Is pre-calculus and calculus much harder than algebra?

Do I have to take Algebra II and Precalculus before AP Calculus BC?

• Hi, I am a high school student and I am taking Honors Geometry right now. I came from China one and a half years ago, and at that time I was in middle school. My counselor told me I could take Geometry that year, but my father said there are something in Algebra I I didn't learn, so I should learn from the basic. I always regret this decision, but the thing is, in Algebra II's textbook, there are things I already learned in China. So I'm wondering, do I have to take Algebra II and Precalculus before AP Calculus BC? Can I take Algebra II during summer and self-study Precalculus? Can I just take SAT II Math Level II subject test and get a high score? Because in University of North Carolina, if I score SAT II Math II a 600-800, I can be placed in MATH 231 which correspond with AP Calculus AB. My counselor told me I can't exempt Algebra II since it's a Graduation Requirement, but she didn't say anything about precalc. What do you think? What should I do?

• Answer:

  In the US colleges are going to want to see you took algebra 1&2 and geometry. My daughter took algebra one in middle school. so she didn't have to take it in HS. But yes you will need to take algebra 2, then Calculus. Our school did not require a student to take pre calculus first. At our HS algebra 2 is a requirement for graduation also. taking the SAT has nothing at all do with your requirements for HS. The SAT exam is for college only.