Next year: Honors Precalc vs IB Math Studies SL

MYOS1634
Sat, 16 Nov 2013 08:57:44 +0000

It depends on what you intend to major in and whether you’re good at math or not. In addition, colleges prefer you to complete the full IB diploma (especially to being one course short.) Do you have 3 SL’s and 3 HL’s already? How’s the rest of your schedule? Do you plan on taking calculus before graduation or in college? What do you intend to do in college?
If you intend on majoring in the Humanities, you’re fine with Math studies.
If you intend on doing social science or business, precalc is a good idea, or stats. You could take Math Studies next year and Stats senior year, or precalc then stats.
If you intend on majoring in STEM, however, you need Honors Precalc.

NavalTraditions: I disagree with your characterization of Maths Studies, as someone who took it, found it quite interesting &useful, and did very well afterwards.
In addition, it doesn’t prevent one from taking Gen Ed math or statistics in college (and doing well) as it’s very much in the same spirit, at least at top liberal arts schools.
Math Studies is the class for non-future-science majors who would rather do something else than math/science. You can have three superb HL classes outside of math/science without being considered “a slow kid” - English A, Foreign Language HL, History, Philosophy, Art would all be perfectly fine HL subjects, with science&math at SL level - and it’d still be a better curriculum than many high school programs. Honestly I don’t think there’s any “general” level class in the IB program.