A Guide to AP Calculus AB and BC for Students and Parents. What is AP
Calculus? AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC are college-level calculus
courses in which students take the AP exam. What will I ... Students who do not
plan to study.
A Guide to AP Calculus AB and BC for Students and Parents What is AP Calculus? AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC are college-level calculus courses in which students take the AP exam. What will I learn in AP Calculus? You’ll learn about two new mathematics concepts, the derivative which generalizes and extends your knowledge of slope, and the integral which generalizes and extends your knowledge of area. You will learn to use calculus to model phenomena in the sciences, economics, and other disciplines. Which students do well in AP Calculus? Exhibit a genuine interest in mathematics Are committed to earning college credit/placement by passing the AP Exam Plan to concentrate their college studies in areas which require calculus Take responsibility for any prerequisite skills or knowledge required by the class What is the AP Exam? The exam is given in May and consists of the following sections: Section I: a multiple-choice section testing proficiency in a wide variety of topics o Part A: 28 questions, no calculator, in 55 minutes o Part B: 17 questions, with calculator, in 60 minutes Section II: a free-response section requiring the student to demonstrate the ability to solve problems involving a more extended chain of reasoning o Part A: 2 questions, with calculator, in 30 minutes o Part B: 4 questions, no calculator, in 60 minutes How is the exam scored? Students who take AB will receive an exam score from 1 to 5, with 5 corresponding to an “A” in a college calculus course, and 1 corresponding to an “F” in a college calculus course. Students who take BC will receive an exam score from 1 to 5, but will also receive an “AB subscore”, from 1 to 5, on the subset of exam questions which are included in the AP Calculus AB topics. How will I benefit if I receive a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam? Students earning a score of 4 or 5 will generally earn college credit, satisfy “in-major” degree requirements, and receive advanced placement as follows: AB Exam Score or AB Subscore of BC Exam: 1 semester credit for Calculus I BC Exam Score: 1 semester credit for Calculus I, and 1 semester of credit for Calculus II What are the prerequisites for taking AP Calculus? AP Calculus depends heavily on the skills and knowledge learned in Algebra I, Geometry , Algebra II, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus. Other AP math classes, such as AP Statistics and AP Computer Science have lighter prerequisite requirements, generally requiring a good understanding of Algebra.
Is BC more difficult than AB? BC is not the “next course” after AB. BC is an extension of AB. BC includes all AB topics, and includes additional topics. The key difference between the courses is not the difficulty of the material, but the volume of material. BC covers all of AB and approximately 30-40% more material. That “extension” would ordinarily be covered in a college Calculus II course. A rough outline of the topics included in the AP Calculus courses is: Topic AB BC Continuity & Limits X X The Derivative X X Applications of the Derivative X X The Integral X X Applications of the Integral X X Differential Equations X X Polar & Parametric Functions X Sequences & Series X For a complete course description see: AP Calculus AB/BC Course Description from the College Board What are the advantages of taking AP Calculus BC? One is the chance to earn two semesters of college credit/placement, as well to enter college with a deeper understanding of calculus. However, BC requires a greater workload, due to the additional material not included in AB. Students taking multiple AP classes should take this workload into consideration. What are advantages taking AP Calculus AB? One is the chance to satisfy the “in-major” calculus requirements of a very large number of possible college majors. Another is that a student is more likely to score a 4 or 5 on the AB exam, as the exam covers less material. Students generally score one point higher on the AB exam than on the BC exam. So your chance of receiving at least one semester of credit is greater in AB than in BC. Students who do not plan to study mathematics beyond a Calculus I course should take this into consideration. Is AP Calculus BC the right course for me? It is expected that students who take BC will seek college credit and/or accelerated placement for both Calculus I and Calculus II, so that their first college math class is Calculus III (Multivariate Calculus or Linear Algebra). BC is particularly well-suited to students whose “in-major” degree requirements include Calculus I and Calculus II. Examples of such majors are: Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biological Sciences. For a complete list of majors and their calculus requirements at Rutgers University, see: AP Mathematics: A Guide for Students and Parents (for students completing Pre-Calculus CP or Honors) If I have completed Pre-Calculus am I required take Calculus? No. If your expected undergraduate major does not require Calculus I, you might better prepare for college by taking AP Statistics, AP Computer Science, or by taking no math course in your senior year and “doubling-up” in another subject more closely aligned with your college plans. Do I need my own graphing calculator to take AP Calculus? We recommend that students taking AP Calculus purchase their own calculator. Get more information on the use of calculators in AP Calculus here: http://www.veronaschools.org/calculators
