Hey everyone. I’m currently taking AP Calculus BC as a junior and I’m really struggling with it. The class at my school is notoriously hard and only the really smart kids can get an A.
Last semester I got a B+, but this semester has been absolutely terrible for me. I’m currently at a C right now with two more chapters left to go. We’ve just finished sequences and series, which flew over my head, and now we are doing parametrics and vectors.
My question is, how can I raise my calc grade (mid C) to a B? I’ve been putting all my effort, yet I still do bad on tests. I haven’t changed any of my studying methods from last semester, but nothing seems to be working. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I’m interested in pursuing applied math as my future major. Will it look bad on college if they see two Bs in AP Calculus BC (hypothetically). I have As in all of my other classes.
Online sites like Kahn academy helps many due to their explanations. Also talk to o your teacher today. Let they know what you have been doing. Ask if you can get some extra help. No one likes going to the teacher but they are the ones giving the tests. Also you might ask if you can get the next assignment lists in advance. This way you have a chance to review and ask questions early. At least your showing your teacher your trying also. Teachers well, like to teach. Even the hard ones. Approach your teacher today.
i also took BC as a junior and it was hard. My advice is use khan academy for sure. It’s great and free. Most importantly, study by doing practice problems!!! Best way to make sure you actually know the material. Organic chemistry tutor has good videos too in which you solve problems and he walks you through how to find the answer. If you can afford a tutor or even just find a friend to help you that can be good. If the teacher offers after school or before school help and you can go, go. Ofc if your teacher offers extra credit take advantage but most don’t. Good luck!!
It depends on where you’re looking, but for normal state schools and stuff no; most people as far as i know don’t get As in calculus BC (or physics C). For a more selective college yeah but of all the classes to get a B in, calculus BC is one of the most understandable imo. Especially if you, like a lot of juniors, are taking several other hard classes.
Depending on the state. In some Texas districts, students can test out the prerequisites in 6th grade to take Algebra I and Geometry in 7th and 8th grade. Followed by Algebra II in freshmen year, pre-cal in sophomore, then Cal AB or BC in junior year. It’s not common but close to 1% of each graduating class in our district do this, with more in charter schools and private schools.
Can you form a study group with some other classmates? It makes it more fun, and talking through problems helps you learn. If you all struggle, as a group you can go to the teacher with specific questions. Also, learning to study with others will be useful in college.
Does your high school provide student tutors?
Good luck. IME people who are good at a subject, esp math, often don’t make good teachers b/c it came easy to them (who else wants to be a math teacher? haha). So ask around until you find people who can present the material in a way that your brain gets it - even other students.
At our school many “honors” juniors take Calc BC. Geometry freshman year, combined course sophomore year is Algebra 2/PreCal, then calc (AB or BC option) junior year. They haven’t had a trig course in a long time.
OP- the issue isn’t your grades. The issue is do you understand the material, did you skip over some foundational material in your earlier math classes which is now tripping you up, did you move too quickly to calc.
If there is more math in your future it’s really important that you build a solid base. Can you work with your teacher to figure out what’s going wonky?
Hey everyone. Thanks for all the responses! I really appreciate it! For clarification, I have As in all my other classes, and I had gotten an A in both precalc in freshman year and AP Calc AB in sophomore year.
One thing that happens to very strong students: Eventually we hit a point where a subject is hard. We need to figure out how to handle very tough classes.
One thing to do it to work with your teacher after school or with a tutor. Make sure that you fully understand the concepts.
Also work through examples. In each case, you want to understand the various ways that each problem might be approached, and why one way gets you to a solution and perhaps another approach might not. Practice is important.
Did you take trigonometry at some point? I will admit that trigonometry was my toughest math class until sophomore year of university. I was able to pull off an A in the class but it was not an easy A.
Have you brought your concerns to your teacher? Definitely go talk to them during their office hours. My daughter is a junior struggling through AP Calc BC this year, but she’s recently been practicing through the program Delta Math, and the practice problems and immediate feedback seem to be helping her a lot. On the most recent test she was one of 3 students in the class (of 13) who got an A. She’s always been strong in math and enjoyed it, but this year she’s had some very low test grades, and that’s hard to accept when you’ve always gotten straight As. I tell her, any subject will get really hard eventually. The growth comes from the struggle. If you can find a tutor, do that. Forming a study group with other students in the class is also a good idea. Best wishes to you!