mean student is ready to take AB, not BC.  AP Precalc exam doesnt even cover the entire AP Precalc course syllabus.  Unit 4 is not assessed on the exam.  
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I understand that Unit 4 is not tested.  But, those topics will be taught in this version of AP Precalc.  And actually, many schools teach all four Units of CB's AP Precalc.  So, the fact that it isn't on the exam doesn't really mean anything.  If the student can master all three of CB's AP Precalc units that ARE taught, and the fourth unit is taught (although not tested) -- why isn't that sufficient to show that the student is ready for AP Calc BC?  We're not talking about someone who gets 70% of the tested questions right.  We're talking about someone who basically gets them all right (or 97%).  If a student has shown that they ace the PSAT, and they are acing what College Board says is the pre-req class for AP Calc ___ -- then shouldn't THAT student be encouraged to take Calc BC?  Seems like the kid who is getting a 3 or 4 on the AP Precalc exam (50-75% of the questions right) should be encouraged to take AP Calc AB.

Taking your statement as truth -- that acing AP Precalc only means that the student is ready for AB, and not BC --- then WHAT is the objective measure people across the country are using to determine readiness/success for BC?  Some of those who ace AP Precalc ARE in the group that is ready for BC.

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You are mixing up two issue here. First, you kid has a problem in the current class and is getting a C. The only person that matters here is the teacher that's giving that C.  Find out why, and help your child overcome that deficiency.  Your personal assessment, using PSAT, or your preferred third party evaluations don't matter.   Teacher's say matters, as they possess the ultimate and exclusive power over your kid's grade. So listen to the teacher.

Second, AP Precalc is college board's watered down creation for addressing Equity in AP Math.   Historically AP Calc AB being the first level AP math, has acted as a equity barrier that has kept large sections of student body from gaining any sort of a AP level math credential on their high school transcript.  So a lower capstone (meaning this is the final math level for certain high school students) was created and that's called AP PreCalculus.  As per College Board, " Furthermore, as AP Precalculus may be the last mathematics course of a student's secondary education, the course is structured to provide a coherent capstone experience and is not exclusively focused on preparation for future courses." ( https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-precalculus-course-overview.pdf )
That said, there is temptation among HS teachers to treat AP precalc course like any other AP course and teach it with AP rigor and format, but it will take time to learn that it's meant for just giving away easy grades and put an AP credential on the transcript for those intimidated by math.

Given that background, your kid should be acing this lowered rigor AP Precalc if they are truly capable for taking on Calc BC material.  AP Precalc in its current form focusses on applying concepts and interpretation.  It is likely your kid is good with computation which is what can be learnt by doing a ton of enrichment worksheets, but may be lacking in application and interpretation and hence getting a C.  But the teacher is in the best position to make this assessment.

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