<p>Should I take the SAT II Math 1 or 2? I know most people take 2... and I've heard there's really not much of a difference?</p>
<p>Math I does not cover as much material, while Math II goes up to pre-calc. The curve on Math I is a lot harsher, so one wrong would significantly decrease your score, but the curve on Math II is pretty generous (6 skipped could still be an 800). I’m pretty sure Math II would be recommended.</p>
<p>It also depends on where you apply. The UCs, for example, do not accept the Math I and thus if you submit a math SAT II, it must be the Math II. Stanford, which actually does not require IIs but recommends them, also highly recommends that if you submit a math it be the Math II.</p>
<p>Oh okay thanks alot!</p>
<p>So compared to SAT I Math, would SAT II Math’s difficultly be about the same or greater/less?</p>
<p>It would be a little more difficult, I guess. But neither test is all that hard, and people are going to care a lot less about a good score on Math I.</p>
<p>Math 2 goes thru precalc/trig. It also includes some basic stats. A couple of years ago, they even included a question on Z-scores (for those taking AP Stats, I guess). That being said, M2 has a much better “curve”. You can miss 6-8 and still score an 800. The curve for M1 is brutal.</p>
<p>If you have completed precalc your Jr year and do reasonably well in math, take M2. And as the others have noted, UC will not accept M1. If you are applying to an engineering/tech school, you better take M2.</p>
<p>What do you mean by more difficult? Just the level of math or the way the question is asked? I did very well in trig (A’s all yr round!) however I always found that the way the SAT I asks the math questions are twisted and turned and therefore confuses me; is the SAT II Math like this as well?</p>
<p>laura:</p>
<p>difficulty is all relative to your background and test-taking skills. Pickup the Real Subject Tests and take a practice test at home and see which is better for you.</p>
<p>Math II did seem more straightforward to me - less of the twists of SAT 1 math.</p>
<p>Math II tests more concrete knowledge than “apply this formula in this slightly strange way” type of skills.</p>
<p>For me, the only reasons one should take math 1 are if you are not too strong in math but aren’t too weak either or if you can’t find another subject to give. I’m not too great in math but i managed a 800 in SAT I Math and so took both math I and II. To me, math II seemed a lot harder especially since i prepared from barron’s (some sections are really brutal) but i found that the actual test was slightly easier, while math I was very easy. It all depends really. If you’ve got a couple of strong subjects and were able to breeze through SAT I math, then go for Math II, cos math I is basically SAT I Math with trig and extra functions thrown in.</p>
<p>I couldn’t decide either so I’m taking both in November… It probably is a waste of money just because I’m indecisive but then I can take my better score.</p>
<p>“You can miss 6-8 and still score an 800.”</p>
<p>That’s an exaggeration. One can only get four wrong and still get an 800 (or by omiting five).</p>