{"id":15288,"date":"2022-10-10T10:18:15","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T16:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=15288"},"modified":"2022-10-10T10:25:45","modified_gmt":"2022-10-10T16:25:45","slug":"ap-calculus-ab-vs-bc-what-is-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/ap-calculus-ab-vs-bc-what-is-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"AP Calculus AB vs BC: What Is the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking AP courses in high school are a great way to earn college credit, boost your GPA, and save money while going to college. However, choosing which AP courses to take can be a tough decision, especially if you\u2019re trying to decide between AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC. What is the difference and which one should you take? We\u2019ve broken down the differences between the two courses and factors to consider when deciding between the two.<\/span><\/p>\n

First off, what is Calculus?<\/h3>\n

In short, Calculus is a branch of mathematics that studies continuous change. Derivative calculus measures rates of change, while integral calculus focuses on the summation of infinitesimal differences, such as the area under a curve.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is AP Calculus AB?<\/h3>\n

Calculus AB is a college-level course that covers derivatives, definite integrals, and the fundamental theorem of calculus.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Calculus BC?<\/h3>\n

AP Calculus BC comes after Calculus AB; however, you\u2019re able to take Calculus BC without taking Calculus AB. The main difference between the two courses is that Calculus BC covers the fundamentals of Calculus AB at a faster pace and includes additional topics such as parametric functions, polar functions, vector functions, and analysis of series. <\/span><\/p>\n

Which One Should I Take?<\/h3>\n

In order to take either course, you\u2019ll need to take a Precalculus course. If you found Precalculus to have been fairly easy, consider taking BC Calculus over AB Calculus.<\/span><\/p>\n

To help determine which course is best for you, consider your future. Do you think you\u2019ll be pursuing a math-heavy career such as engineering or science? If so, taking and passing the BC Calculus exam may give you more math credit towards college.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important factor to weigh is your course load. Overloading your schedule may cause extra stress, leading to burnout and a lower overall grade and test score. If your schedule looks like it could be challenging, or if you\u2019re not big on math, consider taking AB Calculus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Differences<\/h3>\n