There are only so many ways to word these questions. When children are shown numerous copies of the test over time, they begin to recognize the format of the problem presented because they have seen it before with only minor changes. You cannot really measure the ability to solve a new problem when the problem has already been seen many times.
I applaud Fairfax County for trying to solve this problem, but it is an uphill battle. Is the answer to give every kid the WISC? Too expensive, but you get an individual learning profile for each student.

I agree with the PP. I used to think that prep is okay, but the prep I have been thinking is completely different from what was described. Prep with exact copy of the test should be severely punished!

I thought that too, at first, but I think when they say parents were using the exact CogAt form, they mean the edition (like, last year it was CogAt Form 7 or something) which may not have the exact same questions but is very close in content. I remember people posting queries last year about whether Mercer was selling "Form 7."

On the "prepping" issue...

If I understand the FCPS statement above correctly, they believe that students were "prepping" from the EXACT COPY of the CogAT test being given (in teh past). If that is correct, I am glad they came up with a new test. I am not 100% sure how I feel about prepping... I guess I think it is OK. But "prepping" from the ACTUAL test is not "prepping" in my view... it is cheating.

Does anyone know if the AAP selection committee sees a DOB with each kid's file? Maybe a summer birthday kid will have a slight advantage over a redshirted kid if the scores are borderline...

I think they are doing the best that they can, and agree that it's commendable of them to address the prepping issue. Prepping really does throw a wrench into the whole process (although I can understand the temptation on parents' part). One thing on the website you provided jumps out at me: Even the county is urging parents whose children are not in the pool to parent refer if they have a very high subtest score. That is encouraging, people, so get your packets in before Friday!

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Now that was helpful, PP, thanks. And it puts to rest any controversy about a Fairfax County "screw up" on age norming. I am so glad that the county had the guts to do something about parents who prep their kids with the exact CogAt test being applied (I had no idea it had gotten that bad, or that parents could ever get that kind of access to the test, but it's stated right there in your website). Hats off to Carol Horn.

Disagree regarding the age norming. They do it for the NNAT and plainly say that they will do it for the FAT in the future, but could not do it now because of insufficient numbers.

Really wonder as to the validation of the test. Sounds like 2nd graders were the lab mice for a new approach they really didn't have the time to implement correctly.

Sort of like the proposed AAP changes.

We had a student in my DC's class caught by the teacher with a copy of the test in his desk DURING the exam that he presumably got from a family member in FCPS. And guess what? He made into AAP. Teacher said nothing as far as I know

Anonymous wrote:There is a teacher that gets a copy of several tests used by FCPS and has her own tutoring service for the tests.

oooooooh, scandal!

There is a teacher that gets a copy of several tests used by FCPS and has her own tutoring service for the tests.

I wonder if FCPS knows that Mercer Publishing was advertising a practice test specifically for the FAT last fall?!

Thanks OP! Very helpful to know, and now I feel better about my young DC's CogAT percentile.

Thanks for posting this! And ITA with PP -- nice job, FCPS!

Wow. Now that was helpful, PP, thanks. And it puts to rest any controversy about a Fairfax County "screw up" on age norming. I am so glad that the county had the guts to do something about parents who prep their kids with the exact CogAt test being applied (I had no idea it had gotten that bad, or that parents could ever get that kind of access to the test, but it's stated right there in your website). Hats off to Carol Horn.