SAT Math II without a graphing calculator?

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I'm homeschooled, and I follow the British curriculum, and we aren't allowed to use graphing calculators for our Math tests, even in calculus, so I never really needed a graphing calculator.</p>

<p>I've been studying for the SAT Math II using Barron's, and it seems to me that they recommend using a graphing calculator for ~40 questions out of the 50 questions in the practices tests.</p>

<p>I'm planning to memorize all the formulas needed for the test, and I've learned a few tricks with my scientific calculator, including using the TABLE mode for functions and the CMPLX mode for complex numbers.</p>

<p>So far my scores on the Barron's practice tests aren't very good, because a/ I either rush through the questions and make many mistakes, or b/ I run out of time. I realize that if I can guarantee that my answers are correct, I can omit up to 6 questions and still get an 800, however, I keep worrying about the fact that I don't have a graphing calculator.</p>

<p>My test is this Saturday, so there's no time to get a new calculator and get used to it - plus I'm not at home and I have no idea how to get a graphing calculator in this city. Do you think I should continue preparing for the M2 and give it a try without the graphing calculator, or should I switch to the M1?</p>

<p>I'm in my senior year, and can't postpone the test anyway, because half the colleges I'm applying to want two Subject Tests. I'm also doing Biology and Chemistry, and my first choice major is biomedical engineering/bioengineering.</p>

2

<p>Most of the Math II problems can be solved without a calculator, but a few problems you may need a calculator. I suggest using your scientific calculator. When I took Math II, I only found a couple of problems where the use of a graphing calculator seemed necessary.</p>

<p>Since most scientific calculators I’ve seen don’t evaluate logarithms other than base 10 and base e, you may need to use the change-of-base formula if a problem comes up.</p>

3

<p>Get a graphing calculator.</p>

4

<p>@Bouchra, I know how you feel. At my school we were never allowed to use graphing calculators. (or any calculators at all)</p>

<p>I believe that if you know your info, you can do everything with a regular scientific calculator, but it would be a lot faster if you had a graphing calculator. Because it kinda turns from understanding the problem to just punching in the numbers and taking whatever the calculator spits back at you.</p>