Reply to Prepping/Scamming the Cogat

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It sounds like the folly of the school system for using a single test easily mimicked by learned parents and students (in their day to day "test prep" interaction with their children) as a major determinant for AAP admission.  No parent will stop reading and playing fun mental games with their children for the sake of Carol of AAP concern they may be cheating.  Give me a break, lady.[/quote]

This is not the sole basis of AAP.  THERE IS THE NNAT, the GBRS and the other input.  What has happen, practically, is because of the test prep industry,  the CogAT has been down weighted compared to the GBRS and student performance.  That has pissed of people whose kids that aced the tests, but then get rejected because of a low GBRS.  That only happens because of the test prep industry.  An average to below average kid who performs at the very advanced (130+ on the CogAT)  level is either a) prepped, or b) a genius.

The county can not tell.  They make there own decisions.

Frankly my personal opinion is the county should come out with a clear statement on prepping for the CogAT/FXAT and NNAT.  Say the thinking in the most unambiguous way. Something like "[b]Test Prep for the CogAT violates the spirit of the test[/b]"[/quote]

I don't understand why FCPS cannot just come right out and make the statement that commercially available CogAt test prep materials are not allowed. Merely saying test prep is discouraged is being very vague, since playing critical thinking games with your child that may be similar to what is on the test may also fall in that category. FCPS (or anybody) certainly cannot stop parents from enriching their child(ren)'s educational experience, but if they specifically object to the commercially available test prep materials, they should outright say so.

Why is it so hard for them to do that?[/quote]

Right now the statement they do make is misleading. See FAQs on webpage below.

www.fcps.edu/is/aap/faqs/idfaqs.shtml

"How can I prepare my child to take the tests? Can I see sample questions or practice sheets?

Sample questions are practiced by students as part of the test preparation. Sample tests are not commercially available. The best test preparation is a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast."

The statement about sample tests not being commercially available is false and FCPS knows it since they had to change the form of the CogAT due to the test prep materials being used. Many parents probably take the statement at face value whereas others are purchasing tests and prepping their children. A situation of inequity has been created. I believe that a clear and correct statement needs to be made, whether permitting or prohibiting prepping. Otherwise FCPS is introducing a discrepancy in testing conditions, and skewed results, through a known false statement. [/quote]

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