My kid bombed HGC test

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC didn't get in but got well into the hundreds on all sections. I'd say DC bombed it based on potential. Ordinarily performs well on tests but is very deliberate and slow on tests so I'm pretty sure some questions were not even attempted. I had the say questions as you OP such as what would the average student get on the HGC test and were my DC falls.

Does anyone know if this information is available somehow, from teachers or any other avenue? Basically, I guess the question would be, what are the average or median scores on the HGC test, for all test-takers (not just those accepted).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC didn't get in but got well into the hundreds on all sections. I'd say DC bombed it based on potential. Ordinarily performs well on tests but is very deliberate and slow on tests so I'm pretty sure some questions were not even attempted. I had the say questions as you OP such as what would the average student get on the HGC test and were my DC falls.

Does anyone know if this information is available somehow, from teachers or any other avenue? Basically, I guess the question would be, what are the average or median scores on the HGC test, for all test-takers (not just those accepted).

If you had this information, how would you use it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC didn't get in but got well into the hundreds on all sections. I'd say DC bombed it based on potential. Ordinarily performs well on tests but is very deliberate and slow on tests so I'm pretty sure some questions were not even attempted. I had the say questions as you OP such as what would the average student get on the HGC test and were my DC falls.

Does anyone know if this information is available somehow, from teachers or any other avenue? Basically, I guess the question would be, what are the average or median scores on the HGC test, for all test-takers (not just those accepted).

If you had this information, how would you use it?

Well if I found out that that it was typical for a test-taker to score in the low 100s, then I wouldn't think about it for another minute. I would know that my DC's testing ability is right on par with the majority of DC's peers. If, however, I learned that DC was let's say in the bottom 10%, then I would seek to better understand what is going on: Is DC a poor test taker, and would have done better with more time? Or is DC more of a book-knowledge person and wouldn't have done well no matter how much time given? Or was the problem that I could have prepared DC better, or emphasized speed, for example? I don't know how I'd find out the answers to any of those questions, but it would put these potential things to look out for on my radar.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you can call MCPS to see if they'll give out the overall median scores? (and not just the accepted kids median scores). I don't know why they wouldn't (no ones identity will be given) but who knows.

[Anonymous]

As an aside - what kind of information will we be given for InView? Will we know median scores or percentiles?

[Anonymous]

from http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/tests.htm

InView:
Group cognitive abilities test, "comprised of five subtests: Verbal Reasoning-Words; Verbal Reasoning-Context; Sequences; Analogies; and Quantitative Reasoning. InView does not measure all aspects of cognitive abilities. Since it is intended for use in schools, emphasis is placed on reasoning abilities that are important for success in an educational program." Elementary level InView is said to have hard ceiling of 141, where gifted is 127+. Published by CTB/McGraw-Hill


The HGC test, which is supposed to be like the CoGat is age-normed. I don't think InView is age-normed.

so, if a child has been red-shirted or has an early bday, then it would make sense that the child may do well in InView but not score accordingly on the HGC test.

I have a DC in HGC. DC has a summer bday and scored in the 90's in 3 out 5 sections in InView; one score in the 60's, I think. HGC age normed test scores 2 out 3 were 10+ points above median scores; one score a few points below median.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/tests.htm

InView:
Group cognitive abilities test, "comprised of five subtests: Verbal Reasoning-Words; Verbal Reasoning-Context; Sequences; Analogies; and Quantitative Reasoning. InView does not measure all aspects of cognitive abilities. Since it is intended for use in schools, emphasis is placed on reasoning abilities that are important for success in an educational program." Elementary level InView is said to have hard ceiling of 141, where gifted is 127+. Published by CTB/McGraw-Hill


The HGC test, which is supposed to be like the CoGat is age-normed. I don't think InView is age-normed.

so, if a child has been red-shirted or has an early bday, then it would make sense that the child may do well in InView but not score accordingly on the HGC test.

I have a DC in HGC. DC has a summer bday and scored in the 90's in 3 out 5 sections in InView; one score in the 60's, I think. HGC age normed test scores 2 out 3 were 10+ points above median scores; one score a few points below median.

Thanks helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/tests.htm

InView:
Group cognitive abilities test, "comprised of five subtests: Verbal Reasoning-Words; Verbal Reasoning-Context; Sequences; Analogies; and Quantitative Reasoning. InView does not measure all aspects of cognitive abilities. Since it is intended for use in schools, emphasis is placed on reasoning abilities that are important for success in an educational program." Elementary level InView is said to have hard ceiling of 141, where gifted is 127+. Published by CTB/McGraw-Hill


The HGC test, which is supposed to be like the CoGat is age-normed. I don't think InView is age-normed.

so, if a child has been red-shirted or has an early bday, then it would make sense that the child may do well in InView but not score accordingly on the HGC test.

I have a DC in HGC. DC has a summer bday and scored in the 90's in 3 out 5 sections in InView; one score in the 60's, I think. HGC age normed test scores 2 out 3 were 10+ points above median scores; one score a few points below median.

Hmm. DC wasn't red-shirted but has a winter birthday. Guess that certainly didn't help things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well if I found out that that it was typical for a test-taker to score in the low 100s, then I wouldn't think about it for another minute. I would know that my DC's testing ability is right on par with the majority of DC's peers. If, however, I learned that DC was let's say in the bottom 10%, then I would seek to better understand what is going on: Is DC a poor test taker, and would have done better with more time? Or is DC more of a book-knowledge person and wouldn't have done well no matter how much time given? Or was the problem that I could have prepared DC better, or emphasized speed, for example? I don't know how I'd find out the answers to any of those questions, but it would put these potential things to look out for on my radar.

My advice (which you didn't ask for) is: spend less time thinking about testing and more time thinking about your child's actual learning. A test result is only an indicator, and not even necessarily a good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well if I found out that that it was typical for a test-taker to score in the low 100s, then I wouldn't think about it for another minute. I would know that my DC's testing ability is right on par with the majority of DC's peers. If, however, I learned that DC was let's say in the bottom 10%, then I would seek to better understand what is going on: Is DC a poor test taker, and would have done better with more time? Or is DC more of a book-knowledge person and wouldn't have done well no matter how much time given? Or was the problem that I could have prepared DC better, or emphasized speed, for example? I don't know how I'd find out the answers to any of those questions, but it would put these potential things to look out for on my radar.

My advice (which you didn't ask for) is: spend less time thinking about testing and more time thinking about your child's actual learning. A test result is only an indicator, and not even necessarily a good one.

I have a DC in HGC, and I kind of agree with PP. This is only ES. True, some kids, no matter the age, are terrible test takers. But, I wouldn't stress about it now; it's only 2 years of ES. For some kids, it takes time for them to blossom. I have another DC who probably won't make into HGC, and I'm ok with that, too. I would re-evaluate test taking ability over the summer into 5th grade if you want them to take the MS magnet test.

Notice how a lot of universities are now doing away with looking at SATs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Well if I found out that that it was typical for a test-taker to score in the low 100s, then I wouldn't think about it for another minute. I would know that my DC's testing ability is right on par with the majority of DC's peers. If, however, I learned that DC was let's say in the bottom 10%, then I would seek to better understand what is going on: Is DC a poor test taker, and would have done better with more time? Or is DC more of a book-knowledge person and wouldn't have done well no matter how much time given? Or was the problem that I could have prepared DC better, or emphasized speed, for example? I don't know how I'd find out the answers to any of those questions, but it would put these potential things to look out for on my radar.

My advice (which you didn't ask for) is: spend less time thinking about testing and more time thinking about your child's actual learning. A test result is only an indicator, and not even necessarily a good one.

I agree, the actual learning is the important thing. There's not much info to go on though, to gauge this, outside of tests (whether they're standardized or regular classroom tests). Also, unfortunately, testing is such a reality of life from here onward, so I think it would be good to know more about my child's potential strengths or weaknesses in this area. But perhaps you can tell (maybe from my obvious lack of in-depth "prep" for the HGC test) that I'm not obsessed about testing...just a bit surprised by the results and wanting to know more.

[Anonymous]

My DC has always been a strong student, according to teacher comments. DC, however, bombed the InView (of which we had zero notice and didn't even know was administered until months later when we got the results). The teacher was surprised and recommended DC for retesting the next year. With some notice, we advised DC to take it seriously and give it DC's best shot. DC did far, far better. We realized that DC takes many (seemingly) random assessments at school that DC had no idea what the point of any of them are or if they're important. DC also rushes to finish tasks that are not personally interesting. We advised DC to take the HGC test seriously and to try to finish all questions but not panic if it doesn't happen. DC did not get into the HGC but was in the ballpark on a few sections and lower on others. DC is a strong reader and writer but just isn't interested in puzzles or the nonverbal-type questions (paper-folding, etc.) and doesn't do well on them. I don't feel that the test results mean DC is not smart or a good student. DC's strengths aren't captured well on the HGC test but I don't think it says anything about DC's academic prospects or intelligence generally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The HGC test is the only MCPS given on paper. It could be that your child is bad at transferring answers from a test booklet onto an answer sheet. That's much different from just clicking an answer on the chrome book, which is what they are used to. My child has significant problems with transferring answers due to ADHD, so did not great on the HGC test, although she's always at the 99 percentile for tests given on computer.

but couldn't it also be that a child does well on one type of test but not another, and I don't mean paper vs. computer, but rather, aptitude vs. learned knowledge? MAP tests learned knowledge where as HGC type tests are more like IQ tests that test aptitude.

When or how do we get results from MAP tests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The HGC test is the only MCPS given on paper. It could be that your child is bad at transferring answers from a test booklet onto an answer sheet. That's much different from just clicking an answer on the chrome book, which is what they are used to. My child has significant problems with transferring answers due to ADHD, so did not great on the HGC test, although she's always at the 99 percentile for tests given on computer.

but couldn't it also be that a child does well on one type of test but not another, and I don't mean paper vs. computer, but rather, aptitude vs. learned knowledge? MAP tests learned knowledge where as HGC type tests are more like IQ tests that test aptitude.

When or how do we get results from MAP tests?

Email the teacher. My DCs' teachers have always responded promptly. Can't say the same for all, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC has always been a strong student, according to teacher comments. DC, however, bombed the InView (of which we had zero notice and didn't even know was administered until months later when we got the results). The teacher was surprised and recommended DC for retesting the next year. With some notice, we advised DC to take it seriously and give it DC's best shot. DC did far, far better. We realized that DC takes many (seemingly) random assessments at school that DC had no idea what the point of any of them are or if they're important. DC also rushes to finish tasks that are not personally interesting. We advised DC to take the HGC test seriously and to try to finish all questions but not panic if it doesn't happen. DC did not get into the HGC but was in the ballpark on a few sections and lower on others. DC is a strong reader and writer but just isn't interested in puzzles or the nonverbal-type questions (paper-folding, etc.) and doesn't do well on them. I don't feel that the test results mean DC is not smart or a good student. DC's strengths aren't captured well on the HGC test but I don't think it says anything about DC's academic prospects or intelligence generally.

You are completely right.