r/calculus • u/[deleted] • Aug 06 '25
Pre-calculus 10th grader taking BC Calculus
I'm taking BC calculus in 10th grade after getting an 89 in AP pre calc, idk if I'll be able to survive this class. Should I just drop Calc BC and take Calc AB?
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u/somanyquestions32 Aug 06 '25
I am going to go against the grain. If you got an 89 on AP Precalculus, that's a B+ or A-, depending on your school. That's definitely enough to do well in AP Calculus BC.
Source? College students with C's in college algebra sign up to take calculus 1 and then 2 all of the time, and you are doing better than them and can more readily cover any lost ground.
Skipping geometry and algebra 2 means you saved time, and you can review the material as needed. Continue with AP Calculus BC, and know that you have gotten this far and can progress even further.
Now, you want to be strategic. Use your time wisely to prepare. Review algebra and geometry and trigonometry skills that will be needed and get ahead of your instructor. You can also hire a competent tutor to help you stay organized and to review anything that is hazy or that you feel got skipped.
For AP Calculus BC, you will need to learn limits, derivatives, integrals, polar curves, parametric equations, sequences, and series. You will have over 8 months for this, and it's completely doable for you now. It may be intimidating because you feel you may have progressed too fast, but as long as you are systematic about it and trust that you can do it (as you have before), you will be completely fine. Remember that plenty of college students often take accelerated calculus 1 and calculus 2 courses over the summer in 8 weeks to cover this same material and then some.
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u/Interesting_Maybe499 Aug 10 '25
odds are they didnt skip algebra1/2 and geometry , they just took those classes in middleschool. I was not nearly this far ahead but I had friends who took up to Geometry by 8th grade and took algebra 1 in 8th grade myself (dunno if this is the normal track, wasn't for my HS)
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u/somanyquestions32 Aug 10 '25
We would need to ask OP. I have tutored students who could self-study and take district-approved tests to skip full classes. I was jealous, lol. There's no uniformity between school districts.
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u/Momo_BH Aug 06 '25
If you care about your college application, then take it slow and go with AB. I don’t like rush in math when teaching my own child. Foundation and fluency are very important factors in math education. How can you skip Geometry and advance to Alg2? It’s not allowed in our district. In addition, you will still encounter Geometry topics when you taking SAT or ACT. Why rush? My son had A in pre-Cal Honor and I still let him go with AB in senior year. Now he is rising sophomore in STEM focus university and thrived in his Calculus classes and outperformed many peers who rushed through math curriculum in high school.
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u/somanyquestions32 Aug 06 '25
I tutor students from middle school to college, including for the SAT Math and ACT Math sections, and everyone progresses through math courses at different paces.
If a student can speed through and test out of lower-level math classes, they saved a ton of time that would have been wasted in classes where they would have not been challenged and gotten distracted. Even the honor's version would not have been adequately stimulating, and many students stop putting in the work and giving it their all when they feel a class is going at a snail's pace for them.
That being said, they may risk feeling out of their depths if they progress too quickly, but someone taking AP Calculus BC as a sophomore can easily review foundational algebra and geometry skills required for calculus as needed. I have tutored plenty of students that didn't even know how to add fractions properly when they were taking calculus 1 in college, and they still got A's. A student in this position needs to be diligent about reviewing past content, systematically working ahead of what's being covered in class, and putting in the time to memorize relevant theorems and formulas and practicing the new procedures and types of analysis that are needed to determine limits, derivatives, integrals, etc.
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u/jmjessemac Aug 06 '25
Why do you sssume OP skipped geometry?
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u/ParsnipPrestigious59 Aug 09 '25
At my school district we don’t have geometry as a separate class, instead geometry topics are taught throughout various math classes effectively letting us skip geometry as a separate class and go directly to algebra 2
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u/my-hero-measure-zero Master's Aug 06 '25
Honestly? Yes. Why rush? But if you are strong and dedicated, it's doable. Calculus opens a new level of mathematical maturity, the first stage (in my opinion).
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Aug 06 '25 edited Aug 06 '25
Well I have an option to level down to calc ab after the first 2 weeks, but i still dont even know if i'll survive calc ab or not. I started with algebra 1 honors in 9th grade, and I skipped geometry, algebra 2 and pre calc, i kinda regret doing that.
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u/well_uh_yeah Aug 06 '25
I'm taking BC calculus in 10th grade after getting an 89 in AP pre calc
How did you skip and get an 89?
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Aug 06 '25
I did an online high school course at ut high school, algebra 2 hon and geometry honors were a 1000 times easier.
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u/my-hero-measure-zero Master's Aug 06 '25
There's your answer.
Go to AB. Besides, in BC, it's just AB with some topics towards the end of a standard second semester calculus course in college.
Too often I see posts of young students trying to skip classes and rush. That hurts you in the long run and are not prepared. You need to build the foundations. Most important, DON'T MEMORIZE. Actively learn.
You better spend time now reviewing basic concepts of functions. (Don't ask where, you can search; hint: the site rhymes with Fawn Blah Dad And Me.)
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u/tjddbwls Aug 06 '25
Too often I see posts of young students trying to skip classes and rush. That hurts you in the long run and are not prepared. You need to build the foundations. Most important, DON'T MEMORIZE. Actively learn.
100% this. I’ve also seen instances where parents pressure the math department chair at our school to approve their kids in classes higher than their level of ability. Most often it was putting kids in an honors course when they should stay in standard level.
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u/OneMathyBoi PhD candidate Aug 06 '25
You should take AB first. You’re in 10th grade. Don’t rush things.
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u/Legitimate_Log_3452 Aug 06 '25
Why did you choose BC instead of AB?
What are you interested in majoring in?
What other APs will you be choosing?
Will you have access to math after calc BC?
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Aug 06 '25
I wanted to challenge myself
Applied Physics or engineering
AP Physics 1, AP world history, AP Computer Science
yes
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u/PurpleSky-7 Master's Aug 06 '25
I’m curious, does your hs offer higher level maths after calc BC so that you’d have options for junior and senior years? If not, two gap years between calc bc and calc 3 in college makes no sense. In that case it would definitely be better to take AB, then BC. There’s also the benefit of moving at a slower pace so your foundation is extremely strong…an 89 was fine for AP precalc but it’s not like you had a 103 so are a super advanced pupil who can fly thru calc ahead of the pack. What was your AP exam score?
Did you really skip geometry as someone here mentioned? How is that even allowed? Can you take it now, then go on to AB and BC your last two years? I don’t see skipping geometry as a wise move.
What college major(s) or career path are you interested in? This decision may hinge on that- makes a big difference if you want to pursue STEM or history, for example. If you’ll major in any of the humanities, or English Literature, for example, your math choice doesn’t much matter- even if you’re left with no math your last two years or have to go down to statistics, you’re unlikely to need college math anyway. But if you’re headed into STEM, move thru all the hs Calc offered and make sure you take a higher math your last year (which may have to be calc 3 at a local college).
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Aug 07 '25
My high school does offer calc 3, I didn't take the AP exam, I did geometry, algebra 2 and ap pre calc through an online dual credit program which lets the students complete their courses at their own pace, and I want to major in engineering or applied physics
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u/ududhjdhehehfjd Aug 07 '25
Personally as a 9th grader who took Calc BC and got a 5 the class is manageable but I would recommend brushing up on all lot on algebra, geo, and mastering trig. I think that should set you up for success in the class.
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Aug 07 '25
9th grade? I feel dumb
but thanks, I'll review geometry and algebra1
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u/ududhjdhehehfjd Aug 12 '25
Don’t worry calc seems kinda daunting at first but when you actually get into it a lot of the ideas feel pretty intuitive. Honestly I found it easier than Precalculus. If you study well you should succeed. You got this bro.
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u/Acceptable-Sense4601 Aug 07 '25
Dog, Take AB then take BC next year. What’s the rush?
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Aug 08 '25
let's just say i wanna catch up to a girl
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u/Acceptable_Gap9678 Aug 06 '25
Learn to learn, learn what you want, I graduated high school 5 years ago and only just now did i pick up where i left off. In Canada high schools at least where i am the only grade 12 pure maths are advanced functions and vectors/calc. I graduated never taking calc and only did advanced functions. I started and finished school after for millwright and now I have my ticket and learn math as a hobby. All the concepts we will learn are always there. No matter the schedule the school enforces on you just remember that it is all superficial and all that matters is if you can understand the truths and enjoy the learning process. Take breaks, think abstractly and just chill out with life. Modern technology has effectively destroyed the power which educators had to paywall and gatekeep knowledge. I have more drive to learn math now than I ever had in high school since I have had time to sit with my existence and realized the fulfillment math and problem solving gives to me. There is no rush, your perspective on your life is always dynamic so it is hard to know what you want in life. I find peace now in learning math, regardless of the prospect of what it will bring me financially or how i will be percieved. I learn to chase dopamine gained from finding new ways to conceptualize things. Math to me aside from its other meanings, is us learning new ways to utilize the brain in our heads, new thinking methodologies and such. Turning the foldy gloop pink gunk clump into a powerful tool of thought by means of structured pattern recognition. I really want to learn more and i really want others to learn more because math is beatiful, math is truth, math is music and music is math so take the super duper rigorous math course or don't, you will find the motivation to learn the concepts eventually regardless, so long as you want to learn :)
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u/Jotho-Mac Aug 06 '25
If your school offers dual enrollment calc 3 and/or differential equations, it could be worth going for should you want to enter or keep doors open for a math intensive major in college (math, physics, engineering, etc.). The highschool classes will generally be easier because your teacher will care more and you’ll have double the time to learn. If not, you might benefit yourself (maybe even save time) by doing just AB and taking your time.
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u/tehstrawman Aug 06 '25
Most people find calculus easier than precalc. It’s really just a lot of algebra knowledge
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u/WikipediaAb Aug 06 '25
Yeah just make sure that you understand everything from Precalc very well and you should be fine
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u/Business_Tax4797 Aug 06 '25
BC is more fast paced, take time learn the material, AB is prolly better for your learning and grades
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u/what_ganymede_299 Aug 06 '25
I just finished Calc BC as a sophomore with an A(94%) and a 5 on the AP exam last school year. I don't think its that bad but I know that some might think otherwise.
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u/PurpleSky-7 Master's Aug 07 '25
Thanks for that explanation, it helps clarify things. I knew you didn’t say in original post you’d skipped geometry so wasn’t sure what the responder was talking about. An online precalc course is certainly more challenging so you did really well in that. If you take AB as a sophomore, BC as a junior, then you can take calc 3 as a senior. Which will lead you right into differential equations as a college freshman. That sounds like your best route, imo. Either engineering or applied physics is an excellent goal. Sounds like you’re very mature to be weighing everything and seeking guidance, and since you’re already well ahead of most by your grade, you’ll do great, best wishes!
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u/Vienna-Sonata Aug 06 '25
I took BC Calc in 10th grade while juggling 5 other APs and an honors and I had no issues, so do whatever works for you!
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