Hello I realize this is an old thread BUT my kid took the IAAT this yr and scored 68%. She goes to HMS in NJ. I don't understand the percentile rank... what it actually means in terms of her placement for next yr math. Should I be worried ... how can I help her improve... does she need my help in improving her math... my help meaning outside classes. Can someone here provide more information?

Just a super confused mom reaching out for help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

This is one of the sources of inequity, though. FCPS tells people not to prep at all. Some demographics follow their directions and send their kids in blind to the test. Others range from doing a sample test through full blown prep classes. Knowing the format of the test is a huge advantage, especially considering how strictly timed the test is. Most kids who go in blindly would have no chance at all of meeting the IAAT benchmark, since they would run out of time before finishing enough problems.

The best and most equitable way for FCPS to approach this is to have every 6th grade AAP or advanced math class run through one practice test in class. Then, everyone would at least be familiar with the format and time constraints.

I'm the OP who (dared) to look at one sample test on Youtube the night before because, despite what the school advised, it seemed really ridiculous that the kids didn't even know the format as it was not discussed. I actually thought after we had done one practice section (10 min 15 question) I had committed parental malpractice but doing this the day before and just giving simple tips was all I had left and could do. I know DC's school/math teacher didn't explain anything about IAATs. Maybe that's their way of leveling the playing field. If a very abbreviated explanation of test tips, such as focus on the questions you can do and go back to the ones you can't do, on the day before is the equivalent of what some parents here label as perpetuating some sort of societal inequity then ok, brand me as yet another force of adding to the unjust imbalance. But frankly I think that's slightly ridiculous and the same voices that will brand anything other than blindly going into a standardized test as akin to cheating are truly naive. They probably have kids who play some sort of organized sport and it would be as dumb as me advising them not to send their kids to practice and just "play the game." I agree with the suggestion overall that perhaps if all FCPS Level IV AAP math students are eligible to sit for the IAAT, the school should commit one class or a set amount of time to explain the test format and even do one section. And if doing one sample test off of Youtube (which I thought was utterly pathetic sitting there looking at a screen to simulate a test) is prep, it paid off with a 99% percentile score.

Anonymous wrote:99%, my son thinks the test was generally easy. No bragging or anything.

My daughter said the same thing, and she's not any sort of math genius. She scored a 98%, but we're unlikely to choose Algebra I Honors for 7th, even if she high passes the SOL. She can take it in 8th.

86%. SOoo, that means TJ is out of question for my child, correct?

You can miss multiple questions and still get 99th percentile.

If you have to prep then you don’t yet have the aptitude for Algebra.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

This is one of the sources of inequity, though. FCPS tells people not to prep at all. Some demographics follow their directions and send their kids in blind to the test. Others range from doing a sample test through full blown prep classes. Knowing the format of the test is a huge advantage, especially considering how strictly timed the test is. Most kids who go in blindly would have no chance at all of meeting the IAAT benchmark, since they would run out of time before finishing enough problems.

The best and most equitable way for FCPS to approach this is to have every 6th grade AAP or advanced math class run through one practice test in class. Then, everyone would at least be familiar with the format and time constraints.

They do run through sample questions and rules in class ahead of time, multiple times.

You can’t say it’s not fair because you choose to not think for yourself and promptly take orders from the school. One foundational principle in the US is that you are in charge of your child’s education. If you blindly outsource that right, that’s on you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

This is one of the sources of inequity, though. FCPS tells people not to prep at all. Some demographics follow their directions and send their kids in blind to the test. Others range from doing a sample test through full blown prep classes. Knowing the format of the test is a huge advantage, especially considering how strictly timed the test is. Most kids who go in blindly would have no chance at all of meeting the IAAT benchmark, since they would run out of time before finishing enough problems.

The best and most equitable way for FCPS to approach this is to have every 6th grade AAP or advanced math class run through one practice test in class. Then, everyone would at least be familiar with the format and time constraints.

If those test prep classes work by actually teaching the kids pre-algebra, then that's a terrible violation of equity principles because those privileged kids are learning things. Shame on them.

If they're just teach-to-the-test specific knowledge, the parents are doing equity a favor by pushing their children into a foundational course with an unusually high failure rate.

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Anonymous wrote:^ literally 5 posts so far. But yes I would I expect an outsized chunk of top scorers to live here.

Yes, there are lots of bright kids here but...

I used to teach in Fcps. We used to say, “A small percentage of the population is highly gifted and they all live in Fairfax County.” Hint: we did not believe that they all lived in FX.

IAAT isn't an intelligence test, and we don't know anything about the norming group. It may include all 6th or 7th graders, including the ones who haven't yet been exposed to pre-algebra.
Since it's measuring mastery of pre-algebra skills, it's not surprising that kids who are at least brighter than average and are currently taking pre-algebra would do well. Also, FCPS has many kids who are already taking algebra in some sort of outside math class by 6th. Those kids are likely to test as "ready for algebra" on IAAT.

You’re missing the translation: many, many parents of kids in this area think their kids are smarter than they are.

I'm not missing the translation. I think the IAAT is a poor example. A 99th percentile score in IAAT doesn't mean the kid is gifted in math. It just means that the kid is prepared for Algebra next year. Since so many people are making sure that their kids are prepared for Algebra in 7th, it's hardly surprising that kids are testing in that range.

I think a lot of parents are in denial about how much economic privilege, outside enrichment, and direct prepping can increase scores[b].

It is the opposite pp. BECAUSE we know outside enrichment and direct prepping can increase scores, we shell out the $ and time for it. That increased score will hopefully land them on a path for a promising career, which in turn will (hopefully) lead them to a life of economic privilege. And then, hopefully, they will do the same for their children one day.

Twins took it. 99% and 98%.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

This is one of the sources of inequity, though. FCPS tells people not to prep at all. Some demographics follow their directions and send their kids in blind to the test. Others range from doing a sample test through full blown prep classes. Knowing the format of the test is a huge advantage, especially considering how strictly timed the test is. Most kids who go in blindly would have no chance at all of meeting the IAAT benchmark, since they would run out of time before finishing enough problems.

The best and most equitable way for FCPS to approach this is to have every 6th grade AAP or advanced math class run through one practice test in class. Then, everyone would at least be familiar with the format and time constraints.

I thought most 6th grade AAP/advanced math classes discuss the format of the test at a minimum? I did nothing with my LLIV AAP child, and DC got a 97% on it. Most of the other kids in the AAP class also qualified for algebra. DC has never had any outside enrichment.

I would think that this is child dependent. If you have a kid that rolls with the punches, then it's probably good. Mine would freak out the second she found out that it was a timed test (she is not adaptable; she's a slave to routine, and wants to be prepared for everything), and the ensuing panic would result in nothing good.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

This is one of the sources of inequity, though. FCPS tells people not to prep at all. Some demographics follow their directions and send their kids in blind to the test. Others range from doing a sample test through full blown prep classes. Knowing the format of the test is a huge advantage, especially considering how strictly timed the test is. Most kids who go in blindly would have no chance at all of meeting the IAAT benchmark, since they would run out of time before finishing enough problems.

The best and most equitable way for FCPS to approach this is to have every 6th grade AAP or advanced math class run through one practice test in class. Then, everyone would at least be familiar with the format and time constraints.

I thought most 6th grade AAP/advanced math classes discuss the format of the test at a minimum? I did nothing with my LLIV AAP child, and DC got a 97% on it. Most of the other kids in the AAP class also qualified for algebra. DC has never had any outside enrichment.

Anonymous wrote:
Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

This is one of the sources of inequity, though. FCPS tells people not to prep at all. Some demographics follow their directions and send their kids in blind to the test. Others range from doing a sample test through full blown prep classes. Knowing the format of the test is a huge advantage, especially considering how strictly timed the test is. Most kids who go in blindly would have no chance at all of meeting the IAAT benchmark, since they would run out of time before finishing enough problems.

The best and most equitable way for FCPS to approach this is to have every 6th grade AAP or advanced math class run through one practice test in class. Then, everyone would at least be familiar with the format and time constraints.

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Anonymous wrote:97%. (Finally got the letter yesterday in the mail.)

We too received yesterday. Is it Mantua? I think they were the last ones

Nope, not Mantua. So there's at least 2 slow ES schools out there!

Wow, if getting results back at the beginning of March was considered slow, we got ours today (5/1/2021). We're satisfied with how are child did and can say that the only practice we did was off some Youtube sample (I wasn't willing to pay $ for practice tests) the day before to see the format. It was a good thing we did since the first 15 questions rattled our DC into realizing that the timed element can potentially sink you. We did the other three sample tests discussing very briefly it's probably best to identify what you can do and go for those and use remaining time to tackle what you didn't get. Other than this day before stuff (because we took our Assistant Principal's advice of not preparing) no other preparation. DC is at a Centers AAP school and perhaps the level of instruction is on par with helping kids perform well.

You did not take your assistant principal’s advice.

By taking a sample test on YouTube the night before is being equated to taking a prep course? Are you f**king serious?

NP. I don’t really care either way but it *is* prepping.

So you'd tell your kid not to even know the general format of the test?

Not the op, but yes.

Is the test meant to be taken without prepping? I mean, it's testing knowledge, not ability, so shouldn't the kids be taught the material that they're going to be tested on? I can't imagine sending DD into a timed test with no preparation. Once she finds out that she has 40 seconds or whatever per question at the test, it would be over.

They all discuss it at school in AAP.