What is the Test for Highly Gifted Program Like?

[Anonymous]

Buy a Cogat workbook on Amazon. It's important to familiarize your child with the type of questions as well as the practice of filling in bubbles. There is no need for intensive practice - it won't change his score significantly. Familiarity with the material does, however, if only by decreasing anxiety before the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have tutor company recommendations specifically for HGC test prep?

There are two that are most frequently talked about.

Dr. Li - https://www.mathenglish.com/

A-Plus. - http://en1.endiva.net/AplusLearningINC/portal/PortalHome.asp


I know that some of the other tutoring companies also tutor for it (C2 tutoring?). So, ask around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It actually is the CogAT.

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/msde/stateboard/legalopinions/2010/docs/StanislavandIrinaP.Opin.No.14-31.pdf

fascinating... thanks pp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Some do and some don't. There are test prep companies, private tutors, workbooks etc.

IMO, MCPS curriculum 2.0 has actually resulted in a lowering of curriculum standards in many schools (including the HGC and magnet programs), so now many more parents who would not have thought about leaving their home schools want to send their kids to HGC and magnet.

Could you please describe some specific aspects of the curriculum that lead to your belief that standards have been lowered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Many do.

This is not clear at all.

What is clear, however, is that many of the posts that talk about test prep for the HGC come from sock puppets who presumably make money off test prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Many do.

This is not clear at all.

What is clear, however, is that many of the posts that talk about test prep for the HGC come from sock puppets who presumably make money off test prep.

I think so too. I don't think the prep school for the HGC is appropriate. The student who doesn't need the prep school should be selected to the HGC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. I don't want to overwhelm my son if it's too difficult. So I just wanted a general overview. I think the timed element will probably do him in.

OP - we did not prep, not one single bit. Not even a sample question. There are those who did not prep at all.

I told my DC to take the test, and try as best as DC can. No pressure. I didn't really tell DC what it was for. The only reason I had DC take the test was because DC has always done really well in school to the point where in K/1, DC wasn't even in a reading group because DC was reading so much higher than other kids. And in 2nd grade, DC did really well in the Inview test, except for one score. If things were different, I probably wouldn't have had DC take the test because from what I have heard (second hand sources), some kids in the testing room were crying because they were so stressed out.

You know your kid best, but if you think your kid will be stressed out and have anxiety over this, then maybe think seriously hard about whether your DC should take the test. My DC#2 in second grade is not showing signs of being at the same level as DC#1. For now, my inclination is to not have DC#2 take the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Many do.

This is not clear at all.

What is clear, however, is that many of the posts that talk about test prep for the HGC come from sock puppets who presumably make money off test prep.

You are very right that test prep companies are making money off this. It is their job after all. However, this is not what OP asked.

It is entirely up to OP or others to investigate this further. Why take anyones word for it? Be an informed consumer of education. The coaching is quite expensive. Approximately 1K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It actually is the CogAT.

http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/msde/stateboard/legalopinions/2010/docs/StanislavandIrinaP.Opin.No.14-31.pdf

fascinating... thanks pp

wow that was interesting...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks. I don't want to overwhelm my son if it's too difficult. So I just wanted a general overview. I think the timed element will probably do him in.

You don't have to overwhelm your child. We asked out child if he wanted to apply to the program. He did. We told him to just take the test and do his best. No prep, no discussion about the test content (and I have no idea what was on it!). We told him he may or may not get in, and if he did get in, we could think about whether it was best to go. I don't think he was pressured or overwhelmed. I do think he was a bit nervous because it was a kind of "try out" or audition. I don't regret our handling.

The thing is, it's an easy application process, and I think many parents figure "why not"? So I think that lowers the pressure too.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if they eventually put the kid in the Center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Many do.

This is not clear at all.

What is clear, however, is that many of the posts that talk about test prep for the HGC come from sock puppets who presumably make money off test prep.

I don't think they're sock puppets. Parents use the test prep services and are informing others. I'm not the PP that posted about the workbooks, but I have recommended them on other threads. Like the other PP said, it's a good idea to familiarize your kid with the types of questions. The first time I showed my kid the 'analogy' type questions, she had NO IDEA what they were all about. After seeing more, she got the concept much better.

And, as to the PPs who say you don't need to 'prep' because your kid is either 'gifted' or not. I strongly disagree. But, I'm part Asian, and we have a strong belief that ALL of our kids belong in the 'gifted program', LOL. That's a discussion for another page though. I agree that only a small percentage of kids are 'gifted', but I do believe that more kids deserve to be in a more advanced learning program than get accepted to the HGCs. But, we have the system we have, so we do what we can to help out our kids.

Also, the parents who say they don't prep - I find that hard to believe. Do you read to your kids at night? Play math games with them online? Help them with their homework? That's all a form of 'prepping' your kid for success in academics. Buying an extra workbook isn't really a huge deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Many do.

This is not clear at all.

What is clear, however, is that many of the posts that talk about test prep for the HGC come from sock puppets who presumably make money off test prep.

I think so too. I don't think the prep school for the HGC is appropriate. The student who doesn't need the prep school should be selected to the HGC.

This is so crazy, IMO.

If your kid has tryouts for his travel soccer team, don't you have him practice appropriately ahead of time? If your DD is trying out for gymnastics, don't you want to know what the coach is looking for and try to encourage your DD to prepare? I certainly would. The HGC entrance test is no difference. Do you really think the kids who don't get into the HGC aren't smart enough to do the work? Ridiculous.

I was always in the GT programs growing up, and I am quite certain I am not 'gifted'. I just always worked really hard and kept up. Maybe they shouldn't call it 'gifted' and just have a separate higher learning options for kids who are willing to do the work. Personally, I think that would be more equitable than the system they have now. At any rate, there is NOTHING wrong with prepping your kid for an HGC or Magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people prepare their kids for the gt test around here?

Many do.

This is not clear at all.

What is clear, however, is that many of the posts that talk about test prep for the HGC come from sock puppets who presumably make money off test prep.

I don't think they're sock puppets. Parents use the test prep services and are informing others. I'm not the PP that posted about the workbooks, but I have recommended them on other threads. Like the other PP said, it's a good idea to familiarize your kid with the types of questions. The first time I showed my kid the 'analogy' type questions, she had NO IDEA what they were all about. After seeing more, she got the concept much better.

And, as to the PPs who say you don't need to 'prep' because your kid is either 'gifted' or not. I strongly disagree. But, I'm part Asian, and we have a strong belief that ALL of our kids belong in the 'gifted program', LOL. That's a discussion for another page though. I agree that only a small percentage of kids are 'gifted', but I do believe that more kids deserve to be in a more advanced learning program than get accepted to the HGCs. But, we have the system we have, so we do what we can to help out our kids.

Also, the parents who say they don't prep - I find that hard to believe. Do you read to your kids at night? Play math games with them online? Help them with their homework? That's all a form of 'prepping' your kid for success in academics. Buying an extra workbook isn't really a huge deal.

I posted before about familiarizing a child with the questions. I'm partly Asian too, and agree with this poster! ALL children should be doing the in-depth, interesting projects that are being done in the HGC, instead of the often ill-conceived and poorly prepared worksheets that are the staple of other schools. It's a completely different level of intellectual and critical thinking, which all children should at least be exposed to.

The best you can do as a parent is show your child what to expect. Research has shown that intensive preparation does not increase the score significantly, but you can try that if you're not convinced, by all means! The reason parents do intensive and specific prep courses is that they think these tests are the same as the SATs, which CAN be prepared. Actually the IQ-types tests such as Cogats are designed to test cognitive ability, not knowledge, therefore you cannot score higher than your best cognitive potential, even if you practice endlessly. The question is how to reach that threshold, and a good night's sleep, hearty breakfast and focused mindset on test day does infinitely more than any amount of prepping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they eventually put the kid in the Center?

Why would they? He's a very bright kid who was outscored, even if only slightly. There have to be cut offs somewhere. He wasn't treated unfairly.