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i took the 10 real sat iis version of the iics test and easily got a 800, i tried to take some barrons practice tests (i didnt do bad, but not a 800) and found that they were extremely different. I know the basics and the essentials of all of the tested subjects, but is it neccessary to waste/use time memorizing 20 different trig functions (or plugging them into the caclulator) and de moivre's theorems?

some one that took the actual test let me know, my friends that took it all got 800s, im pretty sure im on par if not better at math then them

By Ubercollegeman (Ubercollegeman) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:05 am: Edit

Yeah, the SATII math IIC test is a joke for most mathematically inclined people.

I took two "real" practice tests, and missed close to nothing. I think on one, I actually did miss nothing, but I'm not absolutely positive. Don't worry about your Barron's score; in comparison, I missed about 4-6 on those tests. Some of those are really hard.

Aside from taking the practice tests, I didn't study at all. Pretty easy 800.

By Piman3141 (Piman3141) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 02:46 pm: Edit

IIc is a joke. Most people seem to think that Ic is the easier of the two, even though it's the harder one by a long shot.

By Bluejay (Bluejay) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

So the deal is that you program the calculator with the different functions and this is acceptable testing practice? Also, what is the omitting strategy for Math IIC to get the highest possible score?

By Cybernetica (Cybernetica) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:44 am: Edit

you barely need to know any trig identities if you come into the IIc with a TI-89 or similar calculator ...9 times out of 10 the calculator will simplify the expressions thrown your way into something you can see on the test booklet and bubble in...

(knowing 'core' trig id's from which you can derive all the other ones can't hurt obviously...)

in general, barron's is WAY overkill for the iic topics it does cover and misses touching on several topics it really ought to at least glance at...the PR book and even the Sparknotes book are really much better reviews...PR also has some nice specific strategies for certain types of problems I found on the IIc (common 'tricks' thrown at test takers) I didn't find discussed in other books...

I honestly think the Barron's book is just a rehash of what the writer used to try and drill into student's when he/she taught at Choate...it wasn't really written with the test/ reading audience in mind.

PR isn't always an ideal company but I would trust them much more for a test like this...if you're math experience is as you describe i'm sure you will make an 800...make sure though to only answer roughly within the range of questions you 'need' since, as you probably know, iic is known to have a remarkably generous curve.


best,
ssg

By Yz16 (Yz16) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 02:20 am: Edit

i agree with the above posters.
i just took it today after stressing all night over all the details of conic sections in Barrons.

nothing. nada. no need.

the topics tested were more advanced than those on the SAT 1 math, but really you need only the basics.

'fact...i went through close to 3/4 of the test without picking up the calc.

quite a nice curve too, judging from the PR books.

By Blee731 (Blee731) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 01:07 pm: Edit

I concur vehemently. I took the Barron's tests and was getting mid-20s raw scores. On this test, I answered 45 and omitted only 5.

By Jesusofsuburbia (Jesusofsuburbia) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 03:53 pm: Edit

What is on the test?

Algebra? Trig? Calculus? All of the above?

By Wrathofgod64 (Wrathofgod64) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 03:56 pm: Edit

no calculus, just algebra and trig

By Jangel86 (Jangel86) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 05:09 pm: Edit

I was expecting calculus because they put function and derivative problems in the Barron's book, but on the test today, there was barely any pre-calc either.

By Theapprentice (Theapprentice) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 06:20 pm: Edit

mostly algebra and geo today
like no precalc stuff (limits and stuff)
there was that asymptote problem tho...
little trig too....