Amy loves Bud Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I'm thinking about my son going into 8th grade. He will do a study of Natural History in 8th grade I would like for him to do the following sequence in high school: Physics Chemistry AP Biology AP Chemistry or Physics Is it a typically a problem to do AP Biology without previously having a basic Biology course? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 My son took AP Bio in 10th without a formal biology course but with a solid biology background including numerous courses in a summer science program. The scope of AP Bio has changed since my son took the exam, but the volume of information was formerly intensive. I would suggest that you look at one of the recommended text books, read about the scope of the course and then determine whether your son has the appropriate background. My kid did fine--but it was a huge undertaking on his part. Nice to see you, Amy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Thank you, Jane! It's nice to see you, too. Although I see a lot more of you than you do of me because of all my lurking on this board. :001_smile: I think he will be fine with it, but with this schedule we could convert to a traditional class at the 11th hour if something changes. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have the Campbell text so I will pull it out and review it as you suggest. Thanks so much for your advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Hen Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 My ds did a high school biology course in 9th and then he took AP Bio in 10th. DS also lived and breathed biology, studied field guides, watched biology shows and read biology textbooks for fun. Since his 7th grade chemistry class was high school level I felt he could handle the chemistry included in AP Biology. (I really thought at that point in our lives that DS would major in Biology or Chemistry.) At the request of his AP Bio teacher---he took the course through PA Homeschoolers---he did read the entire textbook over the summer months. I think that was 3 or 4 chapters a week, every week. It was a huge help. If I had a do-over I would have had ds do AP Physics B in 9th grade, he could have handled it however mom (me) was not well-versed in AP courses at that point in time. He took AP Chem in 11th and Physics in 12th, and took the AP Physics C exams. I couldn't find an AP Physics C course for him to take so I won't call what we did AP Physics. Carole AP Statistics Instructor, PA Homeschoolers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwen in VA Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 If I could do high school with my older kids over, I would have them do more AP sciences without wasting the time taking the regular class first. We have now successfully done the science-AP-with-no-prior-experience thing three times. Go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted April 5, 2012 Author Share Posted April 5, 2012 Thanks guys, I wasn't really expecting encouragement to go forward with it. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAR120C Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 If I had a do-over I would have had ds do AP Physics B in 9th grade, he could have handled it however mom (me) was not well-versed in AP courses at that point in time. We've done AP Statistics (he's taking the exam this May), and I'm preparing our syllabus for Environmental Science next year.. but both of those are fairly stand-alone... there's no "pre-ap" Statistics or Environmental Science to precede them.... And I hadn't really looked at Physics, but figured we'd cobble together what we'd already done in bits and pieces, take a swing through a text and go through a prep book for the SAT2. DS wants to do more electronics, but he's got a lot of regular Physics behind him already.... Now that I'm looking at the AP Physics B course description it's not much more than what I already had planned! Hmmmm... maybe I'll throw together a syllabus for that too and see what falls out...... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nissi Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Our experience: Ds.1 did AP Chemistry after doing Apologia Chem. and found it very difficult. He did get an A on the course but was disappointed with a 3/5 for the exam. Perhaps ds. did not have the rigorous study skills and time cleared on his schedule to put in 3-4 hours of work or more per day along with time required for labs on his schedule. We have not done AP Physics or AP Bio. so I can't comment on that. AP Environ. Science should be easier. I am not saying it is not doable but that you really need to put in the extra effort to do well if your child has not taken a high school course before AP. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.