Anonymous
02/05/2013 09:13
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
There's a prep class for magnet tests??
Are you surprised? Get out of the kitchen. This is America and the nation of capitalism and free enterprise. If there is SAT prep why wouldn't their be magnet prep or catholic prep, or boarding school prep, or independent school prep, of SSAT prep, or TJ prep or GRE prep, or LSAT prep, of MCAT prep or PreK prep, or WPSSI prep? Do you want me to continue?
You can find any How to do book/manual or Sex for dummies manual if there is a buck to be made.
Anonymous
02/05/2013 09:08
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
New poster here.
Does test preparation enhance the odd for your child to get into the Highly selective program? Yes.
Is it fair? My DC got a great education at Blair. SAT-2300+ and 9 AP-5.
Years ago, she was bored in our MS and told me everyday that she learned nothing in school. In 8th grade, her math teacher inspired and woke her up. She was interested in learning and wanted to go to the magnet schools. Although she was an all A student, I knew she could not pass the test. We spent a lot of money send her to a prep class. Her test score improved 300 during the preparation. Long story short, she is studying math in a top college now.
If your kid is smart, motivated, well organized, and discipline, congratulation.
I will not hesitate to help my child to be the best of version of themselves.
Those of us who went to school understand the benefits of preparation and hard work for performance (in academics or other discipline). Even athletes, musicians and surgeons understand this concept. Most of the house wives and home economists on these boards have no experience and are clueless. They don't even understand the concept of preparation since to them it's looking for a couple of sample tests on the internet and bookstore with appropriate test label and bubbling...bubbling idiots...who beleieve their children were born smart, intelligent and knowledgeable.
Anonymous
02/05/2013 09:00
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
Anonymous wrote:She took the test prep class for HS magnet entrance exam. The prep center did assessment every week for 10 weeks. She got 1050 on her first test and 1450 at the end of the class. There were 20 to 30 kids took the class. Her rank moved from the bottom to the top five. Her regular MS classes did not expose student to test skill at all.
This seems wrong in several ways.
1) The magnet entrance test is NOT the SAT, as several PPs have pointed out.
2) The MoCo HS magnet test is not scored from 100-1600 or whatever you seem to think the range is.
3) I'm aware of prep classes in VA for the TJ test, but not in MoCo. There was talk of a MoCo magnet prep center starting up recently, but this would have been too late for your DD who you say is in college now. Are you in VA not MoCo?
And finally, were you aware that several prep centers have been sued for basically fooling kids into thinking they made a 200-300 point gain and got their money's worth? The way they do this is by administering a really hard first, or "assessment," test, which the kids bomb because it's so difficult. Then when the kid's actual scores come in, they will look great by comparison.
Anonymous
02/05/2013 08:49
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
There's a prep class for magnet tests??
Anonymous
02/05/2013 08:16
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
She took the test prep class for HS magnet entrance exam. The prep center did assessment every week for 10 weeks. She got 1050 on her first test and 1450 at the end of the class. There were 20 to 30 kids took the class. Her rank moved from the bottom to the top five. Her regular MS classes did not expose student to test skill at all.
Anonymous
02/05/2013 06:16
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
Anonymous wrote:New poster here.
Does test preparation enhance the odd for your child to get into the Highly selective program? Yes.
Is it fair? My DC got a great education at Blair. SAT-2300+ and 9 AP-5.
Years ago, she was bored in our MS and told me everyday that she learned nothing in school. In 8th grade, her math teacher inspired and woke her up. She was interested in learning and wanted to go to the magnet schools. Although she was an all A student, I knew she could not pass the test. We spent a lot of money send her to a prep class. Her test score improved 300 during the preparation. Long story short, she is studying math in a top college now.
If your kid is smart, motivated, well organized, and discipline, congratulation.
I will not hesitate to help my child to be the best of version of themselves.
It's not clear which test you're talking about. You probably mean the SAT, not the magnet entrance test for Blair, for two reasons. First, the MoCo magnet tests are proprietary and are not available to private test prep companies. In other words, the Pearson company designs the magnet test exclusively for MoCo which does not make old test versions public. Second, the magnet entrance tests are not scored in increments of several hundreds. An improvement of 300 points on the magnet entrance test is impossible.
If this post is real and not fake, then your are saying your kid improved 300 points on the SATs, she could not have improved by 300 points on the MoCo magnet entrance test.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 23:45
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
New poster here.
Does test preparation enhance the odd for your child to get into the Highly selective program? Yes.
Is it fair? My DC got a great education at Blair. SAT-2300+ and 9 AP-5.
Years ago, she was bored in our MS and told me everyday that she learned nothing in school. In 8th grade, her math teacher inspired and woke her up. She was interested in learning and wanted to go to the magnet schools. Although she was an all A student, I knew she could not pass the test. We spent a lot of money send her to a prep class. Her test score improved 300 during the preparation. Long story short, she is studying math in a top college now.
If your kid is smart, motivated, well organized, and discipline, congratulation.
I will not hesitate to help my child to be the best of version of themselves.
Does test preparation enhance the odd for your child to get into the Highly selective program? Yes.
Is it fair? My DC got a great education at Blair. SAT-2300+ and 9 AP-5.
Years ago, she was bored in our MS and told me everyday that she learned nothing in school. In 8th grade, her math teacher inspired and woke her up. She was interested in learning and wanted to go to the magnet schools. Although she was an all A student, I knew she could not pass the test. We spent a lot of money send her to a prep class. Her test score improved 300 during the preparation. Long story short, she is studying math in a top college now.
If your kid is smart, motivated, well organized, and discipline, congratulation.
I will not hesitate to help my child to be the best of version of themselves.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 16:57
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
Anonymous wrote:12:15, there's no need to be rude and insulting.
The SAT is different from the magnet tests, which are more like IQ tests. So if we all agree each kid probably has a cap on how high s/he can go on the SAT -- that no amount of prepping can turn a 1600 into a 2350 -- then this is even more true for the magnet test.
Why do some of us think kids may have individual limits? Both the SAT and the magnet tests have components that basically test reasoning and executive function, with the magnet test relying more on things like executive function. This is what is going to limit some kids, no matter the extensive prep. At least for the SAT you can memorize every card in that 1,000 vocabulary card deck. But increasing executive function is tough - studies show that those online brain exercise programs help you improve at the very specific exercises they make you do (like remembering sets of 3 European cities) but the overall impact on IQ is very much in doubt.
That said, it's certainly worth prepping by going though the MoCo prep book. This is so 1) your kid learns basic strategies like whether it pays or hurts to guess, and 2) your kid becomes more comfortable with this intimidating test. That's all my kids did, and they've each gotten into several magnets.
So I'm going to guess that test prep might possibly help some kids who are at the margin, if nothing else by increasing their comfort level because they know what to expect. But it's not going to make a low-scoring kid into a magnet student, and anyway I don't think that's a good outcome for the kid, if he can't keep up with the other kids.
+1
I'll add that the programs do screen applicants carefully. Report cards and teacher references are important and both contain information about a student's work ethic. So a successful candidate is likely to be a student who has excellent grades, a high MAP-R score etc. so they would by virtue of having good reading comprehension, math skills and writing skills (acquired/enhanced through hard work) be prepared for the test without having to take some special "prep" course.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 14:38
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:13:58 again. This is going to drive some of you nuts, if I'm right about who's posting here. But the latest research on adults and brain function shows that doing puzzles and brain teasers doesn't help, but exercise does improve brain function. Yes, you sports haters out there, exercise.
By all means buy your kid the vocabulary cards, because the SAT tests for vocabulary. But if you want to help your kid become a faster, more focussed thinker, you might want to let him leave his desk for some exercise.
Probably has the same small impact "test preparation" does... I see little correlation between professional athletes and great thinkers...
Who said anything about professional athletes? Not me. There's a wide range of athletic engagement, however, between the professional athlete and the kid whose mom chains him to his desk, obviously.
Here, read this: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121206131830.htm. If the link doesn't work, it's the article from 12/6/2012 entitled, "Fit Kids Finish First in the Classroom." Don'tmiss the part where it talks about how "middle school students in the best physical shape out score their classmates on standardized tests and take home better report cards."
When you're done, sure to check out the links to many corollary articles on the right of the page.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 14:18
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
Anonymous wrote:13:58 again. This is going to drive some of you nuts, if I'm right about who's posting here. But the latest research on adults and brain function shows that doing puzzles and brain teasers doesn't help, but exercise does improve brain function. Yes, you sports haters out there, exercise.
By all means buy your kid the vocabulary cards, because the SAT tests for vocabulary. But if you want to help your kid become a faster, more focussed thinker, you might want to let him leave his desk for some exercise.
Probably has the same small impact "test preparation" does... I see little correlation between professional athletes and great thinkers...
Anonymous
02/04/2013 14:04
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
13:58 again. This is going to drive some of you nuts, if I'm right about who's posting here. But the latest research on adults and brain function shows that doing puzzles and brain teasers doesn't help, but exercise does improve brain function. Yes, you sports haters out there, exercise.
By all means buy your kid the vocabulary cards, because the SAT tests for vocabulary. But if you want to help your kid become a faster, more focussed thinker, you might want to let him leave his desk for some exercise.
By all means buy your kid the vocabulary cards, because the SAT tests for vocabulary. But if you want to help your kid become a faster, more focussed thinker, you might want to let him leave his desk for some exercise.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 13:58
Subject: Middle School Magnet Test
12:15, there's no need to be rude and insulting.
The SAT is different from the magnet tests, which are more like IQ tests. So if we all agree each kid probably has a cap on how high s/he can go on the SAT -- that no amount of prepping can turn a 1600 into a 2350 -- then this is even more true for the magnet test.
Why do some of us think kids may have individual limits? Both the SAT and the magnet tests have components that basically test reasoning and executive function, with the magnet test relying more on things like executive function. This is what is going to limit some kids, no matter the extensive prep. At least for the SAT you can memorize every card in that 1,000 vocabulary card deck. But increasing executive function is tough - studies show that those online brain exercise programs help you improve at the very specific exercises they make you do (like remembering sets of 3 European cities) but the overall impact on IQ is very much in doubt.
That said, it's certainly worth prepping by going though the MoCo prep book. This is so 1) your kid learns basic strategies like whether it pays or hurts to guess, and 2) your kid becomes more comfortable with this intimidating test. That's all my kids did, and they've each gotten into several magnets.
So I'm going to guess that test prep might possibly help some kids who are at the margin, if nothing else by increasing their comfort level because they know what to expect. But it's not going to make a low-scoring kid into a magnet student, and anyway I don't think that's a good outcome for the kid, if he can't keep up with the other kids.
The SAT is different from the magnet tests, which are more like IQ tests. So if we all agree each kid probably has a cap on how high s/he can go on the SAT -- that no amount of prepping can turn a 1600 into a 2350 -- then this is even more true for the magnet test.
Why do some of us think kids may have individual limits? Both the SAT and the magnet tests have components that basically test reasoning and executive function, with the magnet test relying more on things like executive function. This is what is going to limit some kids, no matter the extensive prep. At least for the SAT you can memorize every card in that 1,000 vocabulary card deck. But increasing executive function is tough - studies show that those online brain exercise programs help you improve at the very specific exercises they make you do (like remembering sets of 3 European cities) but the overall impact on IQ is very much in doubt.
That said, it's certainly worth prepping by going though the MoCo prep book. This is so 1) your kid learns basic strategies like whether it pays or hurts to guess, and 2) your kid becomes more comfortable with this intimidating test. That's all my kids did, and they've each gotten into several magnets.
So I'm going to guess that test prep might possibly help some kids who are at the margin, if nothing else by increasing their comfort level because they know what to expect. But it's not going to make a low-scoring kid into a magnet student, and anyway I don't think that's a good outcome for the kid, if he can't keep up with the other kids.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 12:15
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
dc was accepted to both MS programs. we spent an hour going over the sample test booklet with dc a couple of days before the test so that dc had an idea of what to expect. I would consider that test prep I guess but we did not do more than that. One test was "Raven" which is what they use for the second grade global screening. Does anyone "study" for a test like that? The other test (for Eastern) is reading comprehension. I am not sure how you "prep" for that. The test for Takoma Park included a Math test, but it isn't clear to me how you would prepare for that test in advance. There is also an essay for Eastern. I am sure there are things you could do to improve your child's chances of success but I amnot sure how much of a difference that would make in most cases.
Sorry to burst your bubble. It is very easy to prepare for tests with subsections in preAlgebra, reading comprehension, synonyms/antonyms, grammer, vocabulary and writing. This is not rocket science. Let me warn you, the closer to the test date you begin (e.g., night before), the less effective the results. For students working hard, studying year round for their courses in English, Reading and Mathematics the easier the final preparation.
If you attended school through college it's not difficult to comprehend how one can prepare for a test in the domains of prealgebra, algebra, geometry, grammar, vocabulary and reading. Now, some kids are lazy, unfocused and lack self preserverance so it doesn't really matter in those instances. These kids would prefer video games and the TV year round.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 12:04
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
Anonymous wrote:Is there are scientific difference between prepping at home, at Kaplan, with a tutor or some other method?
Some students have increased their scores (implies taken the test at least once before) 300 points by each and/or all of the methods above. Does it matter the agent (e.g., home, tutor parlor, workbook) or is it the process (attentiveness, focus, drive, discipline, steadiness and repetition) that's required that really matters in the end?
In other words, if you are a lazy bum it does not matter how many workbooks you buy, repeat tests, or checks signed for test prep -- the benefit of your preparation will be modest at best.
Sure, there is a "difference" between prepping alone and taking a course. The study was designed to specifically monitor kids in a controlled experiment taking a defined course, testing before and after and noting the difference.
I don't think there is any doubt that whats studied by a clueless kid at home can and does vary greatly from whats covered in a course.
Anonymous
02/04/2013 12:03
Subject: Re:Middle School Magnet Test
dc was accepted to both MS programs. we spent an hour going over the sample test booklet with dc a couple of days before the test so that dc had an idea of what to expect. I would consider that test prep I guess but we did not do more than that. One test was "Raven" which is what they use for the second grade global screening. Does anyone "study" for a test like that? The other test (for Eastern) is reading comprehension. I am not sure how you "prep" for that. The test for Takoma Park included a Math test, but it isn't clear to me how you would prepare for that test in advance. There is also an essay for Eastern. I am sure there are things you could do to improve your child's chances of success but I amnot sure how much of a difference that would make in most cases.