Best way to prep for the IAAT?

[Anonymous]

DC did the spectrum Algebra workbook the summer before 6th grade. DC didn't do the practice IAAT, but I'd recommend it, not necessarily for content (I don't know if it's any good) but for timing. I think the biggest issue is the time pressure. Have your DD do the Algebra workbook and at the end take the IAAT practice test you can buy on Amazon and make sure you time your DC. Also, even if your DC misses the IAAT or SOL cutoff, you can still ask for your DC to be placed in Algebra in 7th at some schools. My DC ended up with a 98 percentile on the IAAT and basically got 100 percent or in the high 90s on all tests in Algebra 1 and geometry. DC had no interest in TJ. You know your child best and what your child can handle. Do the prep and keep your DC's options open. You can decided with input from the 6th grade teacher next summer whether your DC should take Algebra if the scores are within range. I'd ignore the naysayers here, but would definitely talk to your DC's 6th grade math teacher at the end of next year and listen carefully to that recommendation. There's a lot of growth that can happen in a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC did the spectrum Algebra workbook the summer before 6th grade. DC didn't do the practice IAAT, but I'd recommend it, not necessarily for content (I don't know if it's any good) but for timing. I think the biggest issue is the time pressure. Have your DD do the Algebra workbook and at the end take the IAAT practice test you can buy on Amazon and make sure you time your DC. Also, even if your DC misses the IAAT or SOL cutoff, you can still ask for your DC to be placed in Algebra in 7th at some schools. My DC ended up with a 98 percentile on the IAAT and basically got 100 percent or in the high 90s on all tests in Algebra 1 and geometry. DC had no interest in TJ. You know your child best and what your child can handle. Do the prep and keep your DC's options open. You can decided with input from the 6th grade teacher next summer whether your DC should take Algebra if the scores are within range. I'd ignore the naysayers here, but would definitely talk to your DC's 6th grade math teacher at the end of next year and listen carefully to that recommendation. There's a lot of growth that can happen in a year.

+ 1. To summarize the useful posts:

Get the IAAT book on Amazon and run through it to get a feel for the timing and to make sure your child knows the subject matter. Not all schools cover all the content and in some cases the kids may have forgotten what they learned in earlier years.

Anything else is extra and unnecessary for the purpose of the IAAT.

[Anonymous]

Barnes an nobles has a few workbooks. They are a good tool.

[Anonymous]

how many questions do you have to get right to pass the Iaat

[Anonymous]

I need my answer fast because I am taking it tomorrow an I am stressed.

[Anonymous]

tell me now

[Anonymous]

If you need to prep, you shouldn't apply. Prepping is basically cheating. That spot should go to a kid with natural ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you need to prep, you shouldn't apply. Prepping is basically cheating. That spot should go to a kid with natural ability.

Spots? IAAT is used to determine readiness for Algebra. There are no spots to take away from anyone else.

That being said, you shouldn't prep. The bar for being permitted to take Algebra is generally pretty low (91st percentile in FCPS, which is around 43/60 correct). The IAAT tests fairly basic pre-algebra concepts and should be a trivial test for kids who are good at math and will do well in Algebra. If you have to prep to overcome this very very low bar, then Algebra is likely to be a nightmare. The goal should be to be placed in the correct math level, which isn't necessarily the highest and fastest one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need to prep, you shouldn't apply. Prepping is basically cheating. That spot should go to a kid with natural ability.

Spots? IAAT is used to determine readiness for Algebra. There are no spots to take away from anyone else.

That being said, you shouldn't prep. The bar for being permitted to take Algebra is generally pretty low (91st percentile in FCPS, which is around 43/60 correct). The IAAT tests fairly basic pre-algebra concepts and should be a trivial test for kids who are good at math and will do well in Algebra. If you have to prep to overcome this very very low bar, then Algebra is likely to be a nightmare. The goal should be to be placed in the correct math level, which isn't necessarily the highest and fastest one.

+1 I'm not against test prep generally -- I think it's good to prep for SAT/ACT; I can understand why people who think their child will get a more appropriate education in AAP prep for the Cogat. But prepping for the IAAT really doesn't make sense. It's not a hurdle to get over; it's a diagnostic for readiness. It's a really easy test for any kid who is ready to take algebra--the 91% bar is really too low. There are only disadvantages if you take algebra before you're ready and no upside--you'll struggle in that class, get lower grades (that go on your HS record) and then have to take a higher sequence of math to meet the 4 year requirement many colleges want and likely get lower grades in that. Taking algebra in 7th vs 8th doesn't make a difference in whether your child is deemed having taken "the most rigorous course offerings" in any FCPS high school. Colleges want to see kids that take calculus, don't care about beyond, so 8th grade algebra is acceleration enough for elite college admissions. Pushing an unready kid ahead in algebra is far more likely to result in worse college options due to low grades or a long-term unsteadiness in algebraic thinking that reduces math opportunities. This is why you're getting such pushback on the prep--it's not just the usual people who are against all prep, it's actually not a good prep. There are a lot of kids who are getting 4s all the years in AAP math who still just aren't developmentally there for algebra and it's good to know that. They might be math whizzes and yet just need a bit more time for brain development to be ready for algebraic forms.
I work in a STEM field and my eldest qualified for Algebra 7 Honors (with a 93% on the IAAT and 10 points above the SOL) but I didn't think they were quite ready (I think the cut-off should be >95%) so waited until 8th. DC is now a first year in a STEM oriented major at a top school. That extra year of solidifying pre-algebra concepts was really needed. So sorry you deem our answers unhelpful, but a common opinion--even among those not against test prep generally--is that this is not a test you should prep for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you need to prep, you shouldn't apply. Prepping is basically cheating. That spot should go to a kid with natural ability.

Spots? IAAT is used to determine readiness for Algebra. There are no spots to take away from anyone else.

That being said, you shouldn't prep. The bar for being permitted to take Algebra is generally pretty low (91st percentile in FCPS, which is around 43/60 correct). The IAAT tests fairly basic pre-algebra concepts and should be a trivial test for kids who are good at math and will do well in Algebra. If you have to prep to overcome this very very low bar, then Algebra is likely to be a nightmare. The goal should be to be placed in the correct math level, which isn't necessarily the highest and fastest one.

+1 I'm not against test prep generally -- I think it's good to prep for SAT/ACT; I can understand why people who think their child will get a more appropriate education in AAP prep for the Cogat. But prepping for the IAAT really doesn't make sense. It's not a hurdle to get over; it's a diagnostic for readiness. It's a really easy test for any kid who is ready to take algebra--the 91% bar is really too low. There are only disadvantages if you take algebra before you're ready and no upside--you'll struggle in that class, get lower grades (that go on your HS record) and then have to take a higher sequence of math to meet the 4 year requirement many colleges want and likely get lower grades in that. Taking algebra in 7th vs 8th doesn't make a difference in whether your child is deemed having taken "the most rigorous course offerings" in any FCPS high school. Colleges want to see kids that take calculus, don't care about beyond, so 8th grade algebra is acceleration enough for elite college admissions. Pushing an unready kid ahead in algebra is far more likely to result in worse college options due to low grades or a long-term unsteadiness in algebraic thinking that reduces math opportunities. This is why you're getting such pushback on the prep--it's not just the usual people who are against all prep, it's actually not a good prep. There are a lot of kids who are getting 4s all the years in AAP math who still just aren't developmentally there for algebra and it's good to know that. They might be math whizzes and yet just need a bit more time for brain development to be ready for algebraic forms.
I work in a STEM field and my eldest qualified for Algebra 7 Honors (with a 93% on the IAAT and 10 points above the SOL) but I didn't think they were quite ready (I think the cut-off should be >95%) so waited until 8th. DC is now a first year in a STEM oriented major at a top school. That extra year of solidifying pre-algebra concepts was really needed. So sorry you deem our answers unhelpful, but a common opinion--even among those not against test prep generally--is that this is not a test you should prep for.

NP. I don’t disagree with anything you are saying about algebra readiness. However, I believe there is a difference between prepping and familiarizing yourself with the test format. When my kid took it, I gave him a practice test the weekend before so he knew what to expect. It reduces his anxiety. This is true in classroom tests too. He does much better if he knows what format a test or quiz is going to be in. He scored in the 97th percentile on the IAAT. Is that a “real” number or a “prepped” number? I do know he had no issues with alg 1 in 7th.

[Anonymous]

I got a sample test but not because I am trying to prepare for the test. My child has never done a standardized test. But you can buy a sample book. I just quickly reviewed like the tip strategies since it is timed. Had him experience a timed test with bubbles. I didn’t not go over the correct or incorrect and these are not the questions they will be doing.

While they have options to practice- the idea is to see if the child is truly ready. My son I had no concerns in our district this test is typically given before they take Pre algebra at end of 6th grade. My son already had pre algebra.

If your child has been exposed to standardized tests then I don’t think you should do more. I just got my son to see like what a timed standardized test since this will be his first experience.

I’m not reviewing concepts found on there. That is the only way I see any benefit for even doing. Sure can you use it to help tutor. If the child isn’t really ready and they score well - if school is selecting placement. If placed in a class that is more advanced where the child is that may make the year harder.

[Anonymous]

I posted a link on here before to some practice tests. There are 4 sections, getting the kid used to speed would help.
Probably the only new topic will be graphs and graphing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an aptitude test, not a skills test. I teach middle school algebra. PLEASE don't prep for this test. If your child has to prep to score high enough, algebra is probably going to be a rough road.

“Probably” is the key word here.

You know your kid best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No prep is necessary. Just go to class and do the regular homework for 6th grade adv. math. The IAAT is not a hard test. I think it is sad that parents push their kids to think that they must score high on IAAT and get into Alg.

One of my son's classmates answered a survey for the Dec. newsletter (what are you going to do over Xmas break? --- study for the IAAT.) There is no reason your child NEEDS to take Alg in 7th grade. If they qualify, it still might not be a good idea. The only reason for pushing IAAT is to try to position your child to apply for TJ. And, in my mind, that is a terrible thing to do to a kid. If they need to prep for IAAT (which, as I mentioned, is not hard), then they are NOT going to breeze into TJ and not going to be the kind of kid who can thrive at TJ.

The thing is, as a parent, you have to do what’s best for your child.

I knew my kid didn’t need the prepping, but we prepped anyway, because I was not going to leave it up to chance. I tied all the loose ends I could.

The system is such that nobody will move your kid to a higher level if they didn’t qualify, regardless how well they are doing. They’ll happily move the kid down.

So, knowing my kid, and the need that the kid had, I did what was in my power.

It is probably true that if you need to prep the kid may struggle, but that’s for the parents to know and decide.

[Anonymous]

Get a IAAT book so the kids becomes familiar the time limit. My kid is very strong in math (99% IAAT and 600 on multiple math SOL) but he was not used to the time limit. The book I got from Amazon helped.

If the kid is not ready, then no need to push. Parents should know their kids.