Resources I used to get 800 on Math II

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
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<p>Wooo 800 on Math II as of today!
I decided I'd make a quick post with the books and stuff I used to get an 800 </p>

<p>Books:</p>

<p>Best for review -Barron's. Barron's</a> SAT Subject Test Math Level 2, 10th Edition: Richard Ku, Howard Dodge: 9781438000312: Amazon.com: Books
This book is a trillion times harder than the test (as everyone always mentions). Most people get discouraged by going through this book, but the review of topics is really second to none. It has just about everything, but the flaw is, again, it's pretty hard. The whole point of Barron's is to learn how to tackle those hard problems and not to waste time freaking out about them. I don't recommend taking the practice tests timed in the book. Just work at your own pace on the practice tests, because you're going to get a 650 if you take it 'for real' under normal conditions. I started reviewing this book in July for the October test this year.
Also, there are some good resources for calculator tricks throughout the book. I haven't seen many other books explicitly do this. It definitely helps! You have a calculator, use it to your advantage.</p>

<p>Best/Most Helpful Tests - Dr. Chung's 12 SAT Math II practice tests. Dr</a>. John Chung's SAT II Math Level 2 ---- 2nd Edition: To get a Perfect Score on the SAT: Dr. John Chung: 9781481963213: Amazon.com: Books
In my experience, these tests are the best way to prepare for the test (besides the actual CollegeBoard tests). These tests are slightly harder than the actual test, but not by TOO much like Barron's. I'd say that these practice tests were the main reason why I got an 800. They are very doable under normal conditions (1 hour), and if you can get comfortable with these, consider yourself set for the CollegeBoard test. I would usually miss or leave blank around 2-6 on these Dr. Chung's tests; on test day I left 3 blank and felt pretty confident about all of my other answers. Not bad IMO. I got this book in early September, a month before the real test. Make sure to review your wrong answers and WHY you got them wrong every time after you take a test. I did this, and by test #12, which I took two days before the real test, my confidence was super high and I felt very well prepared for the real thing.</p>

<p>Calc:
TI-84 - This was my main calculator. I had some programs on it just in case, for example I had one that had a bunch of saved formulas for area, volume, and all sorts of other stuff that might show up on the test. It REALLY helped. I don't want to spend forever memorizing surface area formulas and volume of weird shapes so honestly I highly recommend having a program like this.
I also had a factoring program. This was mainly to reduce time wastage and to check my answers. Pretty helpful too. </p>

<p>TI-89 - This calc is NOT NECESSARY for the test. I had it ready under my desk just in case. I think I used it on two problems, only because I realized they could be done quicker with a TI-89. I think it was a question of like 3 systems of equations and solving for x, y, and z. I just put that right into the calc and in like 5 seconds it popped out the answer.
This could easily be done without it but 30-45 seconds compared to 10 seconds is a notable difference. </p>

<p>You really don't need it though.</p>

<p>So there you go! I hope this was pretty helpful, good luck!</p>

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<p>Cool, thanks!</p>

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<p>I used both those books and got an 800 as well
I didn’t take EVERY Chung test though, that seems to be overdoing it.
And Barron’s was very demoralizing, and had way more difficult probability/counting problems than the actual test.
total I took 12 practice tests (7 from barron’s best score was 750, 3 from Chung best score was 740 or 780 not timed, and 2 from official study guide, 800 on both)</p>

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<p>Damn nice I got a 690.):</p>

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<p>I don’t actually get why people think the Barrons Math II tests are demoralising. Coming from someone who’s worst SAT sub-score is for math, I found that if you read through the Barron’s book content, you could do the Barrons practice tests very comfortably. Yes, it is noticeably harder than College Board (I’m actually surprised by how easy it was) but it really isn’t that hard.</p>

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<p>lol, all I did was one official collegeboard practice test beforehand, and easily scored 800…</p>

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<p>So what’s better for practice tests? Dr. Chung’s? Or Barrons?</p>

<p>I already did the collegeboard tests, and some of each book, but there’s still a lot left.</p>

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<p>Barron’s is great for the review of topics. The tests are completely unrealistic, but doing them could get you pretty familiar with the questions you’ll likely see as #'s 40-50 on the real thing.
Like I said in my first post, Chung’s (for me) was the main reason I felt completely prepared for the real thing. The tests are slightly harder, but not by too much like Barron’s. The Chung’s tests are definitely doable (and really should be if you want to get a 780+ on the real thing).</p>

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<p>One thing I noticed about Chung’s - he loves always having one question on every test about expanding binomials (binomial expansion theorem). Like asking what the coefficient of the x^4 term will be of (x+8)^10
I would always use my TI-89 for these questions. I didn’t feel like taking the time to learn the theorem itself. You can kinda gauge what is most likely to show up on the real test. I knew some of the more outlandish questions had no chance of being on the real thing, so I didn’t dedicate a ridiculous amount of time to them. The whole point is being familiar with a wide range topics.</p>