Am I naive to not try to prep for tests?
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Anonymous
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My kid got a 129 on the NNAT this year. We are moving to another FCPS school (with same GT center) this summer. Current teacher says I should absolutely parent refer next year (I didn't even ask - she volunteered this info). (My understanding is that this score falls just below the threshold.)
I'm following an ongoing thread on another email list about percentages, ratios of students who get in by GT center, etc. Someone is suggesting that there should be an allowance made for families with fewer economic resources whose kids score beneath the threshold - because maybe they couldn't or didn't have the means to prep. We wouldn't fall into such a category, but it is making me wonder, should I be prepping my kid for the CogAT? I know it was customized to the county this year. Honestly - I didn't even know prepping was going on until this spring. It just seems really unfair to have my kid competing with all these kids who have been prepped. I was in the school this week and heard a classmate of my child's announce that she was going to the local GT center when she goes to 3rd grade. Her siblings both attend there now. I was kind of shocked - like how do YOU know you're going? Am I missing something? |
Anonymous
| There is an AAP forum now, where you should look for more information. AAP is the current name for the former GT program. |
Anonymous
She doesn't KNOW. But she is assuming because older siblings go there. that happens in alot of families. She's just being a kid... she doesn't know what she's really saying. |
Anonymous
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Despite the many posts you'll read here from a very small number of people complaining about prepping, very few people prep.
If you want to prep, go ahead. If you don't, don't even give it another thought. It probably won't make a difference. |
Anonymous
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I have prepared my child for IQ-like tests. In his case, it was for a WISC-IV and I had less than one week to familiarize him with the type of questions, time factor, etc... We used a website that offered a free sample booklet and worked through the questions during the weekend.
This small preparation was extremely helpful, and I believe made a significant difference to his score. This does not mean that more extensive coaching would have made more of a difference, so do not assume that your child is at a disadvantage! I know IQ tests are supposed to be un-coachable but I disagree to some extent, from personal experience and my son's. I am equally certain a great many children are prepped, especially at certain socio-economic levels. It stands to reason. |
Anonymous
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PP: did the coaching make DC smarter? Or just test smarter? My issue for test prep is that prepping for a specific test only improves your score for the specific test, and not your overall knowledge. I do not have a problem with that per se; however, if the goal of the test is to measure your overall intelligence, it can skew the result.
I crammed for tests in college....My staying up all night for my art appreciation final accomplished my goal: I did ok on the test, and passed the coarse. But, it would not prepare me for my physics test the next day...or anything else in my life (except for dating when I knew the difference between Monet and Manet). |
Anonymous
| I think this all depends on your child. My older child lets his nerves get in the way of every single test he's ever taken. When he has the chance to understand the test format and types of questions (examples!) prior to the test, he is able to relax and focus on answering the questions. But catch him cold, and you just have no idea what will come out of that brain of his! In his case, I'm all for some preparation. But I don't call that "studying" because it's not like we are focusing on the content. I have no idea how you would study for the NNAT or the CogAT in Fairfax County schools. |