AP Precalculus Vs. Precalculus Honors

Ever since CollegeBoard rolled out the new AP Precalculus course in the fall of 2023, students whose schools offer it have wondered what the difference between that and Precalculus Honors is. Since the Precalculus Honors curriculum can vary slightly between schools (some may exclude topics like vectors and parametric equations) the primary goal of AP Precalculus is to standardize the curriculum. But because it’s a new course, many teachers still lack familiarity with it, which can negatively affect students’ learning. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each course:

AP Precalculus

Pros:

1. College Credit: One of the most significant advantages of taking AP Precalculus is the potential to earn college credit. Scoring well on the AP exam can allow you to skip introductory college courses (depending on the college), saving time and tuition costs.
2. Standardized Curriculum: AP courses follow a standardized curriculum set by the College Board, ensuring a consistent level of rigor and quality. This can be beneficial for students who plan to apply to competitive colleges, as it demonstrates the ability to succeed in a nationally recognized program.
3. Advanced Content: According to College Board, AP Precalculus is designed to prepare students for subsequent AP Calculus courses or college-level calculus by ensuring students have a depth of understanding to be ready for calculus.
4. College Application Boost: Having AP courses on your transcript can strengthen your college applications. Admissions officers often view AP courses as a sign that a student is willing to take on challenging coursework.

Cons:

1. High Pressure: As with any AP course, the pressure to perform well on the AP exam can be intense.
2. Pacing: The pace of AP courses is often faster than that of honors courses because the last month before the AP exam is usually spent on exam preparation. This can be challenging for students who need more time to grasp complex concepts.
3. Exam Focus: The curriculum is tailored to prepare students for the AP exam, which means there might be less flexibility in exploring topics outside of the exam’s scope.
4. Potential for Burnout: The workload can be significant, potentially leading to burnout, especially if a student is juggling multiple AP courses.

Precalculus Honors

Pros:

1. Rigorous Curriculum: Precalculus Honors courses still offer a challenging curriculum (compared to regular Precalculus) that prepares students well for calculus, but again, this depends on the school. The depth and complexity are sufficient for students who aim to excel in math without the added pressures of an AP exam.
2. Flexibility: Honors courses often allow teachers more flexibility in their teaching methods and the topics they cover. This can provide a more enriched and diverse learning experience.
3. Balanced Workload: Without the need to prepare for a standardized exam, the workload in an honors course can be more balanced, reducing the risk of burnout and allowing students to focus on understanding the material deeply.
4. Strong Foundation: Honors courses can provide a strong foundation in precalculus concepts, helping students succeed in future math courses, whether in high school or college.

Cons:

1. No College Credit: Unlike AP courses, honors courses do not offer the opportunity to earn college credit. This can be a drawback for students looking to get ahead in their college coursework.
2. Varied Curriculum: Since honors courses do not follow a standardized curriculum, the quality can vary significantly between schools and teachers.
3. Perception by Colleges: While honors courses are respected, they may not carry the same weight as AP courses to college admissions officers, particularly at highly competitive institutions.
4. Less Focus on Exam Skills: Honors courses may not place as much emphasis on developing the test-taking skills that are often cultivated in AP courses. For students who plan to take standardized tests such as the SAT or the ACT, developing these test-taking skills would be useful.

So while AP Precalculus aims to standardize the curriculum and offers the potential for college credit, its novelty means some teachers may still be getting accustomed to teaching it. Precalculus Honors, on the other hand, still provides a rigorous but potentially more varied and flexible curriculum, but without an AP exam to demonstrate sufficient knowledge. Ultimately, the choice between the two should be based on individual academic goals and learning preferences.

For more info, check out our blog post for a detailed breakdown of the AP Precalculus curriculum and exam.