Kid who gets top grades but bombs all standardized tests

[Anonymous]

What does it mean when a kid is in advanced classes at a very rigorous school (known for how tough it is), routinely gets "A"s with a few "B"s and yet bombs every single standardized test they take (ERBs, CPT, SSAT, etc...)?

What could possibly be the disconnect? Kid swears she tries on the testing. When she takes practice tests she routinely scores in the 90%s.

What could be the problem?

[Anonymous]

It could be anxiety, it could be time management or any number of issues.

Ask the teacher.

[Anonymous]

does she score 90s on timed practice tests? or just relaxed practice tests...

[Anonymous]

My child has ADHD and regularly bombs tests where she otherwise has done very well in the classes. She's getting better now with more awareness of her challenges and extra time, more test prep etc but honestly bombing standardized tests in elementary and middle school was one of many red flags that led us to the diagnosis. I think in some kids anxiety could also be a factor, as could time management or executive functioning issues.

[Anonymous]

This was my sister. All As in AP classes. Combined SAT score of 800/1600 on the SAT. She was diagnosed with an eye impairment her senior year when we couldn't solve the mystery of her terrible scores. Apparently she has weak eye muscles that can't focus on scantron bubbles. Her condition was not recognized by the College Board so she didn't get any accommodations, even though all she requested was large type. She now has a STEM PhD and is working in Silicon Valley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does it mean when a kid is in advanced classes at a very rigorous school (known for how tough it is), routinely gets "A"s with a few "B"s and yet bombs every single standardized test they take (ERBs, CPT, SSAT, etc...)?

What could possibly be the disconnect? Kid swears she tries on the testing. When she takes practice tests she routinely scores in the 90%s.

What could be the problem?

What is your definition of "bomb"?

[Anonymous]

This is my kid. She gets straight As but cannot get into accelerated programs because she does terribly on standardized tests. She got an 800 on the PSAT! She is an anxious kid and probably has some degree of ADHD, but her pediatrician doesn't seem to think it is much of an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my kid. She gets straight As but cannot get into accelerated programs because she does terribly on standardized tests. She got an 800 on the PSAT! She is an anxious kid and probably has some degree of ADHD, but her pediatrician doesn't seem to think it is much of an issue.

And that is why you don’t go to the pediatrician to diagnose ADHD. You go to a neuropsychologist.

[Anonymous]

My brother was the same way. It was anxiety in his case - he couldn't show what he could do when the pressure was on in a standardized test.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like me when I was in high school/ college I have very good grades on classwork, essays but I would bomb tests. I would go blank even though I knew the material stone cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does it mean when a kid is in advanced classes at a very rigorous school (known for how tough it is), routinely gets "A"s with a few "B"s and yet bombs every single standardized test they take (ERBs, CPT, SSAT, etc...)?

What could possibly be the disconnect? Kid swears she tries on the testing. When she takes practice tests she routinely scores in the 90%s.

What could be the problem?

Do the practice tests have the same format as the regular tests?

Does she feel comfortable about reading the booklet and answering on a bubble sheet?

One more thing. Is the test being taken at school or at a different location?
The reason I am saying is that a very bright young girl, with very advanced math skills scored in the low 400's in the math section. Needless to say she was devastated, especially because she was applying to early admissions to a couple schools. She retook the SAT 3 months later at a different location and had an almost perfect score. And it's not conspiracy theory -- it's common sense. Either SAT messed up something or the school did something (16 students took the exam on that particular day). What makes me believe in the former theory is the fact that one of her classmates who took the test in school, on the same day, had scored very high in math, even though he had always struggled in that subject.

[Anonymous]

The practice tests are timed and precisely the same format as the real thing.

She takes them different places - the CTP/ERB is at school in the classroom, the SSAT at another school on a Saturday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does it mean when a kid is in advanced classes at a very rigorous school (known for how tough it is), routinely gets "A"s with a few "B"s and yet bombs every single standardized test they take (ERBs, CPT, SSAT, etc...)?

What could possibly be the disconnect? Kid swears she tries on the testing. When she takes practice tests she routinely scores in the 90%s.

What could be the problem?

What is your definition of "bomb"?

I want to know this too.

[Anonymous]

Mine does this. As discussed, he has both ADHD and anxiety. I haven't figured out which one makes him do so poorly on exams. Probably anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Is she afraid the test would mean a change for her? Even if it wouldn't, does she think something would be different? A niece of mine did not want to go to the magnet (gifted) school but I think didn't want to admit that to her parents. The counselor knew however when, on the test, niece had gotten every single question wrong.