Throughout your time at high school, one of the more impactful decisions that you’ll be required to make for yourself is the type of math classes that you enroll in. In order to arrive at the best decision for you, you’ll need to consider the academic or professional path you wish to pursue after you finish high school. Standard, honors, and AP math classes are going to be the three choices at your disposal across most of the high schools out there. Standard classes are going to cover the essential skills required for graduation, honors math classes are a step up from this and go at a faster pace and in more depth. Then there are AP classes, which actually go as far as introducing college-level material and can even help students earn college credit. So, the difference between the options you’ve got at your disposal largely boils down to the degree of difficulty as well as the rate at which you can expect to work through the material.
What Are the Main Types of Math Classes in High School?
➗ Honors Math Classes
📚 Honors Math Classes
🎓 AP Math Classes
There is some degree of variance in the math classes that are offered from one high school to the next here in the US. Nonetheless, more often than not, the three options available for students to take at this level are standard, honors, and Advanced Placement (AP). It is set up this way to cater to students of all mathematical abilities and learning goals. It’s imperative that you understand the differences between each of the options before making your decision, so we’ve taken the liberty of accounting for the “ins and outs” of each of the classes for you.
Foundational and Standard Math Classes
The base level of high school math consists of standard math classes, which follow the regular curriculum established by a school or district. The design of these classes is important, as they are specifically created to teach students the problem-solving skills needed to progress through high school while meeting graduation requirements. Common courses that you can expect to encounter at this level include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalculus.
So, what exactly is covered in these classes at this level? Here you’ll have an explanation of how you could benefit from taking classes with a maths tutor, or Honors Math, or AP math classes. Well, Algebra I generally introduces students to equations, functions, variables, inequalities, and other foundational concepts. Then, in your geometry classes, you can expect all of the classics, such as shapes and proofs, as well as some geometric reasoning sprinkled on top. Algebra II is another essential building block covered at this level, which you can expect to expand your understanding of functions and equations even further.
Don’t let the term “foundational” fool you, as you’ll also be spending time in your classes covering Precalculus, which will go a long way toward preparing you for more advanced mathematical study. By opting for these classes, the door will always remain open when it comes to entering honors or AP classes later, provided you demonstrate the necessary preparation, of course.
Honors Math Classes
While it’s by no means a small one, Honors math is a step up from this, giving you a more rigorous version of the standard curriculum. In these classes, you can expect to cover everything above, but through a finer lens and in greater detail, so you can expect to be challenged with more complex problems.
Let’s take an Honors Algebra II class, for instance. In these lessons, you can expect to cover the same broad subject matter as regular Algebra II, though the problems and concepts you explore will be examined in greater detail. With this finer lens and increased pace, you can bet on there being an increase in the number of hours you’re required to spend outside of the classroom. So, if you have the aptitude, then this might definitely be worth challenging yourself with! If you need extra help mastering these concepts, consider consulting a math tutor near me.
AP Math Classes
Many students look at Advanced Placement, or AP, math classes as the final boss of high school math. This is because of the preconceived notion that these classes are extremely challenging, seeing as they’re designed to introduce students to college-level material. Now, this likely sounds intimidating to even the most academically inclined of us, seeing as they follow specific curricula developed by the College Board.
Depending on your AP exam score and the college you attend, AP math courses may allow you to earn college credit or place out of introductory math courses.
However, if you have an aptitude for numbers, then you might not be as easily thrown off by the sound of courses such as AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics. With a peek inside what these classes offer, they might be more manageable than you might think. Inside AP Calculus, you’ll spend your time working through topics such as limits, derivatives, and integrals. If you manage to make it through the course, there is most definitely light at the end of the tunnel, seeing as students can even earn college credit if they perform well on the subsequent AP exam.
Typical High School Math Course Progression by Grade
Given the variance that exists in the math learning experience from one high school to the next here in the US, students can actually progress at different levels. Their mathematical journey is often shaped by what they completed in middle school, their academic performance, and the course options available at their respective schools. For the most part, students typically follow what’s called a standard progression. Then, some students may take honors or accelerated courses that allow them to reach AP mathematics a bit earlier.
9th Grade Math Options
Okay, so you step into your 9th-grade math class. What might that look like? Well, Algebra I is generally the most common starting point. This is because just about every concept that you cover builds on the fundamental concepts introduced in this course. This will have you working with equations, functions, variables, and inequalities. If these topics were already covered by a student during middle school, then they can go right ahead and proceed to learning other concepts, such as Geometry or Algebra II.
10th Grade Math Options
The typical course progression would see students tackle Geometry during their sophomore year. It is at this point where students are introduced to mathematical reasoning through topics such as angles, shapes, congruence, similarity, and proofs. If you’re one of the students approaching the topic in more depth through an honors course, then you’ll actually be doing the same thing, but you’ll have the luxury of tackling more complex problems and providing more detailed mathematical reasoning in your answer booklet.
11th Grade Math Options
The majority of students are going to get to Algebra II by the time they are in their junior year. As the topic might suggest, it develops more advanced algebraic skills and expands students’ understanding of the concepts they would have started learning from the very beginning. At the same point in time, it’s not at all uncommon for students who find themselves on accelerated or honors pathways to already be tackling Precalculus.
12th Grade Math Options
In 12th grade, you’re almost out the door and preparing for the next academic or professional steps in your life. When it comes to the timeline for math students at this stage of their schooling, as they find themselves in their senior year, there are several different options. Those following the standard sequence will be polishing off Precalculus or another mathematics course that might be required for high school graduation. For those who have been whizzing ahead over the years, they have the opportunity to go ahead and take courses like AP Calculus or AP Statistics. If you need extra guidance, consider consulting a math tutor near me.
Honors Math Classes: What Makes Them Different
Taking Honors math you will follow the same type of high school curriculum, from Algebra, Geometry, to Algebra II, and pre-calculus. The big difference here is in the name instead of Algebra I, it will be Honors Algebra I. Instead of Geometry it will be Honors Geometry. Of course, it is not only the title that will change but also the coursework.
Students in Honors math are often expected to explain their reasoning, apply concepts to unfamiliar problems, and develop a deeper understanding of how mathematical ideas connect.
Taking Honors classes means a more demanding math class than the normal Algebra, and Geometry classes. The difference is it´s changed for students who have been achieving higher marks in math. It will be Algebra and geometry for example but you will go deeper into the material. Taking honors math is a much bigger challenge than regular math, and therefore helps you to develop your mathematical skills much quicker and prepares you for college and beyond. What are some of the key differences then?
- Faster pace
- Less time on exams
- Require more developed answers on exams
- More coursework
If you’ve been good at math throughout grade school, taking honors math can be the perfect challenge for you to see if you’re ready for AP math classes or AP Computer science classes, and possibly a career that requires some high-level math skills.
AP Math Classes: What Are They?
While honors are basically just an amplification and more challenging version of normal math courses that you take in high school, AP classes are in another league. Unless you are mathematically gifted like Sheldon Cooper you would typically be taking AP math classes during your junior and/or senior year.
During your senior or junior year if you have the skills to take these classes you would typically have the choices to take various types of AP courses. These math courses are made to be taken as college-level courses. In other words, college students who arrive at college without having taken AP classes will be taking Calculus at some point in college. These courses offer a college-level difficulty you won’t find in honors math.
The AP courses that focus on math you can take are:
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Computer
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Statistics
AP Calculus AB and BC are basically one and the same. They both cover more or less the same concepts such as limits and continuity, and differentiation. AP Calculus BC, however, is at a faster pace and examines a few more concepts. In the AP Computer science courses you’ll be learning about programs and algorithms at an advanced level, as well as about Computer systems and networks. When you take AP statistics you’ll be investing in how to collect data, probability, and drawing conclusions based on the data you’ve collected.
Comparison of Standard, Honors, and AP Math
All of the options for high school math provide valuable academic preparation; they just cater to different levels and paces. You’ve got the standard classes, which generally follow the expected curriculum and pace, while honors classes add greater depth and difficulty. AP classes go even beyond that, taking students further by introducing material that features in many STEM-related college courses.
| Feature | Standard Math | Honors Math | AP Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Standard level | More challenging | Most challenging |
| Pace | Regular pace | Faster pace | Fastest pace |
| Depth of Study | Covers core concepts | Explores concepts in greater depth | Covers advanced college-level material |
| Workload | Moderate | Higher | High |
| College Preparation | Provides a strong foundation | Prepares students for more rigorous college courses | Can provide college-level preparation and potential college credit |
| Best For | Students who want a balanced pace and strong foundation | Students seeking greater challenge and depth | Students ready for advanced coursework and a fast pace |
If you are a student that doesn’t have an exceptionally high level in math it could be best to take regular math classes, and there’s no shame in that. You may also have a higher level in math but not exactly have enough time to dedicate to studying all of the extra material in Honors math. Taking Honors math is a huge benefit to you, however, if you don’t have the time to study or process all the materials it could become overwhelming. Of course, it's an excellent way to earn yourself a much better-looking resume when applying for colleges and scholarships. You will stand out more than those who took only the basic math courses.
The main benefit of completing an AP course is you can earn college credit straight away. The difficulty will also prepare you for college-level classes when you finally do arrive at a college or university. There will also be new concepts for you to learn such as statistics that you hadn’t really gone over yet prior to taking that course. The downside is the same as Honors math if you can’t dedicate your time and energy it will become an extremely challenging and overwhelming endeavor.
How to Choose the Right Math Class
When you arrive in high school there are many things to worry about, what math courses may or may not be high on your list just yet, but it is an important question, especially if you have a talent for numbers. Deciding what math courses are dependent on not only your skills in math but what type of student and person you are, and how much time you can dedicate to studying. In the end, there are many possibilities for you whatever path you choose.
Now that you’ve got a good understanding of the timeline that your math learning journey will follow in high school, as well as the options that exist for you, you’ll want to be sure you’re making the right choice. In order to be sure that you’re landing on the right classes for you, you’ll need to ask yourself some difficult questions.
For starters, you’ll want to flick through some of your previous school reports and grade transcripts and see if the grades that you’ve received in the subject over the years indicate that you’re prepared for a faster pace, or if you could use some more time exploring each topic. It can also be a useful exercise to imagine where exactly it is that you want to be in three to five years from now. If you’re thinking about pursuing further studies or a career in engineering, computer science, physics, economics, mathematics, or other quantitatively demanding fields, then you’re definitely going to benefit from the more advanced mathematics.
You may also want to take into account your workload as well as any other commitments you might have. The more challenging the classes, the more time you can expect them to take out of your schedule. So, you’ll want to be mindful that it won’t end up taking from any of your other subjects. With the above considered, you should be in a good position to choose the right math class!
Summarize with AI:
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
My child hasnt dedicated as much time to math because of other interests. How could I strengthen the basic operations skills and better prepare this child for Algebra?
Hello, Math is a very important sUBJECT but it is also important to have other interests in our life. Balance is key. Sometimes, finding sites that incorporate math in a fun way is key at the beginning or even finding a tutor to help develop your child’s understanding of math to fill in the gap.