What exactly is a prepped kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I helped administer the CogAT at my FCPS school last week. Here are examples of prepping:

"Ms. ______, my mommy and I practice paper folding and cutting holes and unfolding after dinner every night. It's fun!"

"Ms. _______, I have something to tell you. My daddy printed out this test on his printer at work. It's just the same - ducks on the top of the page!"

Yes, you can spend hours paper folding at he to help with that section of the CogAT, and, sure, you could buy it online and have your kid take it. But then it's completely invalid. What the hell is the point of that?

Just curious, the second example sounds like the child was prepped with a copy of the actual test because I doubt a test prep company would randomly have ducks on the top of the page and the actual test also have that. Why doesn't FCPS secure the test better. I thought this was why the test was changed to a FCPS specific test instead of the regular CogAT.

Why should FCPS have to secure the test better? Should we really have to operate from a place where the expectation is that adults will look for a way to help second graders (!) cheat on a test and then find ways to keep said adults from acquiring copies of the same or essentially similar tests ahead of time? How crazy is it that we should place the burden on FCPS to keep adults from helping children to cheat?

If FCPS is relying on a test to determine who will get a service, then one would hope they would be careful about securing the test. What the pp described sounded like the child had the actual test, not a third party prep material. Also, if they aren't securing the actual test, why waste taxpayer money on getting a special form of the test?

So, are you saying that it is the fault of FCPS if adults find a way to cheat by showing kids material that is so similar to the test that the child says that his dad had already shown him a copy of the same test? Are you saying that FCPS should just expect that adults will cheat? Whatever happened to parents teaching their children about integrity and honesty?

[Anonymous]

The highway of preparation and prepping is long and winding. No one gives a damn whether on this journey one passes milestones such as WPSSI, GoCat, SSAT, SAT, GRE, math quiz, surprise test, MCAT, LSAT, SCAT, GMAT, ACT, Bar exams, Specialty exams and Starbucks. Chance favours the prepped mind. Preparation for the long haul provides a discipline, work ethic and sterling work product no matter the task ... GoCAT, excellent grades, music recitals, athletic endeavors, flying a plane, brain surgery, and high octane performance on the job. Those who don't prep or prepare will become a cropper ... AKA Bums!

[Anonymous]

+10^10

[Anonymous]

Some lack the discipline and staying power in and out of bed and are simply jealous and envious of the well -prepped!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every thread with the word prep in it falls into the same pattern. Prepping in the context of this thread refers to actions whose sole purpose is to increase the scores on an IQ test; it does not increase the baseline IQ.

The reason why people "prep" the kids are to give them an advantage in regards to obtaining entry into AAP.

It has nothing to do with studying for an exam, it has nothing to do with sports.

If you think prepping for the CogAT is a positive attribute, call out the action on the AAP parental referral form. If you will not do that, then you know it is cheating.

CogAT is not an IQ test.

CogAT was designed to test how children solved problems they have never seen before. Prepping in this an other affluent areas has warped the test as a measurement of anything.

And this is why you can take the enormous amounts of AAP kids in western Fx Co with a big, huge grain of salt. Vienna, McLean, Great Falls... there are prep classes available and many parents sign their kids up for them to prepare for the CogAT. Usually, they're called things like "Creative Problem Solving" or "Abstract Reasoning," but often they're just blatantly labeled "CogAT Prep". Can't believe Fx Co just turns a blind eye to this while parents are wondering how on earth so many kids from this area of the county are admitted, year after year.

Interesting that you keep focusing on "Vienna, McLean, Great Falls," when so many AAP kids are Asians who live in Fairfax, Chantilly, Oakton, Herndon, and Centreville. Maybe you think that the Asian kids who live in western Fairfax naturally belong in AAP, but the kids from the high-income areas of Vienna, McLean and Great Falls only get in if they are "prepped."

Talk about pathetic.

Pardon me? Not only are you rude, you make no sense. Where did I specify Asians or non-Asians? The fact is, kids are being admitted to AAP in droves in the areas of the county I mentioned. If the same thing is happening in your area, why don't you speak up about it? I don't care what race the kids are, just the fact that there are far too many of them in AAP. But clearly, you have an issue with race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I helped administer the CogAT at my FCPS school last week. Here are examples of prepping:

"Ms. ______, my mommy and I practice paper folding and cutting holes and unfolding after dinner every night. It's fun!"

"Ms. _______, I have something to tell you. My daddy printed out this test on his printer at work. It's just the same - ducks on the top of the page!"

Yes, you can spend hours paper folding at he to help with that section of the CogAT, and, sure, you could buy it online and have your kid take it. But then it's completely invalid. What the hell is the point of that?

Just curious, the second example sounds like the child was prepped with a copy of the actual test because I doubt a test prep company would randomly have ducks on the top of the page and the actual test also have that. Why doesn't FCPS secure the test better. I thought this was why the test was changed to a FCPS specific test instead of the regular CogAT.

Why should FCPS have to secure the test better? Should we really have to operate from a place where the expectation is that adults will look for a way to help second graders (!) cheat on a test and then find ways to keep said adults from acquiring copies of the same or essentially similar tests ahead of time? How crazy is it that we should place the burden on FCPS to keep adults from helping children to cheat?

If FCPS is relying on a test to determine who will get a service, then one would hope they would be careful about securing the test. What the pp described sounded like the child had the actual test, not a third party prep material. Also, if they aren't securing the actual test, why waste taxpayer money on getting a special form of the test?

So, are you saying that it is the fault of FCPS if adults find a way to cheat by showing kids material that is so similar to the test that the child says that his dad had already shown him a copy of the same test? Are you saying that FCPS should just expect that adults will cheat? Whatever happened to parents teaching their children about integrity and honesty?

Ok, so apparently you're going to tell all those bad parents to just stop prepping their kids, already. There! Done! That was easy.
I think the real world operates a little differently than your idealistic expectations. FCPS should absolutely be securing their test materials. As the PP said, why should taxpayers have to foot the bill for the "special" version of the CogAT if it's just going to be leaked and/or copied?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The highway of preparation and prepping is long and winding. No one gives a damn whether on this journey one passes milestones such as WPSSI, GoCat, SSAT, SAT, GRE, math quiz, surprise test, MCAT, LSAT, SCAT, GMAT, ACT, Bar exams, Specialty exams and Starbucks. Chance favours the prepped mind. Preparation for the long haul provides a discipline, work ethic and sterling work product no matter the task ... GoCAT, excellent grades, music recitals, athletic endeavors, flying a plane, brain surgery, and high octane performance on the job. Those who don't prep or prepare will become a cropper ... AKA Bums!

Oh dear. I do believe the wacko Peyton Manning poster has returned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every thread with the word prep in it falls into the same pattern. Prepping in the context of this thread refers to actions whose sole purpose is to increase the scores on an IQ test; it does not increase the baseline IQ.

The reason why people "prep" the kids are to give them an advantage in regards to obtaining entry into AAP.

It has nothing to do with studying for an exam, it has nothing to do with sports.

If you think prepping for the CogAT is a positive attribute, call out the action on the AAP parental referral form. If you will not do that, then you know it is cheating.

CogAT is not an IQ test.

CogAT was designed to test how children solved problems they have never seen before. Prepping in this an other affluent areas has warped the test as a measurement of anything.

And this is why you can take the enormous amounts of AAP kids in western Fx Co with a big, huge grain of salt. Vienna, McLean, Great Falls... there are prep classes available and many parents sign their kids up for them to prepare for the CogAT. Usually, they're called things like "Creative Problem Solving" or "Abstract Reasoning," but often they're just blatantly labeled "CogAT Prep". Can't believe Fx Co just turns a blind eye to this while parents are wondering how on earth so many kids from this area of the county are admitted, year after year.

Interesting that you keep focusing on "Vienna, McLean, Great Falls," when so many AAP kids are Asians who live in Fairfax, Chantilly, Oakton, Herndon, and Centreville. Maybe you think that the Asian kids who live in western Fairfax naturally belong in AAP, but the kids from the high-income areas of Vienna, McLean and Great Falls only get in if they are "prepped."

Talk about pathetic.

TEN kids out of Vienna school got in out of about 90. You think that's a lot? It is just over 10% but also tha many, many didn't get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The highway of preparation and prepping is long and winding. No one gives a damn whether on this journey one passes milestones such as WPSSI, GoCat, SSAT, SAT, GRE, math quiz, surprise test, MCAT, LSAT, SCAT, GMAT, ACT, Bar exams, Specialty exams and Starbucks. Chance favours the prepped mind. Preparation for the long haul provides a discipline, work ethic and sterling work product no matter the task ... GoCAT, excellent grades, music recitals, athletic endeavors, flying a plane, brain surgery, and high octane performance on the job. Those who don't prep or prepare will become a cropper ... AKA Bums!

Truth.

[Anonymous]

The highway of preparation and prepping is long and winding. No one gives a damn whether on this journey one passes milestones such as WPSSI, GoCat, SSAT, SAT, GRE, math quiz, surprise test, MCAT, LSAT, SCAT, GMAT, ACT, Bar exams, Specialty exams and Starbucks. Chance favours the prepped mind. Preparation for the long haul provides a discipline, work ethic and sterling work product no matter the task ... GoCAT, excellent grades, music recitals, athletic endeavors, flying a plane, brain surgery, and high octane performance on the job. Those who don't prep or prepare will become a cropper ... AKA Bums!

Oh dear. I do believe the wacko Peyton Manning poster has returned.

Wow, that came right out of left field. Who is Peyton Manning? A bum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I helped administer the CogAT at my FCPS school last week. Here are examples of prepping:

"Ms. ______, my mommy and I practice paper folding and cutting holes and unfolding after dinner every night. It's fun!"

"Ms. _______, I have something to tell you. My daddy printed out this test on his printer at work. It's just the same - ducks on the top of the page!"

Yes, you can spend hours paper folding at he to help with that section of the CogAT, and, sure, you could buy it online and have your kid take it. But then it's completely invalid. What the hell is the point of that?

Just curious, the second example sounds like the child was prepped with a copy of the actual test because I doubt a test prep company would randomly have ducks on the top of the page and the actual test also have that. Why doesn't FCPS secure the test better. I thought this was why the test was changed to a FCPS specific test instead of the regular CogAT.

Why should FCPS have to secure the test better? Should we really have to operate from a place where the expectation is that adults will look for a way to help second graders (!) cheat on a test and then find ways to keep said adults from acquiring copies of the same or essentially similar tests ahead of time? How crazy is it that we should place the burden on FCPS to keep adults from helping children to cheat?

If FCPS is relying on a test to determine who will get a service, then one would hope they would be careful about securing the test. What the pp described sounded like the child had the actual test, not a third party prep material. Also, if they aren't securing the actual test, why waste taxpayer money on getting a special form of the test?

So, are you saying that it is the fault of FCPS if adults find a way to cheat by showing kids material that is so similar to the test that the child says that his dad had already shown him a copy of the same test? Are you saying that FCPS should just expect that adults will cheat? Whatever happened to parents teaching their children about integrity and honesty?

Ok, so apparently you're going to tell all those bad parents to just stop prepping their kids, already. There! Done! That was easy.
I think the real world operates a little differently than your idealistic expectations. FCPS should absolutely be securing their test materials. As the PP said, why should taxpayers have to foot the bill for the "special" version of the CogAT if it's just going to be leaked and/or copied?

You know, it's one thing for teachers of older kids to need to be careful about tests, since kids are still learning about how to be honorable people, but it is quite another to say that the school district needs to watch out because if they are not super careful, the parents of the kids will cheat. In the real world, most people do not cheat. And in the real world, most adults are not trying to find ways to cheat on a test for children. It is in no way the majority of adults in the real world who try to acquire leaked and/or copied tests meant for second graders. But because some do, the taxpayers will have to foot an ever-increasing bill in an effort to outwit those adults who are trying to get copies of the test ahead of time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The highway of preparation and prepping is long and winding. No one gives a damn whether on this journey one passes milestones such as WPSSI, GoCat, SSAT, SAT, GRE, math quiz, surprise test, MCAT, LSAT, SCAT, GMAT, ACT, Bar exams, Specialty exams and Starbucks. Chance favours the prepped mind. Preparation for the long haul provides a discipline, work ethic and sterling work product no matter the task ... GoCAT, excellent grades, music recitals, athletic endeavors, flying a plane, brain surgery, and high octane performance on the job. Those who don't prep or prepare will become a cropper ... AKA Bums!

Oh dear. I do believe the wacko Peyton Manning poster has returned.

Wow, that came right out of left field. Who is Peyton Manning? A bum?

I don't know the Peyton Manning reference, but there was a poster in the past who consistently spelled "CogAT" as "GoCAT" even after he/she was corrected.

[Anonymous]

That poster was doing that in an attempt to be "clever" in making points about the test.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean the resurrection is finally here? Wow. GoCAT.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is a prepped kid? Definition: In the DC area, a prepped kid is always the other kid who got into the highly sought after program instead of me and snatched my entitled seat.