<p>Anybody else? :)</p>
<p>Get familiar with your calculator. If you're using it correctly and efficiently you will save a load of time and get more correct. If you aren't using it correctly or try to use it when you don't need it you will get more wrong and could end up wasting a lot of time.</p>
<p>erm I think the best way to do well is to really understand what the questions are asking about and think of easier ways to solve the problem (trust me, it's very easy once you really understand the concepts)
and remember all the funny rules/formulas/tricks that you've never learnt/seen before</p>
<p>u should use PR, im not a big PR fan, im more into barrons, but people were saying PR was the best for math 2, so i went out and got it. I gave myself 2 weeks in advance to prep and read STRAIGHT THROUGH the whole book even the parts i already knew. While reading, i also made flashcards of all the formulas and topics (a nice stack of around 150 cards =O) but it was worth it in the end, i managed to get an 800. OH! and u should take both the math 2 practice tests from both editions of the collegeboard book</p>
<p>i only used the Barron's book (i feel that they have an easy curve but the scores in the Barron's reflected what I actually got)
since it's 50 questions in 60 minutes, a lot of it is definitely speed so practice makes perfect
i also heard getting a Ti-89 helps with the time...i personally got an 800 with a Ti-84 but if you felt a little squeezed for time, you might want to consider having a friend help you learn how to use a Ti-89
i did 4 practice tests (2 Barron's and 2 CB) and i felt that there wasn't much info to cover but time was an issue</p>
<p>Barrons is seriuolsy amazing the How to Prepare for the SAT... that and the Blue Book is all i used for all the sections.. i got a 770 in Math.. if you can get yourself to about 2 wrong or less in each of the practice test sections i'm sure you'll get atleast a 750</p>
<p>This probably a stupid question but what is it about a TI-89 that will make it better than the TI-84. I am facing buying a new calculator due to the theft of her TI-83 silver.</p>
<p>the Ti-89 apparently can solve one variable (maybe two variable) equations if you just type them in...it can solve quadratic equations for you
usually in schools, only seniors can use Ti-89s because this calculator allows you to solve math problems of lower math classes without doing anything work
it can also convert decimals to radicals and the parentheses are easier to use
i got an 800 w/o the Ti-89 but i hear it does help especially if you have the time to learn how to use it...
my friends who are upperclassmen call it the TI-GOD</p>
<p>Since you are struggling with the Barrons book, I recommend actually reading through the Princeton Review book. It is more straight forward and it comparable to the actual exam. I read through all of PR and took the practice tests and got a 800 on the June exam. And, I didn't use any programs on my TI-84 Plus.</p>
<p>froozle - tks, i'll look into it</p>
<p>I only used Barrons because I wanted to be sure that I would get a good score. So I took Barrons as if it were a CB test and worked through any questions which I didn't get correct at first. I tried to figure out easier methods for Barrons questions which took a long time to answer - trust me, there are plenty of tricks, especially if you're strong with your calculator. And I kept taking tests until I got that 800 in Barrons, all while telling myself that the real test would be of the same level. That way, when I did take the real test, I had an easy time doing it and had plenty of time at the end to check over stuff since I'd used those tricks I had learned.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, you all are so helpful! :)</p>
<p>Is it difficult to learn how to use the TI-89 by yourself? I don't think anybody in my school uses them, so I would have to teach myself. Everyone uses a TI-83/84, even the teachers.</p>
<p>i didnt think barron's was actually that hard...i took the diagnostic and got everything right...</p>
<p>plus im a dumb blonde</p>
<p>you don't need to aim for a perfect 800, or even learn all the material. just take a couple of practice tests, learn some of the patterns (there seems to be a matrix question and vector question on each test, each of which is easy unless you forgot how to do it!), and check over your work well. I skipped 6 problems and still ended up with an 800 since i knew how to do everything else.</p>
<p>i took three sparknotes practice tests to prepare, by the way.</p>
<p>just a tip: make sure you have your calculator mode right when switching between problems w/radians vs degrees!</p>
<p>I'm in the same situation as bossy. Someone mention the RUSH book...but what is that? I've seen it mentioned around the forums before but I haven't been able to find it.</p>
<p>Having similar situation as OP. Got 620 in Math II but I'm great with math in school and got a 750 on SAT Math. </p>
<p>How does the SparkNotes book compare to Princeton Review? I'm asking because I already have it.</p>
<p>Is there any resource thats good for building your calculator strength? Because in Australia we don't use scientific calculators and I have to buy a T-84 because I'm going to Andover this fall as a sophomore but I'm not sure how to use the graphic calculator. And I'd like to re-ask what is RUSH? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Someone asked the difference between a TI-89 and TI-83/84.</p>
<p>A TI-89 essentially has everything the TI-83 has, plus more. Thus, it is slightly more complex, but has many more features. For example, the TI-89 can immediately solve systems of equations by simply typing them in directly (you would type solve(2x+y=3 and 3x+4y=10,{x,y}) ) and it would just spit out the answer. So, it has a computer algebra system. That is why the ACT doesn't allow it ... the test would be very easy with a TI-89. (It can also solve 3 variable, 4 variable, etc equations).
The TI-89 also has basic calculus concepts (which are not tested on SAT2) and additional operations, like sigmas, that appear on the SAT Subject Test often. For example, a "sigma" (the greek looking "E") can be directly typed in on the 89, where with an 84, you have to type sum(seq. Limits can be directly plugged into the calculator (lim x->2), which occasionally come up, although they are fairly simple. </p>
<p>If I had to give you two topics that always seem to come up and nobody knows, review determinants and converses. A determinant deals with matrices. A converse simply means that if P => Q, then ~Q => ~P has the same "truth value." So, for example, say If you study for the SAT Subject test your score will improve. If that statement is true, then if your score did not improve, you did not study for the SAT Subject test. Notice that I never said anything about if you did not study your score wouldn't improve (~P => ~Q). That is not neccesarily true. If you're confused by this, look up converses and it will make sense. It's not too complicated once you get it and it's a free point.</p>
<p>I used my 89 and it helped quite a bit (800 :)) If you have a few hours to get used to it, it's not a bad idea. It may seem complicated at first though. Don't use it until you are completely comfortable.</p>
<p>RUSH is a really useful practice book. It's tests are MUCH more difficult that Barron's, in my opinion - the author even says in his preface that he did not write the book as a self esteem boost, and people often score up to 10 questions (~100 pts, I think) higher on the real tests than the book ones. I would recommend buying that book along with Princeton Review and using PR to learn the material and RUSH to test your knowledge. After a few weeks of practice I was getting in the mid 700s on the RUSH tests and lo and behold, I got an 800 on the real thing. The RUSH book will definitely over prepare you.</p>