This is a significantly higher pass rate than the average of all AP courses across the board. In 2021, 75.2% of students passed the AP Calculus BC exam with a 3 or higher, with 38.3% of students getting a perfect score of 5. It's also important to note what percentage of students receive a perfect score of 5. The pass rate of an AP exam refers to the percentage of students who earn a score of 3 or higher on the test. The main considerations are the pass rate for the course, the content of the course material, and the subject skills you'll bring with you to the course. What Determines the Difficulty of AP Calculus BC? 3 Key FactorsĪs with all AP courses, there are a variety of different factors that determine how difficult a student might find AP Calculus BC. Unit 9: Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions.Unit 6: Integration and Accumulation of Change.Unit 5: Analytical Applications of Differentiation.Unit 4: Contextual Applications of Differentiation.Unit 3: Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions.Unit 2: Differentiation, Definition, and Fundamental Properties.Learners may find it helpful to have taken AP Calculus AB before taking AP Calculus BC.ĪP Calculus BC is meant to cover what a first-year college student would learn in a full-year, two-semester calculus course. AP Calculus BC is the more advanced of the two courses and is designed to build off the skills students learned in AP Calculus AB.īecause this is a very advanced course, students are expected to have a substantial math background. What Does AP Calculus BC Cover?ĪP Calculus BC is one of two AP Calculus courses offered by the College Board, along with AP Calculus AB. While AP Calculus BC is not considered the hardest AP class, there are many factors that contribute to what kind of experience any given student will have in the class and taking the AP exam.
In many ways, that depends on the individual student and their circumstances. But how challenging are the class and the test? Students should consider the program at their school before taking AP Calculus BC.įor students with an aptitude for math, AP Calculus BC can be a great course to pursue during high school.How difficult a student will find AP Calculus BC depends on a wide variety of factors.AP Calculus BC has an exam pass rate above the average for AP classes.AP Calculus BC is meant to cover two semesters of college-level math.The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents.Again, you should consult with your teachers, guidance counselor, and/or other students who have taken these classes in the past to get some input on what they're really like at your school. These are all factors to consider in making your decision. This means that if you do take AP Statistics, you should know that there's a risk of the class being easier than the AP test (leading to a nasty shock at the end of the year), whereas with AP Calculus, the class is usually just as challenging as the test if not more so. Students in AP Statistics, although it's considered an easier class in terms of its content, often underestimate the AP test and end up doing poorly. Students who are in the highest level Calculus class tend to be more prepared. Notice that AP Statistics has a much lower five rate than either of the AP Calculus tests, and the more advanced Calculus BC test actually has very high passing and five rates.
Calculus BC covers a slightly more advanced curriculum.įor an interesting comparison between the AP Calculus and AP Statistics tests, here are the passing rates and five rates for each test in 2015: You should also find out whether the class is Calculus AB, Calculus BC, or a combination of the two. Your teacher will have a better idea of the relative difficulty level of each math class at your school. I would talk with your Pre-Calculus teacher and get his or her opinion on whether you will be able to handle Calculus next year. Don't assume that you won't be able to get through it just because you struggled a bit in Pre-Calc. Statistics may actually be a more useful subject for you as a business major.Īs a counterargument, I also want to point out that some students find Calculus to be easier than Pre-Calculus. If you're not majoring in a STEM field or applying to the most competitive colleges in the country, you won't be faulted for taking AP Statistics instead of AP Calculus. AP Statistics is considered to be slightly easier by most people's standards, but it's still an AP class.
In your situation, it shouldn't make much of a difference which of these classes you take.
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