Prepping/Scamming the Cogat

[Anonymous]

As a student that has taken well over 800 tests and exams - standard and non standard, internal and external -- the above statement is truth and fact.

The kids and students taking these tests know precisely what preparation for a test means. Go to the test takers for an answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No one has denied that educational preparation is a good thing. People have a problem with showing kids test questions before the test.

You do not need to show kids test questions bsfore the test to prepare or prep for a test.

No, of course you don't need to, but apparently, people do it anyway. The score the child then receives is not a true reflection of the child's abilities.

[Anonymous]

No, of course you don't need to, but apparently, people do it anyway. The score the child then receives is not a true reflection of the child's abilities.

Hogwash. That's misinformation and not true. Most people do not get a copy of the actual test and test questions beforehand. If they did, and this was proven, the exams scores should be cancelled. The County should have cancelled the exam scores for the last 15 years if the County children all had copies of the actual exam and test questions.

If the College Board found out students cheated and had leaked copies of the SAT test the results would be nullified. On the other hand, millions of students (including your own) have prepped and prepared for the SAT exam year in and year out without the actual questions on the test. Why? Because the kids want to go to "good" colleges to get a challenging education. It is the same reason why children prepare for tests in elementary and middle school. They wish to get a challenging education. We know a challenging education is much better for children than a non challenging curriculum and education. And the next level assessment always takes into account whether a child took the most challenging course at the previous level.

I do not believe your statement that kids have the test questions the nigh before. I do believe that many parents (including you) have extensively prepared their children for school and tests through enrichment programs and tutoring. The latter is more believeable than the County children all with copies of the test the night before. And the enrichment and prepartation you and others provide your children does give them an advantage on these tests and is reflective of their ability. However, very few of these children are gifted.

The goals of education should be to encourage children to reach their potential and highest abilities. There is no denial this involves going to school, preparation, parental involvement and enrichment. It is up to the school system to appropriately evaluate children. If the County is incompetent, in this regard, it is not the fault of children or parents prepparing children for their studies. The County should understand the predictive value (or lack thereof) of their screening instruments/tools and not simply use them to track and condemn children to an unchallenging curriculum.

No one here has advocated for parents and children to obtain copies of examination and test questions. That being said, there is absolutely nothing illegal or immoral when children prepare for tests using any method, form, format that works for them. I do not care whether they do this the night before, a week before, or years before.

Those here who have no problem with families and children who prepare for tests (prepping) are not referring to stealing the test questions or obtaining the actual test. That is cheating. No one here is advocating procuring the test and test questions before the test. But, I applaud any child who has the good sense to prepare for his (her) tests and studies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No, of course you don't need to, but apparently, people do it anyway. The score the child then receives is not a true reflection of the child's abilities.

Those here who have no problem with families and children who prepare for tests (prepping) are not referring to stealing the test questions or obtaining the actual test. That is cheating. No one here is advocating procuring the test and test questions before the test. But, I applaud any child who has the good sense to prepare for his (her) tests and studies.

I would hope no one is advocating stealing test questions. But the County has indicated that they have been made aware that people have been using the exact form of the test. Here's what the County said about this:

FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS.

This practice is what I and many others object to. I do not object to any other form of preparation. I am surprised that anyone can see this as acceptable.

And if parents truly feels the County is incompetent to educate their children, they should send their children to a school they feel more confident in or homeschool so that their children can have the kind of education the parents prefer.

[Anonymous]

A previous poster made a statement to this effect:

Never trust a teacher (e.g., FCPS, bureaucrat) who tells you not to study for a test that will be used to condemn you to an unchallenging educational track.

In the past presidential elections (November 2012), not too long ago, a similar tactic was used to suppress voting (condemn certain potential voters to non voting status)

Let me repeat, do not trust a system telling your child not to study for a test that will ultimately be used to condemn your child to an unchallenging educational tract. Once in that hole, it's hard to climb out off.

[Anonymous]

FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS.

Where does it state the test questions were identical? Another County ruse. Some of us do understand English. The PP does not.

[Anonymous]

FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS.

Exactly what was argued by the Virginia voting Board to suppress the vote last year. Get the facts. Exact form (? smoke screen) is not exact test questions. I do not believe FCPS for a nanosecond. Why make such an obscure statement. What happened to plain English. There are other motives behind the cloudy language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FCPS staff members chose to administer the custom form of the CogAT this year after it came to our attention that some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS.

Where does it state the test questions were identical? Another County ruse. Some of us do understand English. The PP does not.

So, do you find it acceptable that

some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS

?

Are you saying that it is fine to do this?

[Anonymous]

If exact form means exact test questions then the County should nullify the results or be swamped by a flood of challenges and law suit from families whose children did not get in the AAP.

[Anonymous]

So, do you find it acceptable that
some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS
?

Are you saying that it is fine to do this?

Yes, it is perfectly fine. Exact form does not mean actual test.

If it is fine for Princeton and Kaplan review (and the Blue Book) to have the exact form of SAT as the College Board SAT test then it is perfectly fine with me.

Yes, it is fine.

[Anonymous]

Is it acceptable to use the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS so that students have seen that exact form before the day of the test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, do you find it acceptable that
some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS
?

Are you saying that it is fine to do this?

Yes, it is perfectly fine. Exact form does not mean actual test.

If it is fine for Princeton and Kaplan review (and the Blue Book) to have the exact form of SAT as the College Board SAT test then it is perfectly fine with me.

Yes, it is fine.

Even when the organization administering the test has indicated that they do not find it acceptable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

So, do you find it acceptable that
some students, in previous years, had prepared for the CogAT using the exact form of the CogAT being administered in FCPS
?

Are you saying that it is fine to do this?

Yes, it is perfectly fine. Exact form does not mean actual test.

If it is fine for Princeton and Kaplan review (and the Blue Book) to have the exact form of SAT as the College Board SAT test then it is perfectly fine with me.

Yes, it is fine.

The CogAT is a different type of test than the SAT. The SAT is a test of knowledge acquired and the CogAT is a test of ability.

[Anonymous]

Even when the organization administering the test has indicated that they do not find it acceptable?

More so, yes. Even when this for profit organization administering the test indicated that they do not find it acceptable.

The answer to your question: unequivocally yes

Recall, another for profit organization, the College Board, said precisely the same thing about their SAT exam/test 30 years ago.

[Anonymous]

These organizations are in the business for their shareholders not our children.