Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard it is almost 100% the test. Since he got in I wouldn't worry abut the high or why..

I understand that the test is critical. It is a qualifying test, so you don't have to ace it - BUT - you have to get a certain score (or above) in all the three sections - English, Math and IQ. You could score very high on any two section but miss the qualifying score in the third section and not get into the HGC.

I don't know if this is true. My child had high scores in 2 and lower than the average on 1 and still got in.
Maybe it also has to do with filling spots...they just take the highest performers for each HGC?

I think that is when school rec comes in. I assume many children at this age are not used to taking test and may make crucial mistakes (puting answers in wrong places, mismanaging the time, etc). If the student's score is too low compared with other tests taken at school (MAP-R, or -M) and contradicts good teachers rec., maybe the committe will look into other factors such as school/parent rec and grades. But this may only apply to one section. My child also scored low in one section and high in other two.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard it is almost 100% the test. Since he got in I wouldn't worry abut the high or why..

I understand that the test is critical. It is a qualifying test, so you don't have to ace it - BUT - you have to get a certain score (or above) in all the three sections - English, Math and IQ. You could score very high on any two section but miss the qualifying score in the third section and not get into the HGC.

I don't know if this is true. My child had high scores in 2 and lower than the average on 1 and still got in.
Maybe it also has to do with filling spots...they just take the highest performers for each HGC?

Anonymous wrote:Do the teachers write letters? My child's teacher said that the third grade team had a meeting.

I have heard that it is a sort of collective decision. The Principal, counselors, teachers all discuss the candidate. I am sure they also look at the results from the 2nd grade global screening tests (Raven, InView) etc., when making the decision. The acceptance letter said that the 2nd grade report card as well as the 1st semester 3rd grade report card is also taken into consideration. You do not need an exceptional (straight A, O or ES) report card to be recommended. The school looks for a trend of improvement over each quarter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard it is almost 100% the test. Since he got in I wouldn't worry abut the high or why..

I understand that the test is critical. It is a qualifying test, so you don't have to ace it - BUT - you have to get a certain score (or above) in all the three sections - English, Math and IQ. You could score very high on any two section but miss the qualifying score in the third section and not get into the HGC.

So does any child who scores above the median in all three sections get in? Or does it still depend on teacher recommendations, grades, etc?

Anonymous wrote:I have heard it is almost 100% the test. Since he got in I wouldn't worry abut the high or why..

I understand that the test is critical. It is a qualifying test, so you don't have to ace it - BUT - you have to get a certain score (or above) in all the three sections - English, Math and IQ. You could score very high on any two section but miss the qualifying score in the third section and not get into the HGC.

I got the sense that the 3rd grade teachers along with the principal "support" certain students from the school. Before we got my dd's acceptance letter, the principal and teacher each (inadvertently?) suggested that she was a "very strong candidate" and probably would get in. I don't think this would override bad test scores, but if scores are close, maybe.

Do the teachers write letters? My child's teacher said that the third grade team had a meeting.

Yes, they go with the testing scores. There are kids from the privates applying too so going just by grades wouldn't work.
The probably use the letters from teachers, grades when it is a close call between several students.

Must be, there is no way they could use the report cards across schools since things seem to be extremely inconsistent. Until recently at our school there was no way to even get an ES in math.

Just curious, anyone get in with an "I" on something? That would be telling that the report cards are meaningless.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the test mattered more this year because of the new report card. My DC got all ES all year on his report card (and I didn't realize that was unusual until reading this board). He got in but I think it was b/c of the test score. I'm not sure how else they could compare kids based on report cards if most teachers give P's or if giving ES/P varies from school to school during this transition year.

That's a good point.

I wonder if the test mattered more this year because of the new report card. My DC got all ES all year on his report card (and I didn't realize that was unusual until reading this board). He got in but I think it was b/c of the test score. I'm not sure how else they could compare kids based on report cards if most teachers give P's or if giving ES/P varies from school to school during this transition year.

As we reassured ourselves, you can always go back to your home school...any day of the year.

Trying not to worry. Just want to make sure he isn't in over his head.

I have heard it is almost 100% the test. Since he got in I wouldn't worry abut the high or why..

My child scored very well on the test and was accepted. He has never received an ES on his report card (though has on individual assignments occassionally). Not sure if his teacher recommended him or not. So I am wondering how much the test matters? Is the test all that matters?