Prepping/Scamming the Cogat

[Anonymous]

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/guest-quality-test-prep-students-article-1.1310140

[Anonymous]

It seems that FCPS hasn't been clear enough on its stance on prepping. One could infer that FCPS opposed prepping since the CogAT was changed this year to the FxAT to help curb any advantage from prepping. Those who think prepping is okay: What if FCPS put out an official statement, on its website and through letters home, that doing any practice tests with questions in the CogAT format was considered unethical/cheating? Would you then agree that it was not okay to prep?

If FCPS ever releases a statement that mentions AAP test prep and the words unethical or cheating, I will publicly and clearly denounce all test prep scammers as villains of the lowest sort.

I am sure that FCPS is going to get right on issuing this statement. Let me know when I can stop holding my breath...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems that FCPS hasn't been clear enough on its stance on prepping. One could infer that FCPS opposed prepping since the CogAT was changed this year to the FxAT to help curb any advantage from prepping. ?

Or you could infer that we have a different midpoint and the median student here is sufficiently different from the median in Detroit that we needed a localized basis for differentiation...

Those who think prepping is okay: What if FCPS put out an official statement, on its website and through letters home, that doing any practice tests with questions in the CogAT format was considered unethical/cheating? Would you then agree that it was not okay to prep?

Sure. If you'll accept that since they don't, they consider study and hard work ethical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that FCPS hasn't been clear enough on its stance on prepping. One could infer that FCPS opposed prepping since the CogAT was changed this year to the FxAT to help curb any advantage from prepping. ?

Or you could infer that we have a different midpoint and the median student here is sufficiently different from the median in Detroit that we needed a localized basis for differentiation...

Those who think prepping is okay: What if FCPS put out an official statement, on its website and through letters home, that doing any practice tests with questions in the CogAT format was considered unethical/cheating? Would you then agree that it was not okay to prep?

Sure. If you'll accept that since they don't, they consider study and hard work ethical.

The change from CogAT to FxAT was in response to prepping/cheating. Below is a link to the FCPS document stating such. You can also get to the document by going to the main AAP webpage, clicking on "2012-13 Benchmark Score for the 2nd Grade Screening Pool" under "Spotlights" on the right, and clicking on the link to the PDF "Information and Frequently Asked Questions about the 2012-13 Custom Form CogAT for 2nd Grade."

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."

Now, if it isn't the exact "form" (their lingo for exact copy of the test), would that be okay? I would like to get clarification from the AAP office since I didn't prep my first DC (now awaiting placement decision). But if many others are prepping and FCPS states it is okay to prep as long as it's not the exact test being used, I would then prep younger DC. I will call the office after this round of decisions is out. Don't want to do anything to rock the boat now by stating my name to the office and raising a controversial ethical issue. I believe that if they do state that using any type of practice test is wrong, signing an annual code of honor should be required for parents beginning with their child's entry to kindergarten. But if it is okay then everyone should have that information and all motivated to prep can feel free to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that FCPS hasn't been clear enough on its stance on prepping. One could infer that FCPS opposed prepping since the CogAT was changed this year to the FxAT to help curb any advantage from prepping. ?

Or you could infer that we have a different midpoint and the median student here is sufficiently different from the median in Detroit that we needed a localized basis for differentiation...

Those who think prepping is okay: What if FCPS put out an official statement, on its website and through letters home, that doing any practice tests with questions in the CogAT format was considered unethical/cheating? Would you then agree that it was not okay to prep?

Sure. If you'll accept that since they don't, they consider study and hard work ethical.

The change from CogAT to FxAT was in response to prepping/cheating. Below is a link to the FCPS document stating such. You can also get to the document by going to the main AAP webpage, clicking on "2012-13 Benchmark Score for the 2nd Grade Screening Pool" under "Spotlights" on the right, and clicking on the link to the PDF "Information and Frequently Asked Questions about the 2012-13 Custom Form CogAT for 2nd Grade."

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."

Now, if it isn't the exact "form" (their lingo for exact copy of the test), would that be okay? I would like to get clarification from the AAP office since I didn't prep my first DC (now awaiting placement decision). But if many others are prepping and FCPS states it is okay to prep as long as it's not the exact test being used, I would then prep younger DC. I will call the office after this round of decisions is out. Don't want to do anything to rock the boat now by stating my name to the office and raising a controversial ethical issue. I believe that if they do state that using any type of practice test is wrong, signing an annual code of honor should be required for parents beginning with their child's entry to kindergarten. But if it is okay then everyone should have that information and all motivated to prep can feel free to do so.

Are you saying getting an exact copy of the test ahead of time and using it, is morally equivalent to studying and preparing for an exam? Nonsense.

[Anonymous]

IF FCPS is that concerned it has to stay a step ahead of the commercial test preppers. Getting into TJ has spawned a cottage industry in these parts, and judging from the admissions stats FCPS isn't that worried about it. The commercial test preppers figured out how to crack the ethics essays awile back and I don't see FCPS doing a lot to change anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IF FCPS is that concerned it has to stay a step ahead of the commercial test preppers. Getting into TJ has spawned a cottage industry in these parts, and judging from the admissions stats FCPS isn't that worried about it. The commercial test preppers figured out how to crack the ethics essays awile back and I don't see FCPS doing a lot to change anything.

Well, they did change the process for the SIS this year. When my child applied, it was to be filled out at home, with instructions that the child was to answer the questions without outside help. Guess what? Test prep businesses were running seminars on "How to fill out the SIS"! Really? Does that fulfill the spirit of the requirement of no outside help?

So, this year, the applicants had to go to a school and fill out the SIS under monitored conditions. Do I think that completely solved the problem? No, because I suspect the companies still held their their seminars and advised the kids to memorize answers that would work with the questions they were guessing ahead of time would be asked.

I love the irony of the fact that "(t)he commercial test preppers figured out how to crack the ethics essays awile back."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems that FCPS hasn't been clear enough on its stance on prepping. One could infer that FCPS opposed prepping since the CogAT was changed this year to the FxAT to help curb any advantage from prepping. ?

Or you could infer that we have a different midpoint and the median student here is sufficiently different from the median in Detroit that we needed a localized basis for differentiation...

Those who think prepping is okay: What if FCPS put out an official statement, on its website and through letters home, that doing any practice tests with questions in the CogAT format was considered unethical/cheating? Would you then agree that it was not okay to prep?

Sure. If you'll accept that since they don't, they consider study and hard work ethical.

The change from CogAT to FxAT was in response to prepping/cheating. Below is a link to the FCPS document stating such. You can also get to the document by going to the main AAP webpage, clicking on "2012-13 Benchmark Score for the 2nd Grade Screening Pool" under "Spotlights" on the right, and clicking on the link to the PDF "Information and Frequently Asked Questions about the 2012-13 Custom Form CogAT for 2nd Grade."

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."

Now, if it isn't the exact "form" (their lingo for exact copy of the test), would that be okay? I would like to get clarification from the AAP office since I didn't prep my first DC (now awaiting placement decision). But if many others are prepping and FCPS states it is okay to prep as long as it's not the exact test being used, I would then prep younger DC. I will call the office after this round of decisions is out. Don't want to do anything to rock the boat now by stating my name to the office and raising a controversial ethical issue. I believe that if they do state that using any type of practice test is wrong, signing an annual code of honor should be required for parents beginning with their child's entry to kindergarten. But if it is okay then everyone should have that information and all motivated to prep can feel free to do so.

Are you saying getting an exact copy of the test ahead of time and using it, is morally equivalent to studying and preparing for an exam? Nonsense.

FCPS may think that either one is wrong, but we will see. I am reserving judgment until I hear the official party line. I did speak with my child's second-grade teacher about this issue, and she believed that any prepping was wrong, for the reason that not all kids would be prepped and therefore the practice was not fair to all. And I have read posts saying that the CogAT is meant to measure how a child performs when confronted with questions in a format that he/she has never seen before, but I don't know where the posters got their information or whether FCPS believes the same. So I think it is best to seek clarification from the powers that be. Will report back with any info that I hear (after AAP decisions are out). Or if anyone has a link to any official information, please share.

[Anonymous]

The conversation of this thread is the "exact form" of the conversation from the prior 46 pages. The discussion of Fairfax's statement, and its ambiguity has been covered over and over again. Was it an exact copy or does it mean in a very close format...blah blah blah. Something new on the subject ---Please...

[Anonymous]

FCPS may think that either one is wrong, but we will see. I am reserving judgment until I hear the official party line. I did speak with my child's second-grade teacher about this issue, and she believed that any prepping was wrong, for the reason that not all kids would be prepped and therefore the practice was not fair to all. And I have read posts saying that the CogAT is meant to measure how a child performs when confronted with questions in a format that he/she has never seen before, but I don't know where the posters got their information or whether FCPS believes the same. So I think it is best to seek clarification from the powers that be. Will report back with any info that I hear (after AAP decisions are out). Or if anyone has a link to any official information, please share.


Thank you, PP.

[Anonymous]

That's funny. Our AART mentioned at a meeting that there are prep materials for sale on line and that, if he had a horse in the race (a child taking the CogAT), he would do everything he could to improve her chances. Left the parents in attendance with strong impression that he (the AART) sees nothing wrong (and everything right) with prepping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's funny. Our AART mentioned at a meeting that there are prep materials for sale on line and that, if he had a horse in the race (a child taking the CogAT), he would do everything he could to improve her chances. Left the parents in attendance with strong impression that he (the AART) sees nothing wrong (and everything right) with prepping.

Which school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's funny. Our AART mentioned at a meeting that there are prep materials for sale on line and that, if he had a horse in the race (a child taking the CogAT), he would do everything he could to improve her chances. Left the parents in attendance with strong impression that he (the AART) sees nothing wrong (and everything right) with prepping.

Really, ours said the same thing. Worked out perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Prepping is a good habit and sound discipline. Chance favors the prepared mind and body. Academicians and athletes are well aware of this. There must be a lot of cuckoos in NOVA. Preparation has absolutely nothing to do with cheating or ethics. Many fools in life fail because of lack of preparation and discipline.

[Anonymous]

Kudos to the children who prepare diligently for their tests and studies. If only cheating and unethical adults prepped for work and tasks on their job instead of slacking off American institutions would be better off.