<p>According to you, just how difficult is math level 2 when compared to ACT math? I read in Silverturtle's guide that ACT math is comparable to the subject test so I would like some feedback from those who have done both tests. </p>
<p>I’ve done both, but it’s been a while.</p>
<p>If I recall correctly, ACT math questions are a little more straightforward, but you have 60 minutes for 60 questions --> 1 minute per question on average, compared to the subject test where you have 60 minutes for 50 questions. However if you can blaze through the easy questions (but accurately!), then time shouldn’t be an issue. The harder questions on both tests can sometimes be tricky though.</p>
<p>@MITer94 Time isn’t really an issue and I have a 35 on the math, I just don’t know what to expect from the subject test and whether I should take level 1 or level 2. </p>
<p>Ah okay. I don’t think Math II is much more difficult than the ACT math, and you can miss a few questions on Math II and still get 800 (Math I has a much harsher curve).</p>
<p>It depends on what classes you have taken. Math I focuses more on algebra and basic concepts, although you need to complete the test almost perfectly to get a good score (the exam has a terrible curve). If you have completed a year of precalc, I would say that Math II is the better test for you.</p>
<p>Math II is written by ETS(same guys as SAT Reasoning test) and the style of Math II is along the lines of SAT I, in fact one may see similar questions(just a few though). ACT is more straightforward and does not require the same level of care in parsing the questions. My recommendation is to get the official guide from collegeboard: <a href=“http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0874477727/st06202-20”>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0874477727/st06202-20</a> and take a practice test for Level 1 and Level 2. Getting an 800 in Level 1 is very difficulty whereas 800 in Level 2 is far easier(12% of the students who take Level 2 get an 800). I don’t know what the point of Level 2 is if the scale is so out of balance. </p>
<p>Math 2 is actually more difficult than the stats show. Sure 12% get 800s and sure the curve is nice, but several things factor into this. One is that content wise and time wise, Math 2 is supposed to be more difficult, so a generous curve would be needed otherwise the percent of 800s would fall well around 1-5%, which for these tests it shouldn’t happen. Furthermore, the percent of 800s is higher because the students who take that test are more likely to be extremely well-versed in math. From this, you’d expect more higher scores; it’s like AP Calc BC where 50% score a 5 because the kids who take that exam know their stuff.
Anyways, I personally think there isn’t much different save a few Pre-Calc topics between the ACT math and Math Level 2. I scored a 36 on the ACT math and an 800 on the SAT II Math Level 2, and really couldn’t tell a huge difference. But if you take it, prep with Barron’s. It’s overkill, but pretty good.</p>
<p>^However, even well after taking Math II, I’m still not sure why you can miss several questions and still get 800 on Math II, yet 12-14% supposedly score 800. To distinguish perfect scorers from those who missed a few, I believe it should be 50/50 --> 800, 49/50 --> ~790, etc…</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, I did no prep for Math II and got a 740, but prepped a little bit for the ACT and got a 35 on the math. Granted, my school doesn’t offer AP courses and I was only in “intro to calc” during my junior year (on pace to finish the equivalent of Calc AB senior year), but I thought Math II was the more difficult test. Math II isn’t really an exercise in being able to answer hard questions. It’s about not getting easy questions wrong and just skipping any questions you don’t know how to answer. The curve is very forgiving, especially compared to Math I.</p>
<p>My only tip would be to prep at least a little bit. I decided to take the test the night before, so I had no idea what I was doing and my score reflects that a bit. Nothing is particularly hard about the exam, but it pays to be familiar with the kinds of questions they ask on Math II. I would say Math I is much more similar to the ACT in terms of difficulty and timing.</p>
<p>I would GUESS that the generous curve is there to not penalize you for the great skill of all other Math 2ers. eg, if you got an 800 with the curve they assume you’d get an 800 without a nice curve on Math 1.</p>
<p>I guess I will take Level 2 then, the thing is I just opened the Barron’s book and I literally felt like the dumbest person on earth. So, I think I will look for another book.</p>
<p>There is no more Math2C but Math2. It covers up to pre-calc level. Barron is a good book for the preparation. If you get 700+ in the last practice, you are likely to get 800 in the real test.</p>