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AP CALC BC: Skipping PreCalc?

kaitmtn8kaitmtn8 Registered User Posts: 4 New Member
in AP Tests Preparation
I am a sophomore and I can take precalc or AP Calc BC next year because I am doing very well in Algebra 2/ Trig.
I heard about skipping precalculus and taking AP Calc B/C. I was wondering, is there any precalc on the Math SAT II? Is AP Calc BC hard without precalc? I'm not sure how to go about this. If I do choose to skip it, can I learn precalc over the summer? Thank you!
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Replies to: AP CALC BC: Skipping PreCalc?

  • NASA2014NASA2014 Registered User Posts: 2,370 Senior Member
    Ask yourself this question, Why do you want to skip PreCalc? I wouldn't skip it if I were you. PreCalc prepares you for calculus. Precalculus is algebra 2/trig but in more depth. Are you really good at Algebra? The only reason why people fail calculus is Algebra. Calculus is easy.
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  • happy1happy1 Forum Champion Parents, Forum Champion Admissions Posts: 23,656 Forum Champion
    You are on a very good track in math. I see no reason to skip precalc and which could potentially put you at a disadvantage in Calc BC. I'd go with precalc junior year and Calc BC senior year.
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  • sunnyschoolsunnyschool Registered User Posts: 1,201 Senior Member
    SAT Math 2 has a lot of Precalc. I agree with happy1 above, take Precalc this year and Calc BC Senior year.
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  • ucbalumnusucbalumnus Registered User Posts: 74,533 Senior Member
    You may want to try these placement tests to check your readiness for calculus:

    http://www.math.buffalo.edu/rur/rurci3.cgi
    http://math.tntech.edu/e-math/placement/
    https://math.berkeley.edu/courses/choosing/placement-exam
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  • AnthonyZAnthonyZ Registered User Posts: 158 Junior Member
    edited January 2018
    The secret that I found was that Precalc doesn't prepare your for Calc AB, instead Precalc prepares you for calc BC. Everything that I learned in Precalc is coming back around to be used with calculus in calc BC. Don't skip Precalc, you won't pass Calc BC.

    As far as the SAT 2, I wish I took it immediately after Precalc. But do a few practice questions on the college board's website and see how you feel. You may get by with knowledge from just algebra 2.

    Does your school offer calc AB? I know at some schools AB is not a prerequisite to BC, but at my school it is and I think it would be impossible to skip calc AB (calc BC is one of the hardest classes at my school, and AB is a requirement)
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  • sunnyschoolsunnyschool Registered User Posts: 1,201 Senior Member
    edited January 2018
    Algebra 2 to Calc BC is a big jump. That is why many schools offer Calc AB or a regular Calculus course. If you really want to jump ahead to Calc BC, find a place to take Precalculus in the summer.
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  • kaitmtn8kaitmtn8 Registered User Posts: 4 New Member
    Okay, thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to stick with preclalc
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