Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

pettifogger wrote:Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- There is only one precalculus class from the college board, it's called 'AP precalculus', (not 'AP Precalculus AB' or 'AP Precalculus BC').
- It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics such as limits, prior to taking a calculus class (calc AB or BC).
- I haven't seen evidence to the claim that Calculus BC covers 50% more topics than Calculus AB.

The traditional advice is still valid:

1) Students should have a strong understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry (as equivalent to what is taught in an honors precalculus course) to be prepared for Calculus BC. It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics, as Calculus BC covers calculus from the beginning.

2) Students who do not feel comfortable with the faster pace of Calculus BC, or who do not feel they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals (algebra, functions, and trigonometry), would be better off taking Calculus AB.

Regarding the recent trend of taking two years of calculus, i.e Calc AB followed by Calc BC, it is unnecessary for most students, mainly because much of Calculus BC is a repeat of AB. If this trend is popular now, it is likely because more students are unprepared for a calculus class but are accelerated enough in their math course sequence that they have the time to take both in two years while not having any other suitable math choices in the second (senior) year.

Another contributing factor is that Calculus AB is no longer perceived as competitive for STEM majors, which puts pressure on students to take BC, if they can. I don't think this is absolutely necessary for most colleges, but I can see the logic of it in today's more competitive environment with regards to top colleges.

1) No, the information is correct. There is one College Board AP Precalculus course, which gives districts the option of forming a course with the three units covered on the AP Precalc exam or the option of forming a course based on the three exam units plus an optional fourth unit. FCPS built courses accordingly and gave the name "AP Precalc AB" to the three-unit version and "AP Precalc BC" to the four-unit version. This is an FCPS forum so readers would be familiar with that. If you look at the current FCPS course catalog, you will see that there is no generic AP Precalc course listed. https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/frontPanel/1041/nocourselist/0/0/0/1

2) Is it necessary to cover limits and intro calculus in honors precalculus? No. Is it wise to do? Yes. Which is why FCPS (via honors precalc/trig) and many other districts have always done this. If you don't cover limits and intro calc ahead of time, BC becomes very crammed and rushed. Can you do it? Sure. Should you do that if you want students to thrive? No.

3) Calc BC having 50% more content than Calc AB comes from comparing the content/pacing of FCPS's Calc AB and Calc BC courses. FCPS teachers would regularly cite this figure in presentations before AP Precalc was introduced.

Students have successfully taken honors precalculus then BC calculus for years. There is no need to slow down precalculus for advanced students which is what switching from honors precalc/trig to AP Precalc AB or AP Precalc BC does. Leave the additional time for delving into the more complex concepts of Calc BC.

Thanks for this info. I think the college board discusses the four units here near the bottom.
Good to know that the terminology Precalculus AB vs BC is an FCPS invention.

Calc AB is basically the equivalent of first semester of college calculus, spread over an entire year. Calc BC is first and second semester of college calculus during the year. That's why BC has "50%" more material, and why taking AB then BC has you repeating content - basically the whole of the AB content is the first semester of BC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

pettifogger wrote:Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- There is only one precalculus class from the college board, it's called 'AP precalculus', (not 'AP Precalculus AB' or 'AP Precalculus BC').
- It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics such as limits, prior to taking a calculus class (calc AB or BC).
- I haven't seen evidence to the claim that Calculus BC covers 50% more topics than Calculus AB.

The traditional advice is still valid:

1) Students should have a strong understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry (as equivalent to what is taught in an honors precalculus course) to be prepared for Calculus BC. It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics, as Calculus BC covers calculus from the beginning.

2) Students who do not feel comfortable with the faster pace of Calculus BC, or who do not feel they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals (algebra, functions, and trigonometry), would be better off taking Calculus AB.

Regarding the recent trend of taking two years of calculus, i.e Calc AB followed by Calc BC, it is unnecessary for most students, mainly because much of Calculus BC is a repeat of AB. If this trend is popular now, it is likely because more students are unprepared for a calculus class but are accelerated enough in their math course sequence that they have the time to take both in two years while not having any other suitable math choices in the second (senior) year.

Another contributing factor is that Calculus AB is no longer perceived as competitive for STEM majors, which puts pressure on students to take BC, if they can. I don't think this is absolutely necessary for most colleges, but I can see the logic of it in today's more competitive environment with regards to top colleges.

1) No, the information is correct. There is one College Board AP Precalculus course, which gives districts the option of forming a course with the three units covered on the AP Precalc exam or the option of forming a course based on the three exam units plus an optional fourth unit. FCPS built courses accordingly and gave the name "AP Precalc AB" to the three-unit version and "AP Precalc BC" to the four-unit version. This is an FCPS forum so readers would be familiar with that. If you look at the current FCPS course catalog, you will see that there is no generic AP Precalc course listed. https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/frontPanel/1041/nocourselist/0/0/0/1

2) Is it necessary to cover limits and intro calculus in honors precalculus? No. Is it wise to do? Yes. Which is why FCPS (via honors precalc/trig) and many other districts have always done this. If you don't cover limits and intro calc ahead of time, BC becomes very crammed and rushed. Can you do it? Sure. Should you do that if you want students to thrive? No.

3) Calc BC having 50% more content than Calc AB comes from comparing the content/pacing of FCPS's Calc AB and Calc BC courses. FCPS teachers would regularly cite this figure in presentations before AP Precalc was introduced.

Students have successfully taken honors precalculus then BC calculus for years. There is no need to slow down precalculus for advanced students which is what switching from honors precalc/trig to AP Precalc AB or AP Precalc BC does. Leave the additional time for delving into the more complex concepts of Calc BC.

Thanks for this info. I think the college board discusses the four units here near the bottom.
Good to know that the terminology Precalculus AB vs BC is an FCPS invention.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

pettifogger wrote:Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- There is only one precalculus class from the college board, it's called 'AP precalculus', (not 'AP Precalculus AB' or 'AP Precalculus BC').
- It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics such as limits, prior to taking a calculus class (calc AB or BC).
- I haven't seen evidence to the claim that Calculus BC covers 50% more topics than Calculus AB.

The traditional advice is still valid:

1) Students should have a strong understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry (as equivalent to what is taught in an honors precalculus course) to be prepared for Calculus BC. It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics, as Calculus BC covers calculus from the beginning.

2) Students who do not feel comfortable with the faster pace of Calculus BC, or who do not feel they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals (algebra, functions, and trigonometry), would be better off taking Calculus AB.

Regarding the recent trend of taking two years of calculus, i.e Calc AB followed by Calc BC, it is unnecessary for most students, mainly because much of Calculus BC is a repeat of AB. If this trend is popular now, it is likely because more students are unprepared for a calculus class but are accelerated enough in their math course sequence that they have the time to take both in two years while not having any other suitable math choices in the second (senior) year.

Another contributing factor is that Calculus AB is no longer perceived as competitive for STEM majors, which puts pressure on students to take BC, if they can. I don't think this is absolutely necessary for most colleges, but I can see the logic of it in today's more competitive environment with regards to top colleges.

1) No, the information is correct. There is one College Board AP Precalculus course, which gives districts the option of forming a course with the three units covered on the AP Precalc exam or the option of forming a course based on the three exam units plus an optional fourth unit. FCPS built courses accordingly and gave the name "AP Precalc AB" to the three-unit version and "AP Precalc BC" to the four-unit version. This is an FCPS forum so readers would be familiar with that. If you look at the current FCPS course catalog, you will see that there is no generic AP Precalc course listed. https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/frontPanel/1041/nocourselist/0/0/0/1

2) Is it necessary to cover limits and intro calculus in honors precalculus? No. Is it wise to do? Yes. Which is why FCPS (via honors precalc/trig) and many other districts have always done this. If you don't cover limits and intro calc ahead of time, BC becomes very crammed and rushed. Can you do it? Sure. Should you do that if you want students to thrive? No.

3) Calc BC having 50% more content than Calc AB comes from comparing the content/pacing of FCPS's Calc AB and Calc BC courses. FCPS teachers would regularly cite this figure in presentations before AP Precalc was introduced.

Students have successfully taken honors precalculus then BC calculus for years. There is no need to slow down precalculus for advanced students which is what switching from honors precalc/trig to AP Precalc AB or AP Precalc BC does. Leave the additional time for delving into the more complex concepts of Calc BC.

Thanks for this info. I think the college board discusses the four units here near the bottom.
Good to know that the terminology Precalculus AB vs BC is an FCPS invention.

Anonymous wrote:

pettifogger wrote:Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- There is only one precalculus class from the college board, it's called 'AP precalculus', (not 'AP Precalculus AB' or 'AP Precalculus BC').
- It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics such as limits, prior to taking a calculus class (calc AB or BC).
- I haven't seen evidence to the claim that Calculus BC covers 50% more topics than Calculus AB.

The traditional advice is still valid:

1) Students should have a strong understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry (as equivalent to what is taught in an honors precalculus course) to be prepared for Calculus BC. It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics, as Calculus BC covers calculus from the beginning.

2) Students who do not feel comfortable with the faster pace of Calculus BC, or who do not feel they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals (algebra, functions, and trigonometry), would be better off taking Calculus AB.

Regarding the recent trend of taking two years of calculus, i.e Calc AB followed by Calc BC, it is unnecessary for most students, mainly because much of Calculus BC is a repeat of AB. If this trend is popular now, it is likely because more students are unprepared for a calculus class but are accelerated enough in their math course sequence that they have the time to take both in two years while not having any other suitable math choices in the second (senior) year.

Another contributing factor is that Calculus AB is no longer perceived as competitive for STEM majors, which puts pressure on students to take BC, if they can. I don't think this is absolutely necessary for most colleges, but I can see the logic of it in today's more competitive environment with regards to top colleges.

1) No, the information is correct. There is one College Board AP Precalculus course, which gives districts the option of forming a course with the three units covered on the AP Precalc exam or the option of forming a course based on the three exam units plus an optional fourth unit. FCPS built courses accordingly and gave the name "AP Precalc AB" to the three-unit version and "AP Precalc BC" to the four-unit version. This is an FCPS forum so readers would be familiar with that. If you look at the current FCPS course catalog, you will see that there is no generic AP Precalc course listed. https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/frontPanel/1041/nocourselist/0/0/0/1

2) Is it necessary to cover limits and intro calculus in honors precalculus? No. Is it wise to do? Yes. Which is why FCPS (via honors precalc/trig) and many other districts have always done this. If you don't cover limits and intro calc ahead of time, BC becomes very crammed and rushed. Can you do it? Sure. Should you do that if you want students to thrive? No.

3) Calc BC having 50% more content than Calc AB comes from comparing the content/pacing of FCPS's Calc AB and Calc BC courses. FCPS teachers would regularly cite this figure in presentations before AP Precalc was introduced.

Students have successfully taken honors precalculus then BC calculus for years. There is no need to slow down precalculus for advanced students which is what switching from honors precalc/trig to AP Precalc AB or AP Precalc BC does. Leave the additional time for delving into the more complex concepts of Calc BC.

pettifogger wrote:Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- There is only one precalculus class from the college board, it's called 'AP precalculus', (not 'AP Precalculus AB' or 'AP Precalculus BC').
- It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics such as limits, prior to taking a calculus class (calc AB or BC).
- I haven't seen evidence to the claim that Calculus BC covers 50% more topics than Calculus AB.

The traditional advice is still valid:

1) Students should have a strong understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry (as equivalent to what is taught in an honors precalculus course) to be prepared for Calculus BC. It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics, as Calculus BC covers calculus from the beginning.

2) Students who do not feel comfortable with the faster pace of Calculus BC, or who do not feel they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals (algebra, functions, and trigonometry), would be better off taking Calculus AB.

Regarding the recent trend of taking two years of calculus, i.e Calc AB followed by Calc BC, it is unnecessary for most students, mainly because much of Calculus BC is a repeat of AB. If this trend is popular now, it is likely because more students are unprepared for a calculus class but are accelerated enough in their math course sequence that they have the time to take both in two years while not having any other suitable math choices in the second (senior) year.

Another contributing factor is that Calculus AB is no longer perceived as competitive for STEM majors, which puts pressure on students to take BC, if they can. I don't think this is absolutely necessary for most colleges, but I can see the logic of it in today's more competitive environment with regards to top colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is taking AP Pre calculus in Sophomore year and is doing fine (grade hovers between B+ and A-). For Junior year she has the option of taking either Calculus AB or BC. Any suggestions on the factors to consider in making the decision of AB or BC?

In our school district, AP Calculus AB is listed as a prerequisite to AP Calculus BC in the course catalog. You normally take them over 2 years unless you choose the block option and do AB in the Fall and BC in the Spring.

It seems though that in other school districts BC is offered directly with just a precalculus course as a prerequisite. This raises questions about the role of AB and what spiraling is done here.

Is requiring AB before BC the norm or is the norm to allow direct access to BC for qualified students?

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is taking AP Pre calculus in Sophomore year and is doing fine (grade hovers between B+ and A-). For Junior year she has the option of taking either Calculus AB or BC. Any suggestions on the factors to consider in making the decision of AB or BC?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

This is not true. Mastering AP Precalc units 1-3 provides enough foundation for students to go to BC. If student is not strong on those foundational Precalc topics they are likely to struggle with the pace of BC. But it is not additional topics they need, just better understanding and efficiency with those same units 1-3.