SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2

The SAT Subject Test in Mathematics Level 2 (formerly known as MathII or MathIIC (the "C" representing the use of a calculator) is the name of a one-hour multiple choice test given on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, functions, statistics and a few miscellaneous topics by The College Board. A student chooses whether to take the test depending upon college entrance requirements for the schools in which the student is planning to apply. Until 1994, the SAT Subject Tests were known as Achievement Tests; until January 2005, they were known as SAT IIs. Of all SAT subject tests, Mathematics Level two is taken the most, with 132,809 administrations in 2006.

Format
The test has 50 multiple choice questions that are to be answered in one hour. All questions have five answer choices. Students receive 1 point for every correct answer, lose ¼ of a point for each incorrect answer, and receive 0 points for questions left blank.

The questions cover a broad range of topics. Approximately 10-14% of questions focus on Numbers and Operations, 48-52% focus on Algebra and functions, 28-32% focus on Geometry (coordinate, three-dimensional, and trigonometry, plane geometry is not directly tested), and 6-10% focus on Data analysis, Statistics, and probability.

Calculator Use
The College Board states that a calculator "may be useful or necessary" for about 55-60% of the questions on the test. The College Board also encourages the use of a graphing calculator over a scientific calculator. It also says that this test was "developed with the expectation that most students are using graphing calculators."

Students are not permitted to use calculators on the Mathematics Level Two test that have a QWERTY format keyboard, that require an electrical outlet, that make noise, use paper tape, that have non-traditional methods of input (such as a stylus), or those that are part of a communication device (such as PDA's, laptops, or cell phones).

Preparation
The College Board suggests as preparation for the test four years of mathematics, including two years of algebra, one year of geometry, and one year of either precalculus or trigonometry.

Scoring
For each of the 50 multiple choice questions, students receive 1 point for every correct answer, lose ¼ of a point for each incorrect answer, and receive 0 points for questions left blank. This creates a raw score, which is then converted into a scaled score. The conversion between these numbers varies depending on the difficulty of a particular test administration. The scaled score is the only score reported to either students or colleges, and ranges from 200 to 800, with 800 being the best possible score. The standard deviation between test scores in 2006 was 105.

The Mathematics level two test can be seen as one of the most generous non-foreign language SAT subject tests in terms of score. Mathematics gives 10% of its test-takers a perfect score of 800, and a mean score of 644, both of which are the highest of all non-foreign language SAT subject tests. Level two also has a median of 650, with the physics test being the only non-foreign language with a higher median.