AP Courses

electricpearls · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:57 pm Post subject: AP Courses

I was recommended to go into Advanced Placement Pure Mathemetics 20 (grade 11) in the second semester this year. I got a 94 in Pure Mathematics 10, and I know I need math to get into commerce. Sorry if this is confusing, but in Alberta, we have two major streams of math, Applied and Pure (Pure is generally harder). 10 is grade 10, 20 is grade 11, 30 is grade 12. 31 is Calculus.

Is it worth it to take AP Math? I am enrolled next semester for pure math, but I still have the choice to go into AP. Will it look more attractive to universities than regular math?
_________________

"buzzin' all over me."

lemondiva · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:51 pm Post subject:

If you're good at math and want to go to a university that is hard to get into (especially American ones), I'd say take AP Math. But if you think the university you want to go to is fine with taking normal math, it's up to you to decide if you want to challenge yourself. Right now, I'm taking AP Calculus, and surprisingly, I'm getting a really high mark. It's not as hard as I thought it would be, even though I didn't take Math 12 before, but am taking it at the same time as AP Calc.

chlodoll · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject:

If you think you can do well then definitely do it!! I think if you got a 94% in your Pure class then you will be able to do well in this AP class.

Meg-san · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 10:29 am Post subject:

I'm not sure how it works in Alberta-but in BC when you take an AP course they give you 2 marks-an AP mark and a "regular" mark (this one is a few percent higher to make up for the fact that people's marks are usually a little lower in AP than if they took the regular class because of the difficulty). So it helps if you're worried about marks.
I took APs in high school and they're really worthwhile. Especially if you need/want to take math in uni-it saves you SO much time and effort. Taking APs is much easier than taking the same class in uni I think. Plus they get you used to the scope and style of uni classes.

electricpearls · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone!

I am probably going to take it, I am planning on having a spare next semester anyway so I could do homework in school as well.
_________________

"buzzin' all over me."

boarderlinefrenzy · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject:

AP classes are hard, but if you're ready and willing for the challenge and the extra time, you should do well.
_________________

“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly”
~Lauren Bacall

st3ph · miss you D 05/05/92-06/16/08 (L)

I've taken AP since grade 9, I'm in 11 now. I don't have it till next semester but I've heard from the kids in the Academic level (probably your Pure) that it's a lot like grade 10, just expanding on it all.

The way my AP works is that we do all the normal Academic work and then there is a unit of AP. My class will be combined Academic/AP so the Academic kids can choose to learn the stuff, but don't need to be tested on it. The APs will have a different exam than the Academics. But I haven't found it that hard in the past. Maybe it's just my school, but I kept my mark at a 97/98 all through grade 10, then finished with a 95. So not bad at all! I like AP because I learn things for the following year so I'm more prepared. In grade 10 I learned some grade 11 things so I should be ready for this year.

Universities WILL choose AP students over Academics (Pure). Also, one of my teachers told us that they generally give a percent difference or something. So if I took AP math and got a 95, then they'd say, well that's pretty hard! So that's actually like a 99 if she took Academic math. They give you credit for it, and it helps you in the long run! At least, that's what the teachers have said.
_________________

s-to-the-t-e-the-p-the-h-the-anie

Under the great North star,
try to work out where you are,
in the silence of the sea...