<p>My daughter is taking the Math SAT II in May. I see that there are two versions, Level 1 and Level 2. I have no clue as to which she should sign up for. She's a junior and currently taking AP Calc (and is doing very well.)</p>
<p>What's the difference between the two levels?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Math Level II is mostly precal. Math Level I is mostly stuff taught before precal. Your daughter is more likely to remember the precal, so she is better off taking Level II. Some colleges don't want Level I anyway because it kind of duplicates the SAT I math.</p>
<p>Your daughter may want to get a review book and study a bit before taking the test since she may be a little rusty on some precal topics.</p>
<p>She'll be studying for the AP Calc test, the SAT I Math test AND the SAT II Math test at the same time. Do you think she still needs to pick up the SAT II review book or would that be overkill. I feel like her head is going to explode from all of this and I told her that, but she insists....</p>
<p>I'm not talking about heavy studying. I'm talking about spending a few hours messing around with a review book during Spring Break (or the week before the test, whatever is convenient).</p>
<p>You don't want to hear this, but the ideal time for her to have taken the SAT II Level II math test was last year, when she was finishing precal. Now, she is going to be taking a test on material she hasn't looked at in a year. A few hours of review will make a big difference.</p>
<p>Another option is to take the test cold this spring and see whether her score meets her expectations. If it doesn't, she could review over the summer and take the test again in the fall. My daughter took the same test that way and got lucky. She was pleased with her score and never took it again.</p>
<p>What schools is she going to apply to? Some require Math II! She or you should do some research on that before you decide.</p>
<p>Two of the schools she's applying to require the Math II. She also loves math and does very well, so it made sense for her to take it. I know she should have taken it last year, and I actually had her sign up. For a number of reasons she didn't take it last year.</p>
<p>She should get a review book, definitely. My son was very good at math (800 on Math SAT 1) and tried to "wing it" without studying the first time he took the Math SAT II Level 2. He was taking precalc at the time. He got a score (I can't remember exactly what it was) that would not have been in the range for the schools he hoped to attend. He spent a little time reviewing and retook it a few months later and got an 800. The time he spent reviewing was time well spent.</p>
<p>My daughter just took the Math Level 2 January 27th. She bought the blue book from the CB and also a book from REA. She had just finished pre-calc earlier in the month so I thought having her do practice tests would be sufficient. Definitely recommend reviewing.</p>
<p>I second the reviewing. S took IIC at the end of junior year as he was completing AP Calc. I remember him looking at the book and saying he was rusty on some of the stuff. He studied for just a couple of days and made his only 800 on this one. Although he has moved from home, I still have his cram sheet of formulas he madefor that test somewhere and consider it a "keeper" among his memorabilia (although some days I pass his room and know I have kept way too much of this kind of stuff!).</p>
<p>Actually, it is easier to score higher on Math IIC, believe it or not. The scoring curve is just more generous on Math IIC. If some schools specify that they need to see MATH IIC, your daughter has no other choice.</p>
<p>If she is taking AP Calc now she will do just fine on the SAT II math 2 level without any review. If she has the time to review then great, but AP calc is beyond Math level 2.
When is she taking the SAT?</p>
<p>She's taking the SAT I in June and the SAT II in May.</p>
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If she is taking AP Calc now she will do just fine on the SAT II math 2 level without any review. If she has the time to review then great, but AP calc is beyond Math level 2.
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<p>I disagree with this. AP Calculus is more advanced than the math on the Math IIC test, but it is also different. Some of the topics on the Math IIC test may no longer be familiar to your daughter. Yes, she learned them, but she hasn't solved those particular types of problems in a year, at least. That's why review would be helpful.</p>
<p>The SAT math score is FAR MORE IMPORTANT to colleges than her subject test scores, and considering she is taking AP CALC now, she will do great I'm sure. IMHO, there is no reason for her to stress out any more in May for the Math subject test, on top of preparing for her AP Calc test that same month which is far more difficult. If math is over for her for ther year after the AP test[ as it is at some schools] then she may want to review some math before taking the SAT in June.
Has she taken the SAT before?</p>
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If she is taking AP Calc now she will do just fine on the SAT II math 2 level without any review.
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<p>Respectfully disagree as well. My son is currently taking Calc BC, and just took the January SAT II Math Level 2. He spent 3 or 4 hours reviewing with the Princeton Review book and took one or two practice tests. He said it was time well spent; many of the concepts he had learned last year in Precalc were no longer fresh.</p>
<p>Math IIC material is very easy to forget if you don't take the test immediately after completing Precalculus. Luckily, it is the easiest test to ace with minimal reviewing. I didn't take the Math IIC until after I completed Calc BC, and by that point, I was all about derivatives and integrals... and absolutely nothing about determinants, permutations, polar coordinates, conic sections, and all other things Precalculus. However, looking through the Barrons book (which overprepares you) merely once was good enough to get an 800.</p>
<p>Incidentally, if your daughter really is gungho about math, it's unlikely she'll have to study at all for the math portion of the SAT I. Mistakes come more often in the form of carelessness than lack of understanding (among even people who might not like math, but take advanced courses in it), and that is obviously very preventable.</p>
<p>If she love math and may consider a math or science related career in future, there is no reason for her to take level 1.</p>
<p>She should absolutely take level 2. I doubt she'll need to study much, but by all means get a review book and just make sure she remembers everything.</p>
<p>menlopark mom:</p>
<p>I also respectfully disagree with the ease of the test and importance of subject tests. </p>
<p>For advanced math students, it is easy to forget the silly stuff that gets used once in Alg II and precalc. Two years ago, a few calc students (acing the class btw), had trouble earning a 650 on the SAT reasoning test. </p>
<p>There is a certain school on a Farm nearby menlopark that absolutely loves subject tests....</p>
<p>OP: Definitely take Math 2, since a student can miss 7-8 problems and still earn an 800. Make a silly bubbling mistake on Math 1, and its 770 for you. Two mistakes = ~740.</p>
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<p>I have a contrary impression, but I may be thinking of a different group of colleges. What gives you this impression? </p>
<p>For Momnewtothis, I'll mention that my son is done with the SAT II Math Level 2. He didn't think it was unduly hard. He glanced through a few review books to make sure there weren't any major fair-game topics on the test that hadn't been covered by his school courses, and he took one sample test, the one in the The</a> Official Study Guide for All SAT Subject Tests. The only thing that is hard about that test is that many high school students haven't been exposed to all the topics. Other than that, it is a very easy test for the student who is avid about math. </p>
<p>See the 2006</a> SAT National Report for statistics on how many students ace that test. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>