Introduction The Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test covers the same material as the Mathematics Level 1 test — with the addition of trigonometry and elementary functions precalculus. If you performed well in these courses, taking this test gives you the opportunity to highlight your abilities and showcase your interest in higher-level mathematics. If you have taken trigonometry or elementary functions precalculus or both, received grades of B or better in these courses, and are comfortable knowing when and how to use a scientific or graphing calculator, you should select the Level 2 test. If you are sufficiently prepared to take Level 2, but elect to take Level 1 in hopes of receiving a higher score, you may not do as well as you expect. You may want to consider taking the test that covers the topics you learned most recently, since the material will be fresh in your mind. You should also consider the requirements of the colleges and programs you are interested in. Level 1 measures a more basic understanding of the topics than Level 2. For example, Level 1 covers the arithmetic of complex numbers, but Level 2 also covers graphical and other properties of complex numbers. Level 2 also includes series and vectors. Level 1 contains mainly algebraic equations and functions, whereas Level 2 also contains more advanced equations and functions, such as exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric. A significant percentage of the questions on Level 1 is devoted to plane Euclidean geometry and measurement, which is not tested directly on Level 2. On Level 2, the concepts learned in plane geometry are applied in the questions on coordinate geometry and three-dimensional geometry. The trigonometry questions on Level 1 are primarily limited to right triangle trigonometry sine, cosine, tangent and the fundamental relationships among the trigonometric ratios. Level 2 includes questions about ellipses, hyperbolas, polar coordinates and coordinates in three dimensions. The trigonometry questions on Level 2 place more emphasis on the properties and graphs of trigonometric functions, the inverse trigonometric functions, trigonometric equations and identities, and the laws of sines and cosines. Both Level 1 and Level 2 include mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, data interpretation and probability. Level 2 also includes standard deviation. Both include least-squares linear regression, but Level 2 also includes quadratic and exponential regression. Seek advice from your high school math teacher if you are still unsure of which test to take. Keep in mind you can choose to take either test on test day, regardless of what test you registered for. Please note that these tests reflect what is commonly taught in high school. This is nothing to worry about. You do not have to get every question correct to receive the highest score 800 for the test. Many students do well despite not having studied every topic covered. It may be that you only need the calculator for the final step or two and can do the rest in your test book or in your head. For the other half of the questions, a calculator may be useful or necessary. Sometimes a result that you may get from your calculator is NOT the final answer. You should read the question again. Since the choices are rounded, plugging the choices into the problem might not produce an exact answer. For example, if you get a result from the calculator for the first step of a solution, keep the result in the calculator and use it for the second step. If you round the result from the first step and the answer choices are close to each other, you might have a problem. The most important consideration is your comfort level with the calculator. Test day is not the time to start learning how to use a new calculator, even if it has more capabilities. You may bring batteries and a backup calculator to the test center. Remember, no substitute calculators or batteries will be available at the test center. You can choose to cancel your scores on the test. Such action may be grounds for dismissal, cancellation of scores or both. Figures that accompany problems are intended to provide information useful in solving the problems. They are drawn as accurately as possible except when it is stated in a particular problem that the figure is not drawn to scale. Even when figures are not drawn to scale, the relative positions of points and angles may be assumed to be in the order shown. Also, line segments that extend through points and appear to lie on the same line may be assumed to be on the same line.
