Anonymous wrote:I need to jump in here about AP Physics C. It is a perfectly fine course to take as a first Physics course, as long as it is being taken concurrently with AP BC Calculus. The content between the two courses is essentially the same (taught from a different perspective). Some high schools may have a pathway with another physics course as a pre-req, and the teacher may teach assuming certain things were covered in a previous course, but it certainly isn’t required. RM offers AP Physics C as a first time physics course, and only a few previously took Honors or AP1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools may allow this, but they are not supposed to, according to their agreement with the College Board to use the AP trademark. (The exception is AP Physics 1, which is dependent on math placement.)

From the course descriptions:

The AP Biology course is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry.

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry- based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (e.g., a year of biology and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Also desirable (but not necessary) is a course in earth science.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college- level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus are used throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.


AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

Be careful about thinking that AP Physics 1 is easy. It has the lowest pass rate of all the APs and one of the hardest to get a 5. Kids assume it is easy because it is not calculus based but conceptually it is surprisingly difficult

Something to remember - there are students (think students advanced in math and science) who are likely to get a 5 and bring up the pass rate if they take this exam, but skip it because they would anyway be taking the calc based AP Physics exams. That is part of the reason the statistics looks so scary. Another reason is students who should not be taking it get pushed into taking it; I know parents who were not too thrilled about their kids in the Blair CAP taking AP Physics 1 in ninth grade.

NP here. I don’t think your assessment is accurate. Most kids take AP Physics 1 before AP Physics C. It is generally recommended not to skip AP Phys 1 and go straight to AP Physics C although I’m sure there are a few kids who skip it regardless

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools may allow this, but they are not supposed to, according to their agreement with the College Board to use the AP trademark. (The exception is AP Physics 1, which is dependent on math placement.)

From the course descriptions:

The AP Biology course is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry.

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry- based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (e.g., a year of biology and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Also desirable (but not necessary) is a course in earth science.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college- level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus are used throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.


AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

Be careful about thinking that AP Physics 1 is easy. It has the lowest pass rate of all the APs and one of the hardest to get a 5. Kids assume it is easy because it is not calculus based but conceptually it is surprisingly difficult

Something to remember - there are students (think students advanced in math and science) who are likely to get a 5 and bring up the pass rate if they take this exam, but skip it because they would anyway be taking the calc based AP Physics exams. That is part of the reason the statistics looks so scary. Another reason is students who should not be taking it get pushed into taking it; I know parents who were not too thrilled about their kids in the Blair CAP taking AP Physics 1 in ninth grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools may allow this, but they are not supposed to, according to their agreement with the College Board to use the AP trademark. (The exception is AP Physics 1, which is dependent on math placement.)

From the course descriptions:

The AP Biology course is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry.

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry- based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (e.g., a year of biology and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Also desirable (but not necessary) is a course in earth science.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college- level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus are used throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.


AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

No. The language is permissive - they are “recommended prerequisites” and students “should” be taking certain classes. If a particular parent/child wants to take a class without meeting the prerequisites, it is allowed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools may allow this, but they are not supposed to, according to their agreement with the College Board to use the AP trademark. (The exception is AP Physics 1, which is dependent on math placement.)

From the course descriptions:

The AP Biology course is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry.

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry- based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (e.g., a year of biology and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Also desirable (but not necessary) is a course in earth science.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college- level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus are used throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.


AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

Be careful about thinking that AP Physics 1 is easy. It has the lowest pass rate of all the APs and one of the hardest to get a 5. Kids assume it is easy because it is not calculus based but conceptually it is surprisingly difficult

Anonymous wrote:Schools may allow this, but they are not supposed to, according to their agreement with the College Board to use the AP trademark. (The exception is AP Physics 1, which is dependent on math placement.)

From the course descriptions:

The AP Biology course is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry.

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry- based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (e.g., a year of biology and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Also desirable (but not necessary) is a course in earth science.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college- level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus are used throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.


AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

Anonymous wrote:Schools may allow this, but they are not supposed to, according to their agreement with the College Board to use the AP trademark. (The exception is AP Physics 1, which is dependent on math placement.)

From the course descriptions:

The AP Biology course is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed high school courses in biology and chemistry.

The AP Chemistry course provides students with a college-level foundation to support future advanced coursework in chemistry. Students cultivate their understanding of chemistry through inquiry- based investigations, as they explore content such as: atomic structure, intermolecular forces and bonding, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. The AP Chemistry course is designed to be the equivalent of the general chemistry course usually taken during the first college year.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have successfully completed a general high school chemistry course and Algebra II.

The AP Environmental Science course is designed to be the equivalent of a one-semester, introductory college course in environmental science, through which students engage with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships within the natural world. The course requires that students identify and analyze natural and human-made environmental problems, evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and examine alternative solutions for resolving or preventing them. Environmental science is interdisciplinary, embracing topics from geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental science, chemistry, and geography.
RECOMMENDED PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed two years of high school laboratory science—one year of life science and one year of physical science (e.g., a year of biology and a year of chemistry). Due to the quantitative analysis required in the course, students should also have taken at least one year of algebra. Also desirable (but not necessary) is a course in earth science.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college- level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering. The course explores topics such as electrostatics; conductors, capacitors, and dielectrics; electric circuits; magnetic fields; and electromagnetism. Introductory differential and integral calculus are used throughout the course.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have taken or be concurrently taking calculus.


AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore these topics: kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion.
PREREQUISITES
Students should have completed Geometry and be concurrently taking Algebra II or an equivalent course. Although the Physics 1 course includes basic use of trigonometric functions, this understanding can be gained either in the concurrent math course or in the AP Physics 1 course itself.

Anonymous wrote:Also, don't read too much into 'breezing through honors bio.' At MS parent night, the 7th grade science teacher told parents that her class was harder than the freshman bio class and in fact she'd had 7th graders tutoring their older siblings. I laughed it off until my kid got to 9th grade and told me it was true-- honors bio is generally a breeze for a lot of kids. Very low level of rigor. Likewise, my less- science oriented kid is currently in both honors chem (has 98%) and ap physics 1 (has like an 84%). And I know from the older one that the 'real' ap physics courses (the next step up) are way, way harder than ap physics 1.

All this to say that the kid's scores in math class are probably a better predictor of success in the ap sciences than their scores in the honors science classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s possible to take AP Bio instead of bio at some schools. We talked to someone affiliated with admissions at a selective school and she said that the fact that my DS took honors bio instead of AP junior year could be held against him. He has no interest in science or math.

My kid took AP Physics 1 in 9th grade, Honors Chem in 10th and now AP Bio. Never enrolled in Honors Bio.

OP here:
This is so annoying as the counselor my son has at BCC made it sound like Honors Bio was the only option(if not reg Bio) for 9th grade science. My kid is very science oriented. So annoyed.

It could be at BCC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s possible to take AP Bio instead of bio at some schools. We talked to someone affiliated with admissions at a selective school and she said that the fact that my DS took honors bio instead of AP junior year could be held against him. He has no interest in science or math.

My kid took AP Physics 1 in 9th grade, Honors Chem in 10th and now AP Bio. Never enrolled in Honors Bio.

OP here:
This is so annoying as the counselor my son has at BCC made it sound like Honors Bio was the only option(if not reg Bio) for 9th grade science. My kid is very science oriented. So annoyed.