<p>So far, I have been taking some practice exams without a graphing calculator and while I am able to do nearly all of the problems, it is just that some of the problems are just too time-consuming that I usually skip them halfway-done in order to finish. In fact, because of the time limit, I find myself rushing through problems and making simple mistakes, leading to scores in the 500-680 category. </p>
<p>My question is, to those that have already taken the Math II exam, did you take it with a graphing calculator? Did you find that you really needed it? Do you feel that you could have taken that exam and done just as well without a graphing calculator?</p>
<p>Many of the questions on the exam call for decimal answers, but from what I can remeber these comprise less than half of the total. So, it might be possible to still have a decent score without using a calculator but you'll be much better of with one.</p>
<p>Why would you want to take it without one? Do you not have one? It's usually required for precalc/algII.</p>
<p>As to your question, it's entirely possible to get a good score without one. It depends on how you approach the problem. My gf can do almost all of the problems on the math 2 without using the graph function at all.</p>
<p>I, on the other hand, almost always think about things in a function-y way and how they'd look graphed and so on, so I constantly use it. If you're scoring that low, you might need to use one too.</p>
<p>The graphing calculator isn't really necessary at all. Maybe one question per test that actually requires it. I got 800 without a graphing calculator.</p>
<p>Yeah, I took it with it and I think I only used it for about 4 problems. And those I could've done if I had actually wanted to put the effort in.</p>
<p>I'd advise against it just because of the time thing. For example trig problems like 2sinx=cosx (I made that up so forgive me if it makes no sense) you can solve them but its a lot faster to just graph and find the intersection. Just my two sense. Is it possible to ask at your school? My school actually lends students calculators for all math courses but even if your school does not do this I'd assume they'd have an extra graphing calc somewhere you could borrow, maybe if you asked a math teacher you get along with really well?</p>
<p>I mean, that question is worth just as much as that impossible calculus question. You can raise those scores by a lot by simply getting the easy questions right.</p>
<p>I got an 800 without one as well. Then again the Calc 1 and Calc 2 classes I took at the local college did not allow us to use a graphing calculator on tests so Im kinda used to it.</p>
<p>Well, yeah, I'm kinda poor so I'm wondering if it's really necessary to shell out like a hundred bucks for something I might not even use on the test. I could borrow a friend's calculator, but I don't want to be rude- I mean, what are THEY going to use in the meanwhile, you know? Plus, the only friends of mine that own a graphing calculator aren't very close, so I would feel weird asking to borrow an expensive thing for about a month.</p>