Compacted Math- what happens if you don't get in?
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Anonymous
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My son took the compacted math test only he didn't know it at the time. He is very strong in mah, winning most of the math quizzes contests in class but I remember that particular day he came home very depressed and upset and declared because he was tested and timed on something he had never seen before and that he tried to use something his Dad taught him at home to solve it. He got it wrong. I told him to brush it off, that he had an off day. Come to find out, it was the compacted test.
I am sick over it because I know what he is capable of. My other kid doesn't have a mathematical mind but he does. What does this mean for the rest of his MCPS career?. Can someone tell me?. Everything I have read on here predicts doom and gloom and lower learning groups forever and never getting another chance to exvel. Is this true?. All over one third grade test?. Thanks. |
Anonymous
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The compacted math test has a number of problems. I'm thinking more than 5 -- maybe 8 or so. They do them on different days because they're longer problems.
The correct answer is only one of the components they're looking for in the scoring. They want to see the approach, the ability to stick with it if you don't solve it correctly the first time, the willingness to take a chance and just jump in to try solving it. There's an acronym for this and it's escaping me. So, no big deal if he missed one of the problems. Tell him to keep working at it and try again when he gets the next one. |
Anonymous
| The UCARE assessment is not a one time deal - there are several problems over many months. Getting the answer wrong is not a 0. I say, let the process finish and if he actually doesn't make the cut, appeal to the principal. |
Anonymous
| If your son doesn't make it into compacted math, all it means is he will take algebra in 8th grade instead of 7th grade. No doom, no gloom. |
Anonymous
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Really Appreciate the responses. Very much so. I am so shellshocked at the fact that a test in 3rd grade determines whether or not you get to take Algebra early and whether or not you are in group with kids who will challenge you academically or you get stuck in the tedious Curriculum 2.0 cycle doing the same type of problem a million times with a group of kids at a different level of learning than you before you can finally move on to something new and challenging. The latter of which which is definitely the case for him now.
Unfortunately, I became aware of the importance of this test two weeks ago when a friend of mine impressed on me how it determines everything. By then, it was on my radar but too late. It seems so extreme! You are determining a child's middle school fate years out based on a few questions. When it comes to colleges later, this sort of thing will matter, very much so. My son's friends who said they got the question right, all have tutors. The teacher said the questions are things they hadn't learned in class yet. In fact, my son said they finally learned it last week and it was so easy for him the minute he saw it. So the kids who got it right, learned through private tutoring. I wish I had known. I feel like we failed him by not paying for a tutor. But he is doing so well at school, we felt like he didn't need it. He has never struggled. Some astute parents realized the importance of jumping ahead in the curriculum even if all is well. So sad and worried for him. He works so hard. |
Anonymous
| As PPs said, it is not one test, but a number of mini-tests (6-8?) taken over the course of the 3rd grade year. Getting one wrong will not sink his chances. But they are trying to discriminate more finely between those kids who need significant acceleration vs. those who would be fine with mild acceleration, i.e. remaining in the top regular math group in the class. Your DC will be fine and high-achieving either way! I know it's stressful. We're eager to have those results too. |
Anonymous
| It will be a lot easier to agitate to get into compacted math in elementary school than to try to skip a level when you go to middle school. |
Anonymous
| There are kids who are added for 5th grade and then again for 6th grade though so keep working on it. |
Anonymous
| I don't think this will affect his college career unless your dramatics gets passed on to him and he takes every test that he hasn't done 100% on and acts like he's failing you. Chill out. He'll be fine. |
Anonymous
| If you don't get into compacted math, and you also don't get accelerated at any other point in your primary or secondary education, then you will keep going in on-grade-level math, take Algebra I in 8th grade, and graduate from high school having completed AP Calculus A/B. Does this constitute doom? I don't think so. |
Anonymous
| I have a 3rd grader and he took the tests this year (just finished). It was a series of 5 tests spread out over several months. Our DS didn't prep and I don't know anyone else who prepped. If your son is naturally gifted in math he will do fine, if he is not don't try to force him into a group that isn't a good fit skill-wise. The world does not begin and end with compacted math! |
Anonymous
| I have never heard 3rd graders get tutors because of the compacted math test. Like many kids in the compacted math, my DC has never prepped. If your child is good with math, he will be ok. The school takes considerations from every aspect. |
Anonymous
+1. To my knowledge, there is no way to prep for these tests. Noone has any clue what's on them. |
Anonymous
This is not true. Teacher and I went over the test last year after my son didn't pass it. Went through it question by question. |
Anonymous
I think your case is the exception. |