Is a graphing calculator necessary for the Math Level 2 Subject Test?

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1

I will be taking the Math 2 Subject Test in 20 days. I am going through the Barron’s book, and it says that a graphing calculator might be very useful. A ti-83/84 here costs around $130 which I can hardly afford (also considering I will apply to around 10 colleges, and the application fees don’t come cheap).

Is a graphing calculator essential for a 750+ on the test? What about a cheap graphing calculator like the HP Hp 40Gs instead of the scientific one below?

Will a scientific calculator like the Casio fx-991ES PLUS suffice? I am reasonably good at Math and having some trouble doing some questions on the Barron’s book.

Thanks!

2

It’s been several years since I took Math II, so my memory of question types is very small.

I remember that most Math II questions can be solved without a calculator, but there are some where the graphing calculator could be very useful, perhaps even necessary (i.e. trying to solve w/out a calculator might be very time-consuming). I highly doubt the type or brand of graphing calculator matters; just use something you can get comfortable with.

As for 750+, the curve on Math II is known to be fairly lenient. You can miss a few questions and still score 800.

Are you able to borrow a calculator from someone else for the test?

3

Thanks for your reply.

No, I have already asked friends and family members, no one has a graphing calculator. At school, our math teacher uses her laptop to draw graphs. I would have to buy a new one. Will I be able to score very high on the test without a graphing calculator (only with a scientific one)? I am not Indian-good at math, and while I can solve most of the questions I often find myself running out of time. And since the test is in 20 days, maybe the time it takes to learn how to use a graphing calculator could be better spent practicing.

4

@eugeinc I took the Math 2 test in October and also studied with Barron’s. The questions on the actual test required a different approach of thinking than Barron’s question. There were no questions that couldn’t have been solved without a graphing calculator. Nonetheless, it’s really convenient to have one to double-check your answers or visualize graphs.

5

@nadinem123 So do you think that buying one (the cost will be quite an issue) and spending hours learning how to use it would be worth it?

6

@eugeinc for the October test it definitely would NOT have been worth it. However, I am in no position to say if that’s the case for each Math 2 test.

7

@nadinem123 Okay got it, thanks!