Bad News for Test Prep Parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?

and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?

funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

Wha, wha what???
Someone having a bit of success without following the teachings of Peyton, Archie, Eli, Marshall? None of the Manning lineage?
Surely Brady, Phelps?
Did they have Wheaties for breakfast at least?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?

and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?

funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

well I believe you but there are some people around here who would be aghast that you left this to chance and didn't start with the TJ prepping in 6th grade and then practice, practice, practice for the SATs. So where are these three going to college?

[Anonymous]

The bottom line is that the scores of these AAP identification tests are affected when kids have been practicing with materials that replicate past tests. Some people know this and have decided to make some money off this fact. The more they can convince young parents that:
a: a child's intelligence is dependent on how many of this business's worksheets the child does and,
b: that there is no good education available in FCPS except in AAP and,
c: the best way to get a child into AAP is to use our services/products,
the more money they will make.

They do not want the school to know that kids have been prepped, because they know that the scores would then be taken less seriously. It would certainly be bad for business for the schools to know which second graders have been doing practice questions from old tests at camps or classes or clubs or just at home with a parent. Even the idea that teachers might be asking kids at school if they have seen questions like these before could be bad for business. Parents may hesitate to buy into test prep programs or materials if they hear that the schools might not use test results from kids who say they have seen questions like this before.

Most of these businesses sell other types of tutoring and test prep so they will not lose their shirts if FCPS were to stop using these tests or drop the AAP.
But it would eat into their profits to a certain extent.

Parents love their kids and want the best for them. There are many businesses out there of many types that take advantage of this fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that the scores of these AAP identification tests are affected when kids have been practicing with materials that replicate past tests.

Anonymous wrote:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/FAQre2012CustomizedCogAT.pdf

See fourth paragraph, first sentence:

"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."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?

and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?

funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

I also have a child who did no test prep for AAP(GT) or TJ tests. Is at TJ now and is not having the issues that some of the kids who did test prep are having.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bottom line is that the scores of these AAP identification tests are affected when kids have been practicing with materials that replicate past tests.

Anonymous wrote:

http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/pdfs/FAQre2012CustomizedCogAT.pdf

See fourth paragraph, first sentence:

"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."

well Duh, isn't that the whole point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?

and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?

funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

well I believe you but there are some people around here who would be aghast that you left this to chance and didn't start with the TJ prepping in 6th grade and then practice, practice, practice for the SATs. So where are these three going to college?

Not the PP, but my kids who did not do SAT prep (too busy with many extracurriculars) attended colleges in the top 25 list and were accepted to many top schools with offers of substantial merit scholarships (not based on financial need, just the strength of their records).

SAT prep helps some kids, but once you're over 2100 or so, the colleges really don't care, so it can be a waste of time and money for kids who are getting those scores without prep. PSAT gives you an idea of where their scores will shake out without prep, so parents can make a good decision for their own families whether it's worth it or not.

[Anonymous]

funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

I'm sure you would advise, Peyton, Tom, Phelps, your divorce lawyer and brain surgeon prep is not necessary for your simple problems only a green eggs and ham. I'm so happy you are not my parent. I'll take Peyton anytime of the day. My Dad believes hard work and preparation are the keys to a long, successful and fulfilling life and not giving your children the wrong advice so you can come on DCUM and say my kid is so gifted he got into AAP, TJ and MIT without preparation and hard work and is a billionaire. As a child I would be ashamed of my parents for making such statements.


--Marshall (8-year-old)

[Anonymous]

oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?


and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?


funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

Funny! If your 3 children knew you were telling the whole world this tall story about them I guarantee you they would be ashamed and embarrassed. Why do you shame your family with such rubbish? Are you that selfish and vain?

....Another teenager who will take SAT next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?


and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?


funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

Funny! If your 3 children knew you were telling the whole world this tall story about them I guarantee you they would be ashamed and embarrassed. Why do you shame your family with such rubbish? Are you that selfish and vain?
....Another teenager who will take SAT next year

Well, good luck with the SAT next year. And I can assure you that while I sadly bow to selfishness and vanity on occasion, I am not lying. It bothered me too that my son didn't want to take a prep class like most kids seem to now. But he's stubborn, so there was little I could do. Fortunately, he was right in his assessments. As were his friends. As others on these forums have noted despite the lemming-like insistence that you have to prep for the SAT, I think if you're a certain kind of kid who would score on the higher end anyway, it really doesn't matter.

And no, I don't know where the 3 are going to college yet, as early decision aps are only due tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?


and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?


funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

Funny! If your 3 children knew you were telling the whole world this tall story about them I guarantee you they would be ashamed and embarrassed. Why do you shame your family with such rubbish? Are you that selfish and vain?
....Another teenager who will take SAT next year

Well, good luck with the SAT next year. And I can assure you that while I sadly bow to selfishness and vanity on occasion, I am not lying. It bothered me too that my son didn't want to take a prep class like most kids seem to now. But he's stubborn, so there was little I could do. Fortunately, he was right in his assessments. As were his friends. As others on these forums have noted despite the lemming-like insistence that you have to prep for the SAT, I think if you're a certain kind of kid who would score on the higher end anyway, it really doesn't matter.

And no, I don't know where the 3 are going to college yet, as early decision aps are only due tomorrow.

the SAT does have some tricky questions, some designed to be confusing so it can help to be familiar with the type questions they ask. I understand it is changing in 1025. The ACT is a fairer test, and just this year surpassed the SAT as the more popular test to take - as it should IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

oh shoot. this thread has really gone off the rails if we're posting TJ SAT stats. Here's some simple math -- if TJ kids are so smart than why don't all of them score between 2300 and 2400 on the SATs and become National Merit finalists off their PSATs? My son and two of his friends did, and they're not even at TJ?


and they did that by just eating breakfast that day and getting a good night's sleep the night before the test, right?


funny you should say that. none of the three did SAT prep. I think my son may have looked at some sample problems the night before.

Funny! If your 3 children knew you were telling the whole world this tall story about them I guarantee you they would be ashamed and embarrassed. Why do you shame your family with such rubbish? Are you that selfish and vain?
....Another teenager who will take SAT next year

Well, good luck with the SAT next year. And I can assure you that while I sadly bow to selfishness and vanity on occasion, I am not lying. It bothered me too that my son didn't want to take a prep class like most kids seem to now. But he's stubborn, so there was little I could do. Fortunately, he was right in his assessments. As were his friends. As others on these forums have noted despite the lemming-like insistence that you have to prep for the SAT, I think if you're a certain kind of kid who would score on the higher end anyway, it really doesn't matter.

And no, I don't know where the 3 are going to college yet, as early decision aps are only due tomorrow.

the SAT does have some tricky questions, some designed to be confusing so it can help to be familiar with the type questions they ask. I understand it is changing in 1025. The ACT is a fairer test, and just this year surpassed the SAT as the more popular test to take - as it should IMHO.

oops. 2015.

[Anonymous]

None of us on this forum are interested in the biblical folk tales of success on SAT and MIT without need for preparation. Talk to a mirror. You must think Virginians are also stupid.

[Anonymous]

The poster thinks it is somehow laudable to advise our kids not to prep towards their goals in life.

Idiocy, says Peyton. Manning believes it's important to advise kids to set goals, prep and work hard. Tom Brady, Larry Bird, Michael Phelps, and Chief Justice Roberts all second this approach to raising children to be future productive citizens in their respective communities. Only fools leave success to genes and luck. Chance favors the prepped mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of us on this forum are interested in the biblical folk tales of success on SAT and MIT without need for preparation. Talk to a mirror. You must think Virginians are also stupid.

Let's face it, the kids who don't need test prep are exactly the kids that MIT is looking for. They want the kids who can think on their own two feet. They want the kids who figure out those tricky questions on their own, who didn't need someone else to tell them how to do it. These are the kids who will invent and discover.