After Math SL

[Jonna]

So, this past May, I took my Mathematics SL exam. The rest of my exams are in 2014. I am told that I will be taking AP Calculus BC all year next year, as an A/B day course. I was wondering if anyone could enlighten me about this class? I am supposed to (last time I checked) be in the class with 11 other students, all of whom are in IB. Has anyone else been in my boat, could you somewhat describe what it will be like? At this point, the class itself is very mysterious. I'm beginning to think it will pretty much be an independent study course like the class would be for AP students, but I don't want to jump to conclusions.

[Emmi]

After SL math I took AP Calculus (AB though, not BC) and I found it relatively easy. SL math already teaches you basic integration and differentiation techniques and how to do some of the applications like finding maximums and minimums. In AP calculus AB you're expected to know a bit more integrals (especially trig integrals) and how to differentiate some additional functions. In BC calculus you'll learn Taylor/Maclaurin series, some additional integration techniques, convergence tests, and some other things in addition to that above. AB is similar to the first semester or quarter of math at a university/Calculus I, and BC calculus would be the second semester of math/Calculus II (there's also Calculus III and other things beyond that that are way fun loljk ) Because of that the BC class will move a bit faster than an AB class, but if you were good at calculus in SL math you'll be fine. You can read up on these a bit beforehand, but I'd just wait until you get to class. It shouldn't be too bad.

[Jonna]

Thank you! I already know how to do the trigonometry integrals and stuff, so I guess it shouldn't be too bad. I should probably take a peek at my notebook from time to time to jog my math memory skills. ;D