Practice PSAT/calculators!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the students at our HS were instructed not to use graphing calculators for Honors Geometry or Algebra I last year, they are supposed to use a program on the laptops handed out by the school.

Well, guess what? Today was the practice PSAT and no one had a calculator. I would bet that even the kids who had one don’t know how to use it. I hope the ten graders taking the real PSAT had calculators and know how to use them!

C’mon MCPS - do we really want to discourage using the calculators that are REQUIRED for a portion of the PSAT? I know the calculators are expensive, but can we find a way to provide them to everyone? Pretty sure they used to do that before covid.

Not as sure about calculators for the SAT, but the PSAT is also important!

Not an MCPS issue-- an issue with your school. Our school sent out a specific note over the weekend about bringing pencils, calculator, etc. Did your not even tell you to bring #2 pencils?

I think they are rusty on all this. No, there was no note home. Sounds like the kids will be able to use the Chromebooks in the future. The graphing calculators are expensive, but I don’t want to buy one if DS isn’t going to use it.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 sons in college. I forbade them from using calculators required in Math in the gifted center and Takoma Park magnet. SAT and PSAT math problems can be solved easily without dependence on calculators. Top math students understand this and really do not waste time with calculators during college board exams since garbage in and garbage out! Best to understand the fundamentals of problem solving. The first child missed NMF by a point since content was from middle school and he made some silly errors. Last child scored a 25 on PSAT and garnered NMF for whatever that is worth on this middle school level math test = PSAT

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 sons in college. I forbade them from using calculators required in Math in the gifted center and Takoma Park magnet. SAT and PSAT math problems can be solved easily without dependence on calculators. Top math students understand this and really do not waste time with calculators during college board exams since garbage in and garbage out! Best to understand the fundamentals of problem solving. The first child missed NMF by a point since content was from middle school and he made some silly errors. Last child scored a 25 on PSAT and garnered NMF for whatever that is worth on this middle school level math test = PSAT

Good luck.

My nephew, a National Merit Scholar, said the calculator is crucial as a time saving device, but to each his own. He scored 1580 on first try with no tutors or classes and would never have been admitted to a top IVY last year without that SAT score.

[Anonymous]

My non calculator kids had no issues with time. They claim they had more than enough time. If you understand the problem the solution is readily available without a inputting numbers in a calculator. A background with math competition (no calculators need apply) and the art of problem solving I'm certain helped!

[Anonymous]

This is OP. I have older math/engineering kids but just got confused with the transition to the computer for the PSAT and the SAT. Honestly it will be more equitable when everyone can use the Chromebook for this. I’m also sure some kids can do all the math in their heads pretty quickly. This sounds like DS#1.

[Anonymous]

My kid used calculator. SAT was 1590. NMS.