According to the College Board, the SAT Mathematics Level II exam encompasses advanced algebra, trigonometry, and certain concepts found in precalculus. Currently, I am bemused by the prospect of selecting a textbook more germane toward independent study for the exam, specifically selecting between Sheldon Axler’s Algebra and Trigonometry and his Precalculus: A Prelude to Calculus. For those who have knowledge of the material contained within the exam, I would care to be privy to which textbook (or any equivalent text) better reflects the material necessary for success on the exam.
I would recommend Barron’s. I used Barrons for a what I call “intensive review session” (which is basically just me teaching myself some michellaneous subjects and reviewing math in a week prior to the test) and managed to get 740. I know it’s not that great, but I could have spent more time on it and do better.
My point is, however, Barron’s is great in terms of preparing you for the exam. The myth that it overprepares is true. But that is the good part about using it. You’ll find the real exam a lot easier and even manage to finish before time and use the rest of the time to check.
Best of luck to you! (Oh, and I definitely recommend studying for it in more than a week… don’t be me if you want the 800).
Thank you for your reply, and indeed, I have heard much of the merits of Barron’s texts in improving student performance on SAT exams, which often exhibit volatile levels of academic rigor.
However, my question is not tantamount to test preparation (as the title of the thread suggests, and hopefully I will be exculpated for the writing of such a misnomer) as much as to studying for the topics in question (i.e. Algebra and Trigonometry) without having taken a prior course.
I am a home schooled student (more precisely an autodidact) and have had no exposure to a standard high school Algebra II course.
If I am simply confounding the acme of your answer, and you enumerate that Barron’s is indeed an appropriate text for independent study as well as the consequent test preparation, then do forgive me. If such was not your intention, I will reiterate my question (which, upon inspection, originally appears to indicate that I am studying for the exam rather than for the material contained within the exam): is there a textbook that is best suited for independent study of the material contained within the SAT Mathematics Level II exam and that (given a reasonable grasp of mathematics by the user) would prepared the student for an exam which is to be administered in approximately three months?
@ArrantPedant Oh! I am sorry I misread! Well, I’ll try searching it up for you (and using my previous knowledge of the test, will judge the books to see which is the best). I’ll let you know asap.
