JacquesPierre

My school offers a ridiculously large number of AP courses, and I need to figure out which ones to take. I'm also planning on self studying a few, but I don't want to end up taking the easy ones and self-studying the impossible ones. For instance, I know that bio is just a lot of reading and memorizing that doesn't necessarily require a class. So I'll probably end up self-studying that one. So without considering the quality of the teacher, for which ones would the class really help?

vader1990

Any of the foreign Language/Literature Tests: The class will help you speak and do activities in that target language that you cannot do at home (unless of course you're a native speaker )

Calculus AB/BC
Physics B/C

Unless you're generally good at math/science, and able to teach yourself the concepts without the aid of another person than self-study the above, but a class make the above test MUCH MUCH MUCH EASIER. I self studies AP Physics and got a 5, but it took a LOT of work

History: Its just knowing the facts, but sometimes the class helps in digestion of the information, but overall they're just about knowing facts, etc. The dbq can be easily learned from a review book.

Govt./Econ: Not sure, I guess the same thing applies as History.

Lang/Lit: You're probably required to take these in school anyway, but the class doesn't really help at all...

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:
Computer Science A/AB: I self studied and 5'ed both exams, but I had to do A LOT LOT LOT of programming in my free time. I also bought a textbook and went through it My advice would be to just take the class for this, the concepts can get tough sometimes, and debugging code is a *****

Hope this *somewhat* helps!!!

brendanww

I agree that you should not do a self-study for physics B/C. However, the Calc exam is a cakewalk. My teacher last year for calculus pretty much stopped teaching toward the end of the year. Everyone in my class scored a 1 or 2. However, my friend and I decided to study together on our own and we both scored 4s.

It would have been nice to have taken a practice test before the exam because I ended up not answering 3 whole free response problems (I didn't understand the partial credit system), but the multiple choice for that test is ridiculously easy. Even the Free Response was easy in retrospect; I was just being an idiot at the time.

Either way. Conclusion: you do not need a teacher for AP Calc. I actually feel that math is one of those subjects that generally does not necessitate a teacher where there is a motivated student and decent textbook.

WantIvy

True that. Both calculus exams are a breeeeeeeeeze. Also, you can self-study Physics C if you are taking the Physics B course -- the B course is ALOT of concepts, whereas C is mainly the math part (including calculus) of it all. Btw, language will be the hardest to study unless you have taken classes for it..... don't self study a language . U.S. Govt is easy to self-study, very easy. Comparative is a little harder... definetely do able though. Psychology is self-study-able, just str8 up memorization I hear.

jk_91

Is it real difficult to get a 5 on the BC exam if you didn't take AB first? I'm coming straight from precalc.

brendanww

nearly half the students that take the BC exam get a 5. I took it last May, and I have to say it's rather easy. You could skip a whole chapter of calculus and still do well on the AP Calc BC exam.

Sungchul

jk_91, BC isn't meant to be taken after AB--it's normally supposed to be either or. BC covers Calc I and II whereas AB covers only Calc I, so taking BC after AB would be repetitive a bit. I took BC right after BC like you, and I'm confident in a 5.

JacquesPierre

i'm planning on self-studying euro

Would the information in prep books be sufficient? or should i get my hands on a textbook?

anotherparent

Many people take BC after AB. Many schools only offer that. Yes, there is repitition, but there always is in math classes.

Taking BC alone is also possible. BC is the equivalent of a year of college calc.

Dale Jr

Spanish Language was my self study, and I'm pretty sure it murdered me. I bought a book w/ CD to practice with, and I felt okay about it, but everything was so much faster, longer, or harder to understand on the actual exam...

Modulation

I would not self-study AP Chem...

I would disagree with BC. I think if you get AP Calc AB pretty well, go for it. But do lots of practice...