Correlation between SCAT and SAT results for 7th grader

[Anonymous]

I agree. It shows different things.

Actually, taking tests is one of the most efficient way of learning. There was some research on this last year. The much redicued flashcard sometimes serve the same purpose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No hostility toward SAT and ACT prep. People generally don't have a problem with prep for the college entrance examinations like the SAT and the ACT since, as you say, they are not aptitude tests, but tests of the subject matter taught in high school.

But let's face it, an unprepped perfect score for a high school junior is way more impressive than a prepped score. These are tests of all you have learned in school so an unprepped perfect score shows a much better than average command of the coursework taught in high school.

Only a fool will assume an "unprepped" 800 is way more impressive since this individual has prepped deligently through reading and longstanding study. What's so impressive?

What's impressive with an unprepped student is that they managed a perfect score without a course in how to game the test. Not saying it's wrong as I remember how some testing strategies helped raise my score 100 points in HS, but when you see a kid walk into an SAT test without that and come out with an 800, you know you have an extremely smart kid on your hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No hostility toward SAT and ACT prep. People generally don't have a problem with prep for the college entrance examinations like the SAT and the ACT since, as you say, they are not aptitude tests, but tests of the subject matter taught in high school.

But let's face it, an unprepped perfect score for a high school junior is way more impressive than a prepped score. These are tests of all you have learned in school so an unprepped perfect score shows a much better than average command of the coursework taught in high school.

Only a fool will assume an "unprepped" 800 is way more impressive since this individual has prepped deligently through reading and longstanding study. What's so impressive?

What's impressive with an unprepped student is that they managed a perfect score without a course in how to game the test. Not saying it's wrong as I remember how some testing strategies helped raise my score 100 points in HS, but when you see a kid walk into an SAT test without that and come out with an 800, you know you have an extremely smart kid on your hands.

Yes. Nothing wrong with learning test-taking strategies, but someone who can get a perfect score without doing test prep clearly is head and shoulders above the rest.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

DC (7th grade) received the SAT scores today, and there is no correlation between DC's performance on the SCAT and the SAT. SCAT performance was very good, and SAT performance was merely okay.

As I mentioned before, DC did not prep in any way for either exam (no prep class, no practice exams, no prep books). In the case of the SCAT that did not seem to matter, perhaps because it is a much shorter exam. DC took no more than 45 minutes to complete the SCAT and scored very well as normed against 12th graders.

The SAT is a much longer ordeal. I took DC in at 7:45 a.m. for registration, and DC exited the exam room at 1:10 p.m. DC did not have drinks, snacks, or a sweater (which mattered because the exam room was cold).

If DC were to take the SAT again (which they will not), I would definitely have them take a prep course or work through a prep book.

I also think that bringing a drink and snacks (and sweatshirt) is important. Finally, I would not let DC stay out at a school dance until 10:00 p.m. the night before the exam -- as DC did in this case.

Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

What is a good SAT result for a 7th grader?

[Anonymous]

1950

[Anonymous]

OP even on the admissions ticket for the SATs it tells you to bring snacks and drinks. Between SATs, ACTs and subject tests for 2 kids our kids have spent many a Saturday in testing. We always did/do protein oriented snacks like cheese sticks, yogurt, etc. to avoid sugar crashes. Our school even reminds people about sweatshirts (all the kids show up in sweatpants and sweatshirts anyway since they want to be comfortable for the test.).

One of my DCs took the SAT in 7th grade for CTY purposes. It was fine for that but the scores were very low, as one would expect for a kid who was in pre-algebra and no knowledge of geometry. Those scores were not at all an indicator for how DC did in 11th grade after 4 more years of school and some SAT prep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP even on the admissions ticket for the SATs it tells you to bring snacks and drinks. Between SATs, ACTs and subject tests for 2 kids our kids have spent many a Saturday in testing. We always did/do protein oriented snacks like cheese sticks, yogurt, etc. to avoid sugar crashes. Our school even reminds people about sweatshirts (all the kids show up in sweatpants and sweatshirts anyway since they want to be comfortable for the test.).

One of my DCs took the SAT in 7th grade for CTY purposes. It was fine for that but the scores were very low, as one would expect for a kid who was in pre-algebra and no knowledge of geometry. Those scores were not at all an indicator for how DC did in 11th grade after 4 more years of school and some SAT prep.

Thank you for the encouragement. At least I now know how to better prepare DC's older sibling (HS student) for next year's PSAT.

[Anonymous]

05/23/2013 14:19 Subject: Correlation between SCAT and SAT results for 7th grader
Anonymous



1950

Oh, please. 1950 is in the 91% for high school juniors. That is beyond "good" for a 7th greater. According to Duke TIP scores for 7th graders an equivalent 91% (actually approx 90.33%) is 1620. A 1950 for a 7th grader puts him or her in the 99%. A composite of the qualifying score for Duke TIP at 7th grade is a 1280. A qualifying score for John's Hopkins CTY is 410 for verbal or math, with no writing component. Assuming the same subset of scores a composite would be 1230. To achieve high honors in either category, a 550 is needed, thus, assuming a composite of 1650 if similar writing scores were achieved. To qualify for the grand ceremony a a composite of 2100 would be needed (700 for either verbal or math, although that was adjusted up this year, I think). The 1650 and up scores comprise the top 30% of those participating, which are primarily high achieving students to start. I think trying to compare 7th grade scores with projected 11th grade scores is a bit like comparing apples to oranges since so much of the test material has not yet been covered by the average 7th grader. For example, math scores significantly increase after geometry and algebra II. I have been told that anything above the 1650-1700 threshold is considered excellent for a 7th grader. The "good" threshold is much lower--closer to the 1230 composite for the two. programs. Just breathe. It is only 7th grade. There are, of course, outliers who score in the upper range but they are just that--outliers.

[Anonymous]

Well thank you PP, I now feel better about DC's score.

[Anonymous]

You are welcome, pp. It drives me nuts when people start throwing around these numbers without putting them in any context.

[Anonymous]

I apologize as I threw out that number because it was their score.

[Anonymous]

The applicant pool for these gifted programs is any student who wants to apply. The applicants come from religious schools, public schools, private schools, homeschooling, and from schools abroad.

You can take any of a number of exams to qualify for the programs. The SAT is used as an additional measure to differentiate between those who are talented and those who are exceptional.

A 7th grader who scores a 1950/2400 on the SAT (assuming that the scores are roughly even mid-600s across the three sections) would be considered "merely" talented according to CTY's metric (which requires a student to score above 700 in at least one section to be exceptional).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1950

Are you the OP? If so this whole thread is a humble brag.

[Anonymous]

That is wrong. A 1950 score qualifies a student for the awards ceremony but not the grand ceremony (which would be exceptional). A 1950 would place a student at the upper end of the of those qualifying for the awards ceremony achieving high honors (anything between 1650 (assume comparable writing score) and 2100. 2100 (assuming comparable writing score) places a student in the exceptional or "grand ceremony". A score between 1230 and 1650 (once again assuming a comparable writing score) qualifies a student to enter the program. So in essence their are 3 levels of participation which open up opportunities for different areas of study. I believe they have changed the qualifying scores for the grand ceremony to 750 for verbal or math which would increase a composite in our theoretical scores to 2250--and excellent score even for a junior.