Great grades but bast test scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

Well, my kid was just like this. So stop telling us there is no such thing as this combination.

My kid has several mild learning disabilities that make standardized (multiple choice) tests, especially timed ones, very difficult.

It exists, even if it challenges your very limited understanding of "intelligence."

But how did your kid get As in school? Do they not count exams in their grades?? Or are you saying kid did fine in school exams but not SATs??

When she was younger, and the work was less challenging, she could overcome her difficulties though tremendous amounts of hard work. She was able to compensate.

But every once in a while, she would bomb a multiple choice test, and we never knew why. (She had kept up with all assignments, studied and understood the material). We eventually got her tested, and found out she had cognitive challenges related to interpretation of language. But it was too late for her to ask for any accommodations on the SAT.

The particulars of my kid's case are not important. I just want those of you who think this is impossible to know that it exists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

Well, my kid was just like this. So stop telling us there is no such thing as this combination.

My kid has several mild learning disabilities that make standardized (multiple choice) tests, especially timed ones, very difficult.

It exists, even if it challenges your very limited understanding of "intelligence."

But how did your kid get As in school? Do they not count exams in their grades?? Or are you saying kid did fine in school exams but not SATs??

When she was younger, and the work was less challenging, she could overcome her difficulties though tremendous amounts of hard work. She was able to compensate.

But every once in a while, she would bomb a multiple choice test, and we never knew why. (She had kept up with all assignments, studied and understood the material). We eventually got her tested, and found out she had cognitive challenges related to interpretation of language. But it was too late for her to ask for any accommodations on the SAT.

The particulars of my kid's case are not important. I just want those of you who think this is impossible to know that it exists.

And not that uncommon. I’m glad you were able to figure it out.

Lots of ADD girls compensate for years with enormous anxiety too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's not that he doesn't test well. it's the fact that grades are incredibly inflated. i bet you his test score is where he is, not the grade.

You really are putting too much weight on these tests. It tests speed and different way of thinking than required of some high school classes. LSAT is the same. My DD does very well delving deep into issues and research, good skills for school and work, but won’t show up on an standardized test.

But test is the only tool that normalizes all kids. Put them on the same playing field.

Jaw drop. I thought it was common knowledge that all a school really knows about you if you have a high test score is that you have money.

A variety of things that correlate with test scores -- conscientiousness, intelligence, mental stamina, and sure, we can throw in anxiety -- also correlate with family income. But the correlation between the child's test scores and the parents' income isn't super strong, as is easy to see when you look at how poor asians are able to outscore rich whites.

Lots of college AOs disagree with you.

Citations please to research (there isn’t any)

Of course there is, the UC system published a comprehensive recap of the research a year or two ago, google it. That’s what lead the UC faculty to oppose going test blind.

But the UC research, paid for by the Regents, not the faculty, showed the OPPOSITE of what the UC Regents wanted! That, in fact, the testing DOES forage college performance! Nevertheless, for pc reasons, the Regents disregarded the study and did away with testing. Look it up

Our educational system (both k-12 and universities) is not keeping up with the Asian and European systems.

Yes we can because they come here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:at

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it's not that he doesn't test well. it's the fact that grades are incredibly inflated. i bet you his test score is where he is, not the grade.

You really are putting too much weight on these tests. It tests speed and different way of thinking than required of some high school classes. LSAT is the same. My DD does very well delving deep into issues and research, good skills for school and work, but won’t show up on an standardized test.

But test is the only tool that normalizes all kids. Put them on the same playing field.

Jaw drop. I thought it was common knowledge that all a school really knows about you if you have a high test score is that you have money.

A variety of things that correlate with test scores -- conscientiousness, intelligence, mental stamina, and sure, we can throw in anxiety -- also correlate with family income. But the correlation between the child's test scores and the parents' income isn't super strong, as is easy to see when you look at how poor asians are able to outscore rich whites.

Lots of college AOs disagree with you.

Citations please to research (there isn’t any)

Of course there is, the UC system published a comprehensive recap of the research a year or two ago, google it. That’s what lead the UC faculty to oppose going test blind.

But the UC research, paid for by the Regents, not the faculty, showed the OPPOSITE of what the UC Regents wanted! That, in fact, the testing DOES forage college performance! Nevertheless, for pc reasons, the Regents disregarded the study and did away with testing. Look it up

Our educational system (both k-12 and universities) is not keeping up with the Asian and European systems.

Yes we can because they come here.

Not sure about Europeans but far east Asians are not coming as much as they used to 10 or 20 years ago. Many Indians still want to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

Well, my kid was just like this. So stop telling us there is no such thing as this combination.

My kid has several mild learning disabilities that make standardized (multiple choice) tests, especially timed ones, very difficult.

It exists, even if it challenges your very limited understanding of "intelligence."

But how did your kid get As in school? Do they not count exams in their grades?? Or are you saying kid did fine in school exams but not SATs??

When she was younger, and the work was less challenging, she could overcome her difficulties though tremendous amounts of hard work. She was able to compensate.

But every once in a while, she would bomb a multiple choice test, and we never knew why. (She had kept up with all assignments, studied and understood the material). We eventually got her tested, and found out she had cognitive challenges related to interpretation of language. But it was too late for her to ask for any accommodations on the SAT.

The particulars of my kid's case are not important. I just want those of you who think this is impossible to know that it exists.

That doesn't explain how your kid got mostly As in school. So you found out right before SAT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you mean by bad? I think this group is skewed.

Also, have your junior retake closer to senior year. My DD tested 1280, 1290 junior year but went up 100 points (without additional test prep) in the fall of senior year. She got into W&M ED.

When did your DD retake the SAT in the fall of senior year?

Similar story here. Begin Jr. yr 1260 (middle of covid and no prep, was really not into it), end of Jr. yr 1280 (again no prep, middle of AP exams), over the summer actually realizing that it matters and sitting with Khan Academy to see what questions were wrong for 2 weeks. Begin Sr. yr 1510, results were published around Nov 12 or so.

[Anonymous]

OP I have read the pages of responses because I am sure there are loads of people saying there isn't such a thing as a bad test taker and blah blah blah. I hear it all the time.

Mine did Prep Matters for months ($$$!) and still didn't get a great SAT score. Below 1100 -- it was so bad that they threw in extra hours but wouldn't budget above 1100 with multiple retakes.

My DD had an unweighted 3.79 but took a lot of APs with good scores on those tests. Applied last year TO to top 20 schools. She got into most, not all. The one she really wanted to go to asked her to submit her SAT after reviewing her application -- she did and still got in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I have read the pages of responses because I am sure there are loads of people saying there isn't such a thing as a bad test taker and blah blah blah. I hear it all the time.

Mine did Prep Matters for months ($$$!) and still didn't get a great SAT score. Below 1100 -- it was so bad that they threw in extra hours but wouldn't budget above 1100 with multiple retakes.

My DD had an unweighted 3.79 but took a lot of APs with good scores on those tests. Applied last year TO to top 20 schools. She got into most, not all. The one she really wanted to go to asked her to submit her SAT after reviewing her application -- she did and still got in.

It is so hard to believe stories like this (not that I am saying you are lying). Is your child URM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

Not in DMV. Probably no more than 50%tile and your kid's competing with other kids from DMV, not with kids from Mississippi or Idaho.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

Right?! Lol. Skewed perception. In what world is a 28 "bombing" the ACT, other than DCUM?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

Not in DMV. Probably no more than 50%tile and your kid's competing with other kids from DMV, not with kids from Mississippi or Idaho.

Move to Mississippi or the Dakotas for that geographic diversity bump. Then and only then can you say you've done everything you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

Right?! Lol. Skewed perception. In what world is a 28 "bombing" the ACT, other than DCUM?!

My DC’s local private school has an average ACT of 32. That is why we consider a 28 bombing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

Right?! Lol. Skewed perception. In what world is a 28 "bombing" the ACT, other than DCUM?!

My DC’s local private school has an average ACT of 32. That is why we consider a 28 bombing.

well maybe you need to realize that your echo chamber is not the rest of the world. My DD got a 30 on the ACT, took it just once, submitted and into UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He's only taken the SAT once so far, but it was in 1100's, so low for this area.

he is taking almost all APs and got 1100? what did he get on his AP exams? 2s? 1100 is low for any area

This is what I keep wondering. People on DCUM post that their kids have high GPAs ( 4.2 etc) and say they have a 28 ACT or a 1250 SAT. How is it possible to get such a high GPA and bomb these tests? They can get 95% on a precalc test but a low score in the SAT math section? Are kids in some schools just allowed to retake tests to get higher scores? Or turn in assignments and homework late? How is this high of a GPA and low test scores even possible? If your kid has test anxiety or “doesn’t test well” - how do they get good grades in high school? My kid has tests and quizzes that make up 80% -100% of his grades.

28 ACT is 88th percentile. The released Harvard admission guidelines show both these scores at the adequate preparation level for Harvard level. A 29 moves you into forecasted cum laude territory. This isn’t “bomb”ing these tests.

Right?! Lol. Skewed perception. In what world is a 28 "bombing" the ACT, other than DCUM?!

My DC’s local private school has an average ACT of 32. That is why we consider a 28 bombing.

well maybe you need to realize that your echo chamber is not the rest of the world. My DD got a 30 on the ACT, took it just once, submitted and into UVA.

Is your DD URM?