Things You Wish You Knew When he/she was in 10th Grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:a friend said that some of the subject tests are worth taking before junior year?

i have heard advice like this, too -- take the subject tests close to the time they finish the class so the information is fresh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was in high school in the early 80s. Most kids were prepped for SATs (and PSAT's come to mention it).

I really don't see what the problem is.

I graduated high school in 1981 and hardly anyone prepped for the SAT/PSAT. (This was in the backwater state of Massachusetts. )

I also grew up here in FCPS and graduated in 1989. Most of my friends prepped for SAT either by a class or review book, but most definitely we were encouraged to do so by counselors at school. It's not a new phenomenon. Yes, there more test prep companies now and online services, but it's not new.

Also graduated from high school in Massachusetts in 1981. The only "prepping" was buying a test prep book (from Waldenbooks?) and everyone would try the one sample test the College Board gave out for free. Three students from my high school were National Merit finalists.

Interesting history of the PSAT/SAT/ACT here:
http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/sat-act-history.html

[Anonymous]

I also grew up here in FCPS and graduated in 1989. Most of my friends prepped for SAT either by a class or review book, but most definitely we were encouraged to do so by counselors at school. It's not a new phenomenon. Yes, there more test prep companies now and online services, but it's not new.

I guess it makes sense that maybe FCPS was always more on the ball in terms of SAT prep. I grew up in redneck PA and no one prepped for these tests. I was a NMSF in 1989 and I didn't even know what that was, really. (The guidance counselor was no help on that front).

[Anonymous]

I am not OP but very interested in this thread because I have a 10th grader. So can we just move on from the irrelevant point about what you and your friends did back in the 80's and focus on any advice people may have for a 10th grader today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:a friend said that some of the subject tests are worth taking before junior year?

i have heard advice like this, too -- take the subject tests close to the time they finish the class so the information is fresh.

Probably worth doing just to free up time later. That said, my kid took them a couple years later and didn't have to spend any time on prep. Math and foreign language do it was so stuff she'd internalized -- can see where it'd be different if DC had taken Chem and US history (but those would have been junior year anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not OP but very interested in this thread because I have a 10th grader. So can we just move on from the irrelevant point about what you and your friends did back in the 80's and focus on any advice people may have for a 10th grader today.

Not the 80s poster. Have a kid who graduated from HS last year. Strongly agree with the find out whether your DC actually needs prep (beyond buying the book/taking a practice test) before throwing lots of time/money into test prep advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:a friend said that some of the subject tests are worth taking before junior year?

i have heard advice like this, too -- take the subject tests close to the time they finish the class so the information is fresh.

Probably worth doing just to free up time later. That said, my kid took them a couple years later and didn't have to spend any time on prep. Math and foreign language do it was so stuff she'd internalized -- can see where it'd be different if DC had taken Chem and US history (but those would have been junior year anyway).

If your child is taking the AP test, go ahead and take the subject test too. They will be prepared.

[Anonymous]

That the prep for college applications started in middle school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strongly agree with the find out whether your DC actually needs prep (beyond buying the book/taking a practice test) before throwing lots of time/money into test prep advice.

+1

Take a practice test in both SAT and ACT in 10th grade and figure out where your DC scores strongest.