Great grades but bast test scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If there are no special needs involved, there is no such thing as "doesn't test well". What it means is that there is grade inflation at your kids' school, and the national standardized test score reflects his true performance.

You can help with that by paying for test prep and tutoring. I recommend the senior tutors at Prep Matters, but they're incredibly expensive (they did wonders for my son, though - got him from a 28 to a 35).

Yup. Either the HS is sub-par or the kid took mostly the easier classes in HS. Not rare to see 4.0 UGPA for dozens or even more out of graduating class.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

That is what people who get low scores say - the test is rigged and I was robbed of my entitled high score!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If there are no special needs involved, there is no such thing as "doesn't test well". What it means is that there is grade inflation at your kids' school, and the national standardized test score reflects his true performance.

You can help with that by paying for test prep and tutoring. I recommend the senior tutors at Prep Matters, but they're incredibly expensive (they did wonders for my son, though - got him from a 28 to a 35).

I'm sorry, but that's not necessarily true. I know because I went to a pretty demanding prep school where there was no grade inflation, but some of the smartest kids got worse SAT scores than others. Some of them really earned their very good grades, but just didn't shine on standardized testing. Just as high test scores and worse grades doesn't necessarily indicate grade deflation.

There are people on this board who constantly say this, that there is no such thing as being a bad test taker. I absolutely believe and know that there is. My DS had a very strong PSAT but when he took the SAT and ACT, he was much more nervous because of all that was riding on it. He is one who had very high GPA and a correspondingly average test score. he took the SAT three times and was almost always within the same 30 points. He did finally get a solid super score, but still lower than you'd expect for his GPA. He is now a sophomore at a great school and has a 4.0 GPA. So no, he's not dumb, he's just someone who gets anxious when it's a big test with alot riding on it. He does great in day to day tests, but when it defines you're entire life like the SAT, he gets anxious.

My kid has a diagnosed anxiety disorder and completely shuts down for big tests. Extended time helps but does not mitigate the problem. She is an excellent student otherwise - hard working, dedicated etc. She will be totally fine in the real world. I am worried about college tests but she is 14 and has some time to mature.

[Anonymous]

OP doesn't say what schools her son is applying to or what level of class is reflected in his GPA, but this is fine for admission to most schools. Yes, a lot of schools are test optional.

[Anonymous]

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.

+1

[Anonymous]

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.

And how do you know this?

[Anonymous]

It’s better than the reverse. You can’t hide the GPA.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

My DD has better grades in classes than students who have higher SAT’s, so the grade inflation argument is garbage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is the opposite - low GPA at a Big3 private and pretty good test scores (32 ACT). I suspect a high GPA and TO is much better position to be in!

Should be fine at a rigorous private. How low? My Kid did well at top 15 SLACs with a 3.3. Plus Tulane.

GPA is 3.0, but strong upward trend. DC received multiple Cs during virtual school

[Anonymous]

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.

+1. My kid took tons of APs and got all 4s and 5s, is highly ranked and has a top notch GPA. I think those things are a much better indicator of her abilities than the SAT. Thankfully, the top tier schools she applied to predominantly recognized this and she was admitted TO at a majority of them.

Also you all need to stop with the grade inflation. Is this actually supported by Naviance? I am guessing not. I think you are just bitter because your kid isn’t as singularly awesome as you thought. Get over it.

[Anonymous]

There are all kinds of smart successful kids. There are kids that have high GPAs and high test scores, kids that have high GPAs and low test scores, and kids with low GPAs and high test scores. All these kids do well in college! Why do people on here have to be so aggressively mean?