We propose a simple and intuitive method to derive the exact convergence rate of global L2-norm error for strong numerical approximation of stochastic differential equations the result of which has been reported by Hofmann and M\"uller-Gronbach(2004). We conclude that any strong numerical scheme of order γ>1/2 has the same optimal convergence rate for this error. The method clearly reveals the structure of global L2-norm error and is similarly applicable for evaluating the convergence rate of global uniform approximations