In this post, I will talk about how you can maximize your SAT Math 2 score. In 2019, I took the SAT Math 2 and scored a perfect score (800), and you can too! Assuming that you have gone through a math curriculum at school, these 5 steps will build upon your previous knowledge to help you ace the SAT Math 2 Subject Test!
SAT Math 2 Basics
On the SAT Math 2 Subject Test, you are given 60 minutes to answer 50 multiple choice questions. It’s recommended that a student has taken algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus courses. For more information, you can take a look at pg. 17 of College Board’s SAT Subject Tests Student Guide.
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1. Invest in an SAT Math 2 Textbook
I recommend investing in a SAT Math 2 textbook for two reasons: concept reviews and practice tests/problems. I actually had three books that I used from Barron’s, Ivy Global, and Dr. John Chung; though, what books you use is totally up to you!
Barron’s SAT Math Level 2 (9 practice tests)
Barron’s was the first SAT Math 2 textbook I used. I primarily used it for referencing any information or material that I had not learned in class or was unclear about. The book is broken down into 22 chapters, each going into detail on a math topic that you would see on the SAT Math 2 test. Each topic and subtopic had in-depth explanations and plenty of step-by-step examples to help you understand the material.
In general, Barron’s practice tests were on the more difficult side when compared to the actual test, so don’t feel discouraged if you end up scoring lower than you expected! However, I actually liked taking the more difficult tests because it helped me to prepare for the more challenging problems that you sometimes encounter on the actual test. The great thing about the Barron’s textbook is that there’s 9 full-length practice tests including the 2 online ones, so you can get a lot of practice!
Ivy Global: Study Guide & 6 Practice Tests
Ivy Global gives you a study guide of the topics covered on the SAT Math 2 test, including numbers and operations, algebra and functions, data analysis, and more. There is also detailed examples and solutions accompanying each concept.
I mainly used the Ivy Global textbook for its practice tests. I found that, compared to the actual test, Ivy Global’s practice tests were quite accurate. These tests can be a good measure of what you are likely to score on the actual SAT Math 2 test.
Dr. Chung’s 61 Tips & 12 Complete Tests
When I got Dr. Chung’s book, I was mainly looking for more practice tests. His book is perfect for this because it has 12 entire tests! Although his tests are on the more challenging side, I would still recommend taking them; they definitely helped me become more comfortable and efficient with both the easier and more difficult problems on the test. Content-wise, Chung gives 61 tips that are oriented toward the problems that you’ll likely encounter on the test.
Depending on your school’s curriculum, you may encounter some new concepts that these textbooks can help you with. For instance, I immediately went to the “Vectors” chapter in the Barron’s textbook and found the information to be very well-explained.
2. Take a Diagnostic Test
One of the first things I did to prepare for the test was to take a diagnostic test. The value in doing this is that you can figure out which topics you need to improve on. By taking a diagnostic, I was able to list out my areas of focus instead of having to review every single math topic I had learned the previous year.
Now, to pick a diagnostic test, I would recommend taking a test that’s as close as possible to the real SAT Math 2 Subject Test. You can definitely find many practice tests online, but I recommend using the practice tests in the textbooks I mentioned above. They’ll give you the most accurate results when you’re trying to figure out what to study. I liked Barron’s diagnostic test because it shows you what chapters in the book each problem corresponds to (this is helpful for step 3).
3. Find Your Weaknesses
After taking my first practice test and scoring it, I made a list of all the questions I got wrong and took note of what category or topic they were in. From there I knew which topics were my weaknesses and what to focus on when studying. Just taking a couple of minutes to make this list will save you so much time.
At this point, I would suggest looking at any one of the textbooks or even searching for videos online to help you learn and reinforce your knowledge and understanding of any of the “weak” topics on the list you made from your practice test errors. Personally, I used the Barron’s textbook and online math videos from Khan Academy. You could also look at any of your materials from school corresponding to those topics.
4. Repeat Steps 2 & 3
After making your first round of studying, I would recommend taking another test to put what you’ve learned to the test. Then, if you still haven’t reached your desired score, make the list of your weaknesses again and study. Essentially, repeat steps 2 and 3 until you feel that you have a good understanding of the material tested on SAT Math 2.
Repeating these processes is essential to ace the SAT Math 2. Only through reviewing your mistakes and one-by-one checking off every “weak” topic can you boost your score for certain.
5. More Practice Tests!
One of the most difficult aspects of the SAT Math 2 test is the time constraint, and it was something that I struggled with a lot initially. I would get the first 40 problems done in good time, but then the last 10 were more difficult and time-consuming, and I would end up barely finishing or having to guess the last few questions. The way I overcame this was to take many many practice tests. I probably took over twenty practice tests until I was able to consistently score an 800. It’s also a good idea to try and finish with still a minute or two to check your work. I took most of the practice tests from the Barron’s, Dr. Chung’s, and Ivy Global textbooks that I mentioned earlier and also a few tests from online.
Another important aspect to keep in mind that you want to simulate the real test, so don’t forget to time yourself for an hour and sit in a place where you won’t be distracted. Also, if you plan to use a graphing calculator and calculator programs on the test, practice with the calculator.
Additionally, if you’re looking for more practice problems, I highly recommend checking out Dr. Steve Warner’s 320 SAT Math Subject Test Problems. In his book, Dr. Warner gives you 320 problems from the five SAT Math 2 topics (number theory, algebra and functions, geometry, probability and statistics, and trigonometry) arranged from easy to challenging difficulty levels. After going through this book, I felt more confident in knowing what kinds of problems I could expect on the test and how to solve them.
5 Steps to Ace the SAT Math 2 Quick Outline
1. Invest in a Textbook
2. Take a Diagnostic Test
3. Find Your Weaknesses
4. Repeat Steps 2 & 3
5. Take More Practice Tests!
Just remember if you’ve done your preparation well and eliminated your weaknesses, you can definitely ace the SAT Math 2 test. After these five steps, you should have a good chance of achieving your desired test score! Good luck!
I’d love to hear how your study process is going! Feel free to comment down below any questions you may have too.
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