Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cram for the test, you are in for a world of hurt from 6 years of math above your ability level.

Do you think this is really true? Once you get to algebra, if you take honors, the classes move at the same pace, just that some kids take algebra in 8th rather than 9th. I feel like someone who struggles would still struggle. Skipping math 7 honors or not won’t magically solve future math issues.

With that said, I am not pro prepping. The kids who take algebra in 7th won’t need much support. A kid who struggles will always feel a little behind. If you take it in 8th grade, there will be more kids who also need support and so the class may move a little slower.

The brain matures each year. Yes, it really is true that taking the same class one year earlier or one year later can be very different for a student.

Algebra is just so foundational, if they aren't really ready for it when they take it they have a shaky foundation. Add that to the fact that in the US Geometry separates Alg1 and Alg2, it's really easy to have an inadequate algebra foundation haunt kids for years.

Actually a much bigger problem is that not enough geometry is taught, leaving most students with a very shaky foundation and causing difficulties in higher math and science classes.

I'm the PP and I think these are both a problem. I really wish we had integrated math similar to stronger international curricula.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cram for the test, you are in for a world of hurt from 6 years of math above your ability level.

Do you think this is really true? Once you get to algebra, if you take honors, the classes move at the same pace, just that some kids take algebra in 8th rather than 9th. I feel like someone who struggles would still struggle. Skipping math 7 honors or not won’t magically solve future math issues.

With that said, I am not pro prepping. The kids who take algebra in 7th won’t need much support. A kid who struggles will always feel a little behind. If you take it in 8th grade, there will be more kids who also need support and so the class may move a little slower.

The brain matures each year. Yes, it really is true that taking the same class one year earlier or one year later can be very different for a student.

Algebra is just so foundational, if they aren't really ready for it when they take it they have a shaky foundation. Add that to the fact that in the US Geometry separates Alg1 and Alg2, it's really easy to have an inadequate algebra foundation haunt kids for years.

Actually a much bigger problem is that not enough geometry is taught, leaving most students with a very shaky foundation and causing difficulties in higher math and science classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cram for the test, you are in for a world of hurt from 6 years of math above your ability level.

Do you think this is really true? Once you get to algebra, if you take honors, the classes move at the same pace, just that some kids take algebra in 8th rather than 9th. I feel like someone who struggles would still struggle. Skipping math 7 honors or not won’t magically solve future math issues.

With that said, I am not pro prepping. The kids who take algebra in 7th won’t need much support. A kid who struggles will always feel a little behind. If you take it in 8th grade, there will be more kids who also need support and so the class may move a little slower.

The brain matures each year. Yes, it really is true that taking the same class one year earlier or one year later can be very different for a student.

Algebra is just so foundational, if they aren't really ready for it when they take it they have a shaky foundation. Add that to the fact that in the US Geometry separates Alg1 and Alg2, it's really easy to have an inadequate algebra foundation haunt kids for years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you cram for the test, you are in for a world of hurt from 6 years of math above your ability level.

Do you think this is really true? Once you get to algebra, if you take honors, the classes move at the same pace, just that some kids take algebra in 8th rather than 9th. I feel like someone who struggles would still struggle. Skipping math 7 honors or not won’t magically solve future math issues.

With that said, I am not pro prepping. The kids who take algebra in 7th won’t need much support. A kid who struggles will always feel a little behind. If you take it in 8th grade, there will be more kids who also need support and so the class may move a little slower.

The brain matures each year. Yes, it really is true that taking the same class one year earlier or one year later can be very different for a student.

Anonymous wrote:If you cram for the test, you are in for a world of hurt from 6 years of math above your ability level.

Do you think this is really true? Once you get to algebra, if you take honors, the classes move at the same pace, just that some kids take algebra in 8th rather than 9th. I feel like someone who struggles would still struggle. Skipping math 7 honors or not won’t magically solve future math issues.

With that said, I am not pro prepping. The kids who take algebra in 7th won’t need much support. A kid who struggles will always feel a little behind. If you take it in 8th grade, there will be more kids who also need support and so the class may move a little slower.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grader who is in Alg 2 this year and a current 6th grader in AAP.

In 6th grade - my 9th grader got a 99% on the IAAT and pass advanced on the SOL that year with no prep whatsoever but still - but still, taking algebra in 7th grade / geometry in 8th, alg 2 in 9th is no joke. If your kid has to prep for the IAAT in 6th grade - IMO they should not take algebra 2 in 7th.

This. We were hesitant and told DS he would not take Algebra unless her got 95th percentile or higher (versus the 91st required) on the IAAT and 550 (versus 500 required) on SOL. With no prep, he got 600 SOL and 99th on the IAAT. If your kid is naturally good at math, he will have no problem meeting the requirements. Just remind him the test is timed and that he should move on if struggling on a question.

My kid who is excellent in math (150 quantitative on IQ tests, 99% iready, 600 SOL) got a 53% on the IAAT. Just is very slow and cautious about work and has horrible time management (ADHD) so didn't finish the test. I didn't press it because I wanted middle school transition to be easy, but she took Algebra 1 H in 8th and got a high A with little effort. So the time issue is no joke if you have a kid who isn't used to timed tests.

OP, have your child do a bunch of timed questions. It doesn't actually matter what (grade level, obviously), just that you follow the format of 15 questions in 10 minutes. That's what we did with DD. Because of Covid, she didn't have much exposure to graphs, so most of the questions she worked on were about interpreting graphs quickly and accurately. The only other thing I told her is to just fill in something for questions where she either didn't know the answer, or was running out of time to solve.

Per DD, most of the kids stumbled in the first unit, since they are not really used to taking timed tests, and left questions blank. Once they figured that part out, the content itself was not hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the structure of the IAAT in FCPS? Is it timed subtests on the computer? Can the test taker skip questions and go back? Is it a adaptive?

TIA

It is a paper and pencil scantron test. There are four sections. Each section is 15 questions and students have 10 minutes per section. Students are only allowed to work on only one section at a time. It is not adaptive. No calculator. Students may do the questions in the section in any order but cannot go back once the section's time is over.

Is it all administered on the same day?

Yes, the whole test is under an hour long. It's not that big of a deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the structure of the IAAT in FCPS? Is it timed subtests on the computer? Can the test taker skip questions and go back? Is it a adaptive?

TIA

It is a paper and pencil scantron test. There are four sections. Each section is 15 questions and students have 10 minutes per section. Students are only allowed to work on only one section at a time. It is not adaptive. No calculator. Students may do the questions in the section in any order but cannot go back once the section's time is over.

Is it all administered on the same day?

they need a math pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL, right? (taken in 6th grade)

Anonymous wrote:I admittedly know very little about the IAAT except that my 6th grader in AAP will take it this year and the score will determine placement next year. When is the exam? Are they reviewing in class? Should I buy a prep book? (I will ask these questions at conferences as well).

For background, DC is consistently scoring top of their class in math with no additional outside coursework. They have natural ability in this area and I don’t want to screw up by missing an opportunity to review beforehand because I didn’t know better.

Thanks for any info.

IAAT + SOL (Math pass advance > 500) decides if you child will take Algebra 1 Honors in 7th grade or not.

Anonymous wrote:I have a 9th grader who is in Alg 2 this year and a current 6th grader in AAP.

In 6th grade - my 9th grader got a 99% on the IAAT and pass advanced on the SOL that year with no prep whatsoever but still - but still, taking algebra in 7th grade / geometry in 8th, alg 2 in 9th is no joke. If your kid has to prep for the IAAT in 6th grade - IMO they should not take algebra 2 in 7th.

This. We were hesitant and told DS he would not take Algebra unless her got 95th percentile or higher (versus the 91st required) on the IAAT and 550 (versus 500 required) on SOL. With no prep, he got 600 SOL and 99th on the IAAT. If your kid is naturally good at math, he will have no problem meeting the requirements. Just remind him the test is timed and that he should move on if struggling on a question.

Anonymous wrote:What's the structure of the IAAT in FCPS? Is it timed subtests on the computer? Can the test taker skip questions and go back? Is it a adaptive?

TIA

It is a paper and pencil scantron test. There are four sections. Each section is 15 questions and students have 10 minutes per section. Students are only allowed to work on only one section at a time. It is not adaptive. No calculator. Students may do the questions in the section in any order but cannot go back once the section's time is over.

Anonymous wrote:What's the structure of the IAAT in FCPS? Is it timed subtests on the computer? Can the test taker skip questions and go back? Is it a adaptive?

TIA

It's 6th grade. At this point, your DC has taken lots of tests in lots of formats. If they're ready for it, this test will be no biggie. If they're not, then it's fine, they'll take M7H next year.