Can a Wizard prepare spells below their level?

[jasonthelamb]

Say a Wizard wanted to prepare some level 1 spells, and didn't have enough spots - could the Wizard use a 2nd level slot to prepare a 1st level spell? If so, is this spell considered to be "cast at 2nd level (for DC)" or what?

[Kadasbrass Loreweaver]

You can do that but it still uses the DC as orginal level (the heighten meta magic allows you to use a higher level slot for a lower spell and use the new higher DC.

[Bill Dunn]

Yes, a wizard can always use a higher level slot to prepare a lower level spell - but the variables on the spell only change if he does so with the Heighten Spell metamagic feat. So, under normal circumstances, a 1st level spell prepped and cast from a 2nd level slot is just a 1st level spell. But if he uses the Heighten Spell metamagic feat, it becomes a 2nd level spell for setting DCs and so on.

Check d20pfsrd on Prepping Wizard Spells for more info.