How is Taking Calc II in High School Perceived?

ucbalumnus
Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:04:45 +0000

“Calculus II” usually refers to second semester freshman calculus. “Calculus III” usually refers to third semester freshman calculus, or multivariable calculus.

AP Calculus AB approximates first semester freshman calculus.
AP Calculus BC approximates first and second semester freshman calculus.

However, curriculum variations between different universities may mean that the material covered in first and second semester freshman calculus is not exactly the same as what is covered in the AP tests (or courses at different universities).

There are at least three super-elite STEM schools where the first semester of freshmen calculus covers the material normally covered in a year of freshman calculus everywhere else (and may do it with extra theory as well).

In any case, completing second semester freshman calculus or AP Calculus BC by high school graduation is one year ahead of the normal math sequence (which completes precalculus by high school graduation). It is not typical in high school, but may be fairly common for freshman in STEM subjects at top universities.

More unusual are the students who complete second semester freshman calculus or AP Calculus BC as high school juniors, and then take university sophomore level math (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations) as high school seniors (typically doing so at a community college).