<p>What is the real difference between the two math tests?? I know math 2 tests more advanced math...but I am not really sure about the real difference? And why do so many people take math II instead of math I if math I is supposed to be easier??</p>
<p>Math II has precalculus topic on it. People take Math II over Math I even when only Math I is required because it has a huge curve. I (and many people I know) have got an 800 on Math II. Very few get 800 on Math I.
Use this flowchart:
Colleges require Math II? If yes, take Math II, if no go to next question.
Have you taken or will you be comfortable with precalculus topics when you take the exam? If yes, take Math II, if no go to next question.
Are you comfortable learning a few extra things from an SAT subject test book (I recommend Barron's)? If yes, take Math II, if no take Math I.</p>
<p>If you decide to do Math II, get a Barron's book, do the diagnostic, go through all the lessons, and take at least 3 full exams. This will overprepare you so don't get sad if you find yourself doing horribly.</p>
<p>Thank you so much!! That's really helpful! Do you know of any colleges that specifically require Math II?</p>
<p>I think the University of California system does, Caltech, MIT, and some combined BS/MD programs. There are probably some other ones as well.</p>
<p>People who take Math IIC are usually the people who expect over a 700 on Math I, so that's why the grades are so skewed. The curve isn't as ridiculous as people would have you believe.</p>
<p>i almost made a new thread, but i figure that i'll ask here since theres like 80 math IC/math IIC threads.</p>
<p>i'm not a real strong math student, to say the least. few colleges that i'm looking at need 3 sat iis, most need 2 (and i plan for us hist and lit to be stronger score-wise for me). i'm starting on barron's math ic, but from what i've read, it might be more beneficial to take the math iic. math classes that i would have taken by the june test date are alg 1, alg 2, and geometry. now i'm gifted, so once i start self-teaching, i get on a roll. that being said, is it worth it to self-teach math ii over math i, is the content THAT different, that the scores i end up with would be completely/unbelievably different?</p>
<p>Barron's math II is a beast and has helped many get an 800. To you, I would say it is different. There's only a few extra things you have to learn I think. Polar curves, vectors, and trig identities.</p>
<p>Compared to level 1, math level 2 adds:</p>
<p>hyperbolas
polar coordinates
3-D coordinates
radians
law of sines/cosines
more trig, e.g. sec, cot, sin(A+B), inverses
logarithms</p>
<p>vectors (minor)
limits (minor)
stdev (minor)</p>
<p>On the bright side, level 2 has no plane geometry! :)</p>
<p>To sum up: more functions, a lot more trig, more coordinate geometry.</p>
<p>thanks, i think i can handle it. only problem is that the practice problems for the barrons books have crappy/no explanations (practice problems, not examples). i'm prolly gonna end up reading both books though, i've gotta be super prepared. thanks again.</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I am in AP Calc AB this year. I took academic precalc last year, and honors algebra 2 the prior year. This past January I took the SAT 2 Math 2, and with very little studying, other than a practice test or two, I got an 800. I skipped 2 or 3 questions. I am really not that great at math, but I scored well. Take Math 2 though because I hear the curve is much better.</p>
<p>~AYeleswarapu</p>