<p>I don't get it. Why do people think Math Level 2 is an "easy" exam? It's much harder than the SAT Reasoning Math and the Mathematics Level 1, so why does everyone assume that the test is an easy 800? </p>
<p>I mean, of my friends, here are the scores I've seen:</p>
<p>Kid 1: Reasoning Math - 780, Math 2 - 750
Kid 2: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 770
Kid 3: Reasoning Math - 750, Math 2 - 770
Kid 4: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 750
Kid 4: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 800 </p>
<p>While the Math2 scores seem "comparable" to the reasoning, you have to understand that a 770 is a raw score of 40/50, whereas on reasoning it's 53/54. </p>
<p>And even those kids who get, say, 780 reasoning and 800 Math 2 (me), I'm pretty sure none of us have a raw of 50/50 on math2, but our reasoning math is a raw of 53/54. </p>
<p>So...yeah. Math 2 isn't easy...it just has a reeeeallly nice curve because it's so damned hard!</p>
<p>Well I haven't taken the actual test yet. But it doesn't seem that difficult from the prep tests i've taken, but then again I also use a TI 89...</p>
<p>In my math class the scores pretty much look like this:</p>
<p>Kid 1: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 800
Kid 2: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 800
Kid 3: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 800
Kid 4: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 800
Kid 5: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 800
Kid 6: Reasoning Math - 800, Math 2 - 790</p>
<p>I got a 750, and then an 800 on the Reasoning. </p>
<p>I found the Reasoning test to be harder because it is easier. Ironic, I know -- but I tend to make mistakes when I get cocky. Reasoning tests were like, look at this ratio, now tell us something about it. The Subject test was more like, here's a polynomial - how many roots does it have, and what are the imaginary ones? </p>
<p>My strategy on the reasoning was: Don't screw up.<br>
My strategy for the subject test involved studying the few topics that I didn't know out of a practice book. It was just more systematic. </p>
<p>I also found the subject test more fun, because frankly it had more interesting problems.
I remember problem #50 (May, '07) being about matrixs and I was a sophomore and was befuddled. The hardest problem on the reasoning for me when I took it last month was some inequality that just threw me through a loop because I couldn't get my head past the simplicity.</p>
<p>IMO, I don't know whether Reasoning or Subject was harder than the other, but given that a mistake on the reasoning means a 750, and given that I missed at least two on the subject and know others who missed 5 and got 800s, the subject is/seems easier.</p>
<p>^ People I know tend to struggle more with the SAT I than the SAT II. Probably because the SAT II has less tricks to it and straight up tests what you know.</p>
<p>The SAT Math Level II is MUCH more straightforward, no dirty tricks, and the testing material is directly related to my most recent calculus class. It might sound crazy, but at least for me, doing equations that "look" more difficult is actually easier than doing a bunch of "medium" ones, because I have trained a lot harder to take down the hard ones.</p>
<p>For people who have taken challenging math courses in HS, acing the Math Level 2 is WAY more easy than getting 5's on 'em APs.</p>
<p>My reasoning math was 680 and I'm taking the ML2 in a couple of days - the prac tests tell me anything between 750-800.</p>
<p>^ SAT II Math doesn't have much of calculus (unless you're talking about dy/dx for maximum values etc). Basically, the SAT II is reviewing everything you've been studying on forever....so it should be straightforward. Conversely, the SAT I uses more logic based thinking skills where you have to create your own tricks. SAT II is more plug in equation and solve.</p>
<p>There're 50 questions for 60 minutes...the easiest ones can be solved rather quickly leaving you more time to cope with the harder questions! Perhaps you need to cover your material more to up your efficiency? Or become more calculator savvy?</p>
<p>The SAT I math curve is MUCH harsher than the SAT II math 2. Add in the fact that the SAT I writers try really hard to trick students, the SAT I math is just one part of a 4 hr test, and math 2 definitely seems easier.</p>