It's hilarious listening to those with children who work hard academically and read voraciously claim they are natural gifted geniuses with perfect scores obtained solely from their morning breakfast without prepping. That's absolute nonsense. Try not working hard and reading voraciously and see how your kids will do on tests and exams! Stop your foolishness, most of us know test prep is not only about taking a 24h course paid for with your VISA card. And because you did not pay for a 24 h course does not imply your child is naturally gifted and smart and did not prep. What absurdity. And you think google is the arbiter of truth and knowledge?

Kids who read a lot don't need a class to learn vocabulary. They will learn most of what they need to learn through context and will not need to memorize lists of words.

But this is supposed to be testing for a gifted program - which doesn't exist as a gifted program any longer. If this was truly a gifted program, which I wish it was, then the testing should be IQ testing and not an achievement test that you prep for. Since this AAP is not a gifted program, in the true sense, then this is what you get! Bickering over test prepping.

I didn't prep my DC and their score maxed out both tests. My DC needs a real gifted program and this is what I'm left with - a program that meets her needs a little better than her base school but not exactly what she should really be getting. The curriculum is still moving too slow for her. So, you can argue all day long about whether or not it's fair to test prep, but they need to issue actual IQ tests, have a strict cut off and call it a day.

Another lie. Then your DC test prepped herself.

Reading voraciously is test prep for a vocabulary test. Big time test prep. Anyone who claims otherwise is a fool.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test prep is studying to do well on a particular test. Everyone knows that and pretending otherwise is disingenous.

Since these are ability tests, not achievement tests, teaching your children how to take the test ahead of time is cheating and distorts their scores.

Isn't SAT ability test not achievement test?

No.

Really? http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html Quoting: "The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.: Guess the testing companies have it wrong, too. Now, do you still think it is wrong to prep for the SATs?

Well, that's what the ACT people say, but the SAT people say this:

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms.

I'd say the SAT people know more about the SAT than the ACT people do.

"Today, the SAT is the benchmark standardized assessment of the critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college."

That's like saying the CogAT tests what you've learned in school. For example, the SAT has a vocabulary section. You don't take a vocabulary class in school that tells you the meanings of the words that WILL be on the test and then you later show how well you learned the lessons taught in that class.

FCPS teaches vocabulary now.

You are missing the point. Unless FCPS teaches the precise vocabulary being tested, it isn't that helpful.

what is your point? I'm trying to make the point that the way the system is set up it encourages this type of behavior in parents. It's out of control. And yes, my DC, by IQ standards, falls in to the genius category. My DC is still not receiving services to meet her needs because of this setup. Bring back an actual gifted program and raise the standards in the gen ed classes.

If you have a kid in AAP now chances are good you have no firsthand experience of what the fabled FCPS "actual gifted program" entailed. What services, exactly, do you believe your genius DC is missing out on in AAP? What needs are unmet and why are do you believe they are more important than those of other children in the program? How can you be sure it would make a difference? Judging by how such children are described here by proud parents, they are unique prodigies who need individually tailored programs. Is that what you think you'd receive if merely extra smart and advanced students were kicked back to Gen Ed?

Read, read, read and you'll do fine. The question above would be no problem for a voracious reader. No need for test prep. And reading can be free, unlike the expensive programs listed above.

(And, sure, test prep can be less expensive and even free, but you'll learn much more from reading novels, biographies, plays, poetry, editorials, articles than you ever could from test prep.)

Anonymous wrote:

But this is supposed to be testing for a gifted program - which doesn't exist as a gifted program any longer. If this was truly a gifted program, which I wish it was, then the testing should be IQ testing and not an achievement test that you prep for. Since this AAP is not a gifted program, in the true sense, then this is what you get! Bickering over test prepping.

I didn't prep my DC and their score maxed out both tests. My DC needs a real gifted program and this is what I'm left with - a program that meets her needs a little better than her base school but not exactly what she should really be getting. The curriculum is still moving too slow for her. So, you can argue all day long about whether or not it's fair to test prep, but they need to issue actual IQ tests, have a strict cut off and call it a day.

Genius kid who aced tests? Check! No prep? Check! AAP is not a real gifted program? Check, check, check, check!

Great job PP, hit the showers.

what is your point? I'm trying to make the point that the way the system is set up it encourages this type of behavior in parents. It's out of control. And yes, my DC, by IQ standards, falls in to the genius category. My DC is still not receiving services to meet her needs because of this setup. Bring back an actual gifted program and raise the standards in the gen ed classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test prep is studying to do well on a particular test. Everyone knows that and pretending otherwise is disingenous.

Since these are ability tests, not achievement tests, teaching your children how to take the test ahead of time is cheating and distorts their scores.

Isn't SAT ability test not achievement test?

No.

Really? http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html Quoting: "The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.: Guess the testing companies have it wrong, too. Now, do you still think it is wrong to prep for the SATs?

Well, that's what the ACT people say, but the SAT people say this:

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms.

I'd say the SAT people know more about the SAT than the ACT people do.

"Today, the SAT is the benchmark standardized assessment of the critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college."

That's like saying the CogAT tests what you've learned in school. For example, the SAT has a vocabulary section. You don't take a vocabulary class in school that tells you the meanings of the words that WILL be on the test and then you later show how well you learned the lessons taught in that class.

FCPS teaches vocabulary now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test prep is studying to do well on a particular test. Everyone knows that and pretending otherwise is disingenous.

Since these are ability tests, not achievement tests, teaching your children how to take the test ahead of time is cheating and distorts their scores.

Isn't SAT ability test not achievement test?

No.

Really? http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html Quoting: "The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.: Guess the testing companies have it wrong, too. Now, do you still think it is wrong to prep for the SATs?

Well, that's what the ACT people say, but the SAT people say this:

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms.

I'd say the SAT people know more about the SAT than the ACT people do.

"Today, the SAT is the benchmark standardized assessment of the critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college."

That's like saying the CogAT tests what you've learned in school. For example, the SAT has a vocabulary section. You don't take a vocabulary class in school that tells you the meanings of the words that WILL be on the test and then you later show how well you learned the lessons taught in that class.

This.

Here is a sample question on the SAT:

Hoping to ------ the dispute, negotiators proposed a compromise that they felt would be ------ to both labor and management.

(A) enforce..useful
(B) end..divisive
(C) overcome..unattractive
(D) extend..satisfactory
(E) resolve..acceptable


You don't take a class that teaches that vocabulary - it is just based on life experience and general knowledge. Kind of like...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test prep is studying to do well on a particular test. Everyone knows that and pretending otherwise is disingenous.

Since these are ability tests, not achievement tests, teaching your children how to take the test ahead of time is cheating and distorts their scores.

Isn't SAT ability test not achievement test?

No.

Really? http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html Quoting: "The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.: Guess the testing companies have it wrong, too. Now, do you still think it is wrong to prep for the SATs?

Well, that's what the ACT people say, but the SAT people say this:

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms.

I'd say the SAT people know more about the SAT than the ACT people do.

"Today, the SAT is the benchmark standardized assessment of the critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college."

That's like saying the CogAT tests what you've learned in school. For example, the SAT has a vocabulary section. You don't take a vocabulary class in school that tells you the meanings of the words that WILL be on the test and then you later show how well you learned the lessons taught in that class.

But this is supposed to be testing for a gifted program - which doesn't exist as a gifted program any longer. If this was truly a gifted program, which I wish it was, then the testing should be IQ testing and not an achievement test that you prep for. Since this AAP is not a gifted program, in the true sense, then this is what you get! Bickering over test prepping.

I didn't prep my DC and their score maxed out both tests. My DC needs a real gifted program and this is what I'm left with - a program that meets her needs a little better than her base school but not exactly what she should really be getting. The curriculum is still moving too slow for her. So, you can argue all day long about whether or not it's fair to test prep, but they need to issue actual IQ tests, have a strict cut off and call it a day.

Genius kid who aced tests? Check! No prep? Check! AAP is not a real gifted program? Check, check, check, check!

Great job PP, hit the showers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test prep is studying to do well on a particular test. Everyone knows that and pretending otherwise is disingenous.

Since these are ability tests, not achievement tests, teaching your children how to take the test ahead of time is cheating and distorts their scores.

Isn't SAT ability test not achievement test?

No.

Really? http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html Quoting: "The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.: Guess the testing companies have it wrong, too. Now, do you still think it is wrong to prep for the SATs?

Well, that's what the ACT people say, but the SAT people say this:

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms.

I'd say the SAT people know more about the SAT than the ACT people do.

"Today, the SAT is the benchmark standardized assessment of the critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college."

But this is supposed to be testing for a gifted program - which doesn't exist as a gifted program any longer. If this was truly a gifted program, which I wish it was, then the testing should be IQ testing and not an achievement test that you prep for. Since this AAP is not a gifted program, in the true sense, then this is what you get! Bickering over test prepping.

I didn't prep my DC and their score maxed out both tests. My DC needs a real gifted program and this is what I'm left with - a program that meets her needs a little better than her base school but not exactly what she should really be getting. The curriculum is still moving too slow for her. So, you can argue all day long about whether or not it's fair to test prep, but they need to issue actual IQ tests, have a strict cut off and call it a day.

Anonymous wrote:
Google the words "test prep" to understand what people are talking about when they use the phrase. It is a pretty specific way of studying that is different from general hard work and study. You'll note from your Google search that it is focused on specific standardized tests.

You could use the phrase "test prep" in a broader fashion if you choose, but the average person will think of the type of items that show up when you google the term. When people ask for recommendations for test prep on here, they are usually asking for the type that focuses on learning about the types of questions and the formats of specific tests. They want to know how to get a high score on a test.

I did, mostly I got pages and pages of advertisement for test prep courses including:

BenchPrep
Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services
College Board
C2 Education
Grockit
Knewton
Kaplan, Inc.
Manhattan Review
The Princeton Review
Revolution prep
StudyPoint
Sylvan Learning

Seems like an accepted, well practiced, mainstream program. At least on google, if not DCUM.

It's certainly a big business.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Test prep is studying to do well on a particular test. Everyone knows that and pretending otherwise is disingenous.

Since these are ability tests, not achievement tests, teaching your children how to take the test ahead of time is cheating and distorts their scores.

Isn't SAT ability test not achievement test?

No.

Really? http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html Quoting: "The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.: Guess the testing companies have it wrong, too. Now, do you still think it is wrong to prep for the SATs?

Well, that's what the ACT people say, but the SAT people say this:

The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge. It tests your knowledge of reading, writing and math — subjects that are taught every day in high school classrooms.

I'd say the SAT people know more about the SAT than the ACT people do.

"Today, the SAT is the benchmark standardized assessment of the critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college."