This is all so simple.
The CogAt is supposed to test aptitude. If the exact questions are practiced, then it does not yield accurate results. It is supposed to test the student's ability to figure it out for themselves.

An earlier poster mentioned test prep for the SAT. That is quite different. It has not been the Scholastic Aptitude Test for many, many years. It was changed to the Scholastic ASSESSMENT Test and now it is only the SAT. It mostly tests knowledge, reading and math skills that can be acquired through instruction. It has many,many more questions on it than the CogAt, and it changes every year-I think. The practice sessions can identify weaknesses that can be improved through practice and study.
Now, if the practice sessions included the exact same SAT that was being given with the exact same questions, that would be a problem. However, that is not the practice with the SAT.

I get it. It's ok for teachers to prep but cheating if their pupils and children prep.

If online instruction doesn't work why is it cheating to use online instruction for prepping for coGAT?

I'm missing a piece or does someone have faulty logic?

Professor Sol Khan does not charge the millions he has touched daily a nickel.

I look no further than all my children for the evidence I need.

On a peripheral note most of the FCPS teachers I know secretly prep extensively with Khan (child of recent American immigrant) and Brainpop in their bedroom closets with the doors locked and the shades pulled down.

I disclose my K - 8 FCPS teacher friends may be outliers and anomalies in our outstanding educational system.

"Oh, honey, come over here and see this! And bring the popcorn!"

"Why, what's going on?"

"Haha, some poster was trying to have an intelligent conversation on test prep for the CogAT!"

"Really? You mean there is someone out there who doesn't know that there is no logic or reason in the Land of Agenda? Hahahahaha!"

"Haha, unbelievable, right?!"

"Too funny!"

And the previous comments are from K12 incorp, which makes money off of on-line instruction.

There is zero evidence that online instruction actually works.

FCPS teacher claims getting instruction from digital teachers and online enterprises is unethical and constitutes cheating and scamming coGAT since a child could theoretically get exposed to concepts, materials and questions on the test ahead of time.

I have tried that experiment and it amazes me to no end that a digital teacher does a much better job of educating all my young children today than their tax paid face-to-face teachers who brag they provide a top notch education here.

These are the children speaking and their unabridged opinion.

If FCPS returned back our tax dollars annually we would provide a better education for one tenth the cost. There are a variety of free online services in reading, math, and writing that do a much better job at K through 8. Just ask Sol Khan.

Anonymous wrote:
Kids in appropriate classes in FCPS all have access to a first rate education.

If I don't like FCPS, I have other choices: private school, religious school, or homeschool.

No need to act as though AAP is the only way to get a good education in FCPS.

You can say this as many times as you want and it still won't make it true. There are FCPS that are underperforming. I don't think AAP is the solution to the significant problems in those schools, but nor does everyone have the choice of private, religious or homeschooling. For some people, clearly not anyone you know, both parents need to work in order for the family to afford basic necessities, and unfortunately those people tend to live in the areas with the underperforming FCPS. I hope you are never in that situation where your choices are severely limited by socioeconomic factors and some entitled person who has no clue how the less fortunate among us live tries to tell you "we all have choices, you can not heat your home in winter so you can homeschool, move, give up your child for adoption..........."

Teachers know that the test does not matter. Gbrs is where it is at

The only parents or teachers who want children to into the SAT cold are those with children taking the same test.

Do no trust any teacher advising you not to prepare for a test the results of which will condemn you to second rate and unchallenging educational tract.

I find it funny. When teacher is on the ropes she quickly wants the thread to die or to wrap things up.

I think the beached whale was menopausal.

Sorry for the digression.