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Homeschool students who wish to take Calculus I or Calculus II have a few decisions to make about the format that will be best suited to their needs. Three options to consider include:
1) taking Calculus I and/or Calculus II as college level high school courses.
2) taking Calculus I and/or Calculus II as semester dual credit courses.
3) taking an Advanced Placement course - AP® Calculus AB covers Calculus I and AP® Calculus BC covers Calculus I and Calculus II.
There are many considerations in making this decision and there is not one right answer for all students. Here are some pros and cons about each option:
Calculus I and Calculus II as high school level courses cover the material taught in a one semester college class and spread content out over an entire school year. Each course is challenging and rigorous and would resemble the difficulty of a college class. This can be a good option for any student, regardless of their intended degree. Those who are planning to go into a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) careers will be required to take Calculus I and likely Calculus II, so these high school classes will each cover the same material over the course of a year that college students will see in a one-semester Calculus I or Calculus II class. However, many students in non-STEM majors would benefit as well since Calculus I is a requirement for many college majors. A student who takes Calculus I and/or Calculus II as a high school class will not receive college credit and will need to register for Calculus I when they arrive on a college campus. However, taking Calculus I and/or Calculus II as a high school course can greatly ease the transition into college life. The pace and grading scale in the university setting is very different than the high school setting. It is helpful to have classes that cover familiar concepts as the student adjusts to all of the “new” in college life. It can build their confidence and help their GPA.
Calculus I or Calculus II as a dual credit course through a 2-year college or through an online program can be a good option for students who are ready for the pace of a one semester Calculus I or Calculus II course. These students need to realize that their grade will be based largely on three or four tests and a cumulative final exam. College grading systems can be unforgiving and the grade in a dual credit course sometimes counts toward the student’s college GPA so it is important to make sure the student will be successful in a one-semester Calculus course. Also, if your student knows where they plan to attend school, you can check to see if the credit will transfer. Some universities accept dual credit coursework, some do not. Usually that information is posted on the university website.
AP® Calculus AB (covers Calculus I) and AP® Calculus BC (covers Calculus I and Calculus II) can also be options for home educated students. These courses combine the content with focused test preparation for potential Calculus college credit. Students can register for an AP exam at a local public or private high school. The exam is administered by the College Board in May each year. Universities more consistently allow credit based on the AP test than based on dual credit coursework. You can look online and find the score that each university requires in order to grant credit based on the AP exam.
High School Math Live offers Calculus I, AP® Calculus AB and AP® Calculus BC - BC content only (includes review of AP® Calculus AB material). All Calculus classes meet in a live and online interactive format. The Calculus classes use a college textbook written by James Stewart, which includes all of the necessary concepts to prepare for college calculus classes and/or the AP exam.
Click the course name to get more information. Calculus I, AP® Calculus AB, and AP® Calculus BC (BC content only with review of AB content)
1) taking Calculus I and/or Calculus II as college level high school courses.
2) taking Calculus I and/or Calculus II as semester dual credit courses.
3) taking an Advanced Placement course - AP® Calculus AB covers Calculus I and AP® Calculus BC covers Calculus I and Calculus II.
There are many considerations in making this decision and there is not one right answer for all students. Here are some pros and cons about each option:
Calculus I and Calculus II as high school level courses cover the material taught in a one semester college class and spread content out over an entire school year. Each course is challenging and rigorous and would resemble the difficulty of a college class. This can be a good option for any student, regardless of their intended degree. Those who are planning to go into a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) careers will be required to take Calculus I and likely Calculus II, so these high school classes will each cover the same material over the course of a year that college students will see in a one-semester Calculus I or Calculus II class. However, many students in non-STEM majors would benefit as well since Calculus I is a requirement for many college majors. A student who takes Calculus I and/or Calculus II as a high school class will not receive college credit and will need to register for Calculus I when they arrive on a college campus. However, taking Calculus I and/or Calculus II as a high school course can greatly ease the transition into college life. The pace and grading scale in the university setting is very different than the high school setting. It is helpful to have classes that cover familiar concepts as the student adjusts to all of the “new” in college life. It can build their confidence and help their GPA.
Calculus I or Calculus II as a dual credit course through a 2-year college or through an online program can be a good option for students who are ready for the pace of a one semester Calculus I or Calculus II course. These students need to realize that their grade will be based largely on three or four tests and a cumulative final exam. College grading systems can be unforgiving and the grade in a dual credit course sometimes counts toward the student’s college GPA so it is important to make sure the student will be successful in a one-semester Calculus course. Also, if your student knows where they plan to attend school, you can check to see if the credit will transfer. Some universities accept dual credit coursework, some do not. Usually that information is posted on the university website.
AP® Calculus AB (covers Calculus I) and AP® Calculus BC (covers Calculus I and Calculus II) can also be options for home educated students. These courses combine the content with focused test preparation for potential Calculus college credit. Students can register for an AP exam at a local public or private high school. The exam is administered by the College Board in May each year. Universities more consistently allow credit based on the AP test than based on dual credit coursework. You can look online and find the score that each university requires in order to grant credit based on the AP exam.
High School Math Live offers Calculus I, AP® Calculus AB and AP® Calculus BC - BC content only (includes review of AP® Calculus AB material). All Calculus classes meet in a live and online interactive format. The Calculus classes use a college textbook written by James Stewart, which includes all of the necessary concepts to prepare for college calculus classes and/or the AP exam.
Click the course name to get more information. Calculus I, AP® Calculus AB, and AP® Calculus BC (BC content only with review of AB content)
