Should I Skip High School Physics and Take AP Physics Instead?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the decision of whether a high school freshman should skip the standard high school physics course and directly enroll in AP Physics, specifically AP Physics BC or I and II, based on their self-study progress and confidence in the subject. The scope includes educational pathways and personal readiness for advanced coursework.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confidence in their self-taught physics knowledge and questions the necessity of taking the standard course, feeling it lacks importance.
  • Another participant warns about the risks of skipping foundational courses, suggesting that the standard class may cover important concepts not found in textbooks.
  • A third participant encourages taking the standard course, noting that the level of University Physics aligns well with AP Physics, indicating readiness for the advanced class.
  • The original poster mentions consulting teachers who recommended taking AP Physics I, indicating a shift in their decision-making process based on external advice.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present differing views on whether skipping the standard physics course is advisable. Some advocate for taking the standard course to ensure a solid foundation, while others support the idea of moving directly to AP Physics based on the original poster's confidence and self-study success. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best course of action.

Contextual Notes

Participants express concerns about the potential gaps in knowledge that may arise from skipping the standard course, highlighting the importance of foundational understanding in advanced studies. There is an acknowledgment of varying experiences among students who have taken different paths.

Who May Find This Useful

High school students considering advanced placement courses in physics, educators advising students on course selection, and parents seeking guidance on educational pathways in STEM subjects.

Radarithm
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Hey all.

I'm a high school freshman; so I'm not exactly 'wise' when it comes to education. I've been self teaching myself physics over the last couple of months from Sears and Zemansky's University Physics, 12th edition, and although I started out very badly, I now have a very good grasp over the contents that are required for AP Physics; I am thinking of skipping the normal high school physics course and taking AP Physics BC (or I and II because of the curriculum change) in my sophomore year. Is it worth skipping high school physics? Or should I take the class regardless of whether or not I am good enough to take the AP version of the course? I feel like the standard course has nothing of importance to offer me, and I feel very confident about taking the exam this May. Sorry if I posted this in the wrong section; this section is for Which college and degree? Grad school and PhD help, but I found no other sub-forum that would suit this thread.
 
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It's easy to get in over your head by skipping things - even if you "test out" of them.

It is entirely possible that you won't find much of a challenge with your regular physics course if you're reading ahead. This can be rather common. But on the other hand if you take the class, you may find that you don't understand things as well as you believe, or you may learn things that aren't covered explicitly in your textbook, or that you didn't think were all that important. By skipping the class, you might miss this stuff and then when you're struggling with a more advanced course, you may end up hating the subject.

Talk to your teachers about this. They will likely have some good insight because they will know what the outcomes have been for students similar to yourself who have gone either way.
 
Take it, you seem very much ahead of where most are at your age. If you have no trouble with University physics you should do very well in AP physics as they are at roughly the same level.
 
I talked to some teachers and they recommended that I take AP Physics I next year.
Thanks for the advice.
 

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