Anonymous wrote:I learned it was the Cogat test from googling (I found board of education appeal decisions). Then I went to Amazon and bought a $20 prep book. My child completes the test in the book and was accepted. In other words, possible to prep without spending $2000.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is what we did. And I don't feel the tiniest bit of guilt. There were questions in the book that were easy to answer but would be difficult for kids who had never seen that type of question before.

Of course the questions are easier after the child has seen and practiced doing that type of question. The point of the test is to separate out the kids who can understand and answer questions of a type they've never seen before, the kids who can figure out how to do problems without an adult telling them how.

A kid who can figure out those questions without being told in advance how to do them might really need and benefit from a different kind of education. The kid who can't do it on his own but can remember how he is taught to answer a question will probably do fine in a regular classroom.

No. Sorry.

SO MANY more kids would benefit from the teaching that goes on at the HGC than just the ones who get accepted. Sure, a kid might 'do fine' in a regular classroom, but I'd rather my kid be challenged. Who doesn't want that for their kid.

If they want to expand the program, I'd be all for that. Until then, there is no issue in my mind if people get a workbook off of Amazon, or take a test prep class.

All families enrich their kids education in different ways. Some parents pay for piano lessons. Some parents travel the world. Some parents hire a Spanish speaking nanny because they want their kid to be bilingual. Prepping for a test is not cheating, any more than taking your kid to the Natural History museum is 'cheating'.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The county being secretive about this doesn't inspire confidence.

This.

What is the issue with MCPS not being more transparent?

Make it known what test they are using. It would help kids across the board. Right now, only Asian and White parents afford the testing prep classes. Make it more transparent so kids of ALL races can get access to practice tests.

Well said. I said this to Meredith Casper who was (still is?) head of the programs in the main office. I also wrote to the Board of Education about it. By making the tests secret, only well-off can spend the $2,000 to get a tutor to replicate the test.

Anonymous wrote:There is no possibility that they are reducing the time but keeping the exact same test.

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Anonymous wrote:How do you get the diversified group to apply?

In the pilot areas they are supposedly looking at ALL kids and then parents can opt out or in of testing. Not sure if it will help or not but a lot better than some other things they could have done. This process won't be perfect since teachers have natural biases and I am sure will overlook some bright kids that do not fit the usual classroom mold.

Personally I am suspicious that they are also some how changing the test or criteria. At a meeting in the fall MCPS explicitly said they are not so we will see. Glad I got my kid that needed it through already.

Anonymous wrote:How do you get the diversified group to apply?

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Anonymous wrote:I never get why Fairfax county is so transparent with their testing yet mcps is so hush hush with theirs. When my kid took the Inview in years past, they didn't even bother telling us until the day of the testing. So much for making sure your child gets enough sleep and had a hardy breakfast.

Reading the AAP threads makes it seem awful to me..all the different testing and score comparisons.

Anonymous wrote:

This is what we did. And I don't feel the tiniest bit of guilt. There were questions in the book that were easy to answer but would be difficult for kids who had never seen that type of question before.

Of course the questions are easier after the child has seen and practiced doing that type of question. The point of the test is to separate out the kids who can understand and answer questions of a type they've never seen before, the kids who can figure out how to do problems without an adult telling them how.

A kid who can figure out those questions without being told in advance how to do them might really need and benefit from a different kind of education. The kid who can't do it on his own but can remember how he is taught to answer a question will probably do fine in a regular classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

This is what we did. And I don't feel the tiniest bit of guilt. There were questions in the book that were easy to answer but would be difficult for kids who had never seen that type of question before.

Of course the questions are easier after the child has seen and practiced doing that type of question. The point of the test is to separate out the kids who can understand and answer questions of a type they've never seen before, the kids who can figure out how to do problems without an adult telling them how.

A kid who can figure out those questions without being told in advance how to do them might really need and benefit from a different kind of education. The kid who can't do it on his own but can remember how he is taught to answer a question will probably do fine in a regular classroom.

This is what we did. And I don't feel the tiniest bit of guilt. There were questions in the book that were easy to answer but would be difficult for kids who had never seen that type of question before.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think more secrecy about the test would actually be better. No one should be prepping for these at all. People who seek out information about he test through back channels and tutors are 100% cheating. MCPS should be able to use any methods they want to select students.

How is it cheating? I'm the PP who says they should make the test public.

People prep for everything! It's called being prepared and knowing what to expect. You do better when you're aware of what is expected.

Do you think SAT prep courses are also cheating?

At least if everyone knew, then everyone could have the opportunity to prep.

The purpose of the HGC is to create a cohort of highly gifted children. Not to accommodate your well prepped, middling child.

Despite what you think.