Calculus 1 vs Calculus 2: What Each Covers and Which First

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Math 165 vs Math 2654 credits eachNCCRS recommended

Calculus 1 vs Calculus 2: what each covers, and which to take first

Calculus 1 covers limits, derivatives and the start of integration, up to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Calculus 2 continues with advanced integration, differential equations and series, so take Calculus 1 first.

Take first
Calculus 1
Which is longer?
Calculus 2: 62 hours vs 49
Credit
4 semester hours each

What you learn

From the two syllabi: what only one course covers, and where they meet.

Only in Calculus 1

  • Limits and continuity
  • Derivatives
  • Optimization and related rates
  • Curve sketching
  • Riemann sums
  • Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

In both

  • Integration
  • L'HΓ΄pital's Rule

Only in Calculus 2

  • Advanced integration
  • Improper integrals
  • Differential equations
  • Sequences and series
  • Taylor series
  • Parametric and polar curves

Side by side

Calculus 1 (Math 165) and Calculus 2 (Math 265), from the two syllabi
 Calculus 1Calculus 2
Course codeMath 165Math 265
Chapters8 chapters10 chapters
Instructional hours49 hours62 hours
Ends withApplications of integrationAn introduction to vectors
PrerequisitesNone listedNone listed (continues Calculus 1)
A CLEP exam for it?CLEP Calculus covers about this courseNone: CLEP has one Calculus exam
Final exam100 multiple-choice questions

Both are self-paced: quizzes and the assignment are open-book, the final is proctored, and 70 or higher passes.

Which one should you take first?

Calculus 1 first: the Calculus 2 syllabus calls it a continuation of Calculus 1.

Take Calculus 1 if

  • You have not taken college calculus yet
  • Your program lists Calculus I
  • You want limits and derivatives first

Take Calculus 2 if

  • You have passed Calculus 1, here or elsewhere
  • Your program lists Calculus II
  • You need integration techniques or series

Questions, answered

Is Calculus 2 harder than Calculus 1?

Calculus 2 is longer and builds on everything in Calculus 1: its syllabus lists 62 instructional hours across 10 chapters, against 49 across 8 for Calculus 1. It adds new techniques, such as integration methods and convergence tests for series, so being solid on Calculus 1 helps most.

Is there a CLEP exam for Calculus 1 or Calculus 2?

CLEP has one Calculus exam, which covers what is “usually taught in a one-semester college course in calculus”: about the scope of Calculus 1. source There is no CLEP exam for Calculus 2. source

Will my college accept these credits?

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which courses Math 165 and Math 265 would count as.

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Check your college first

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.

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Sources (5)

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