SAT II Math IC

destinypath · October 22, 2004, 7:42pm

Ugh. I'm freaking. Info always helps me calm down. SO...for those of you generous enough to share, I have a few questions about the SAT II Math IC.

<ol>
<li>What concepts MUST you know to do well on the test?</li>
<li>What is the best way to prepare? </li>
<li>Does anyone know the curve? (I imagine it's pretty hard, since more people take it.) </li>
</ol>

Maybe I'll come up with others later...Thanks for any help you can give to a desperate fellow-student! (Apparently I'm not above begging. ;-)

zantedeschia · October 22, 2004, 7:49pm

The curve is hard. Get one wrong and you get like a 780. You must know precalc, some trig, geometry, algebra. Best way to prepare, get a book like Barrons.

laurenh87 · October 22, 2004, 8:06pm

Hey-

I just took (and got my score) the IC test. I was planning on taking the 2C so I started doing practice tests a few days before. Lo-and-behold, I couldn't get above a 650! Around midnight Friday night, the night before the test, I deicded to switch to the IC test. I took half of one practice test and realized I knew most of the stuff, and then went right to bed. So basically, I did no review/studying.

Anyway I ended up getting a 770 and I'm not a math person, if you know what I mean. Point being- you will probably do fine! You need to know some geometry, trig, a lot of algebra and solving equations. It really is a basic test- the only bad part is the killer curve. As zantedeschia said, it's somewhere around 10 off for each wrong answer! But if you took the SAT I and did well on that math section I imagine you'll do fine on this. It's quite similar. Good luck!

grxkn · October 22, 2004, 9:13pm

If you've had Pre-calculus, DO NOT TAKE IT. Take Math IIC. I thought I had forgotten all my Pre-cal material, but I'm positive that I would have gotten over 700 had I taken the Math IIC instead of Math IC. (My score in the Real SAT IIs book has proven that to me.) I got 610 on Math IC.

teal · October 23, 2004, 12:02am

Yes take the test in the real sat ii's book and see how you are on it; for instance, i took it and found out that i did worse on ic than iic, good than i found out beforehand

visishs · October 23, 2004, 1:40am

I disagree with grxkn
Theres no way to get taht much of a IC IIC diff if ur in precalc
im in precalc - i got like 740 on the IC practice, but 800 on the actual IIC

IIC is best if u r careless - if ur impeccable but not in high level math, tahts where iC comes in

i always suggest IIC - colleges look highly upon it compared to IC (OBVIOUSLY)

grxkn · October 23, 2004, 3:04am

I'm confused as to about what you're disagreeing with me. :-/

teal · October 23, 2004, 5:03pm

Maybe s/he misread/mistyped, but yes i agree ic is not a good idea if you're prone to careless mistakes

nealious · October 23, 2004, 5:09pm

SAT I math is thinking outside of the box and analytical. SAT 2 Math 2c is more having a good knowledge of different concepts and formulas and applying them. Its less logic, more knowledge. In most Math 2c questions, theres a long way to do each one using a long-winded process of plugging in numbers, and a short way using reasoning.

I can't speak for 1C because I've never taken it, but I know that careless-mistake people should go for the 2C. For 1C, you should probably know all the triangle rules, planar geometry rules, systems of equations, some alg 2. Perhaps even a little trig thrown in there.

destinypath · October 23, 2004, 10:51pm

Bleh, I've not taken pre-calc. I'd rather be strangled slowly. So yeah.

Ya'll are great to answer...but I was looking for more specific what do you need to know since I know the IC is for algebra through trig people. (Which I am.) I don't know...I'm good in math compared to the average student, but I just...suck at it compared to you smart "800 no problem no study no sweat" people.

gianievve · October 24, 2004, 12:08am

my math ic just jumped 100pts - BUY KAPLAN! or study from "Sparknotes MATH IC" - you can even get the book free online on their website: <a href="http://testprep.sparknotes.com/books/sat2/math1c/%5B/url%5D">http://testprep.sparknotes.com/books/sat2/math1c/</a>
(though I still strongly recommend you study from Kaplan too). Barrons is generally amazing, but they suck for the Math IC - i wouldn't recommend it.

Math IC
you need to know:
30% algebra
20% plane geometry
6% solid geometry
12% coordinate geometry
8% trigonometry
12% functions
6% statistics and sets
and the rest of the questions are 6% miscellaneous.

if you're above average in math, but not into advanced math, then the IC is probably for you. Personally, i don't think the fuss about the curve should be that big a deal. if you cover the main topics i've mentioned above, and do a few practice tests bfore - you should be set.