<p>This article of a mom-aged publisher taking the SATs (and various prep strategies) to model for her kids made me laugh out loud a few times. Other parts were depressing…particularly the fact that all of this work did not have its intended effect of motivating her son for studying for the SATs. </p>
<p>"Three decades later, she’s proposing to loft herself into the upper reaches of the ninety-ninth percentile. (Stier can never quite figure out why there isn’t a hundredth percentile.) " This may explain why Stier can only manage a 530 in math :)</p>
<p>Final highest writing score after multiple SATs as 800. I was happy to see her be able to score an 800 here since she is a publisher :)</p>
<p>The SAT scores correlates with the test taker’s age. Her writing score of 800 is pathetic. It should be 500 + (10 * 360)+ = 4100+.</p>
<p>JHU CTY uses the following formula to qualify super-talented students: minimum 700 if the student is under 13. Minimum 700 + (10 * number of months after 13).</p>
<p>My oldest aced the test with minimal prep. My youngest took it once and her scores certainly don’t indicate the SAT is going to come so easy! I did read her essay written on the topic in the article and oh boy is it dreadful-and she even got an 8! </p>
<p>My daughter is very bitter about the whole thing but hey it’s just one of those things. I told her I passed the CPA exam when I knew a lot less than other people like her father for one-but I am a good test taker. Is it fair that people never pass that exam that are much better at accounting than me-nope. But that is how it is-there has to be some way to somehow assess large numbers of people who come from all kinds of schools.</p>
<p>She actually is fortunate to come from a family that can provide whatever help can be given if she wants it. So far she has resisted studying in any way and I told her that if she chooses not to prep those scores aren’t getting her into the schools on her list. I am OK with whatever she chooses to do but she at least has those options-most kids aren’t that fortunate.</p>
<p>The system is bizarre isn’t it? I have two children who are both very good students and bright kids. I have two very different SAT scores. It’s almost like an experiment.</p>
<p>I would rather laugh at the insanity of it all than rail at the stupidity of it all-it’s better for my blood pressure.</p>
<p>I’m with you Pepper. I enjoyed the article and found it laughably funny. Not only does she underscore some of the insanity that underlies the SAT but she also brings a real sense of humor to what it feels like to be an adult in the midst of caffeine deprivation and flagging energy while 17-year olds are waking up out of their clouds and bringing the force of their young minds to the test. </p>
<p>I made the mistake of reading through these comments before reading the article and had no idea that the article was actually a book review. There’s little chance that I’m going to run out and purchase “The Perfect Score Project” which strikes me as less a mission to inspire a reluctant son to study for the SAT than a mission to write a book and make money, but I found Elizabeth Kolbert to be a deft and likeable writer. </p>
<p>I’m gonna brag here because I don’t have all that much to brag about myself these days. I took the SAT (simulated) at local tutoring center and scored a 2340. Yeah, for my generation. Very close to what I got on the SAT and writing test in my day.</p>
<p>But, in all fairness, I’ve been working with my own kids for nearly 15 years on these tests. When I self tested myself some years ago, I did not do so well, and decided to hone my skills on this. I also tutored one of my kids in the first semester of calc that he had to skip and start with Calc2 and that brought my math scores way up. I was a math major, and it still took that focus and review to get up there. </p>
<p>Picture me huffing into the palm of my hand right now, folks.</p>
<p>Not those of us who don’t have to deal with it! My sympathies to those who do. Just imagine all the new revenue generated by all the new test prep materials that will be needed. </p>
<p>I would love to see the tax-exempt status of the College Board examined and I would love to see the connections that exist between all the players-I wonder if anyone has ever followed the money. </p>
<p>The SAT gets a lot of hate because its an “aptitude test” (which is really just a euphinism for IQ test) but like seriously is there anything else besides grades that scientifically correlates with performance in schools/ jobs? Essays, leadership, ECs aren’t scientifically validated to my knowledge. It’s not perfect but it’s as close to perfect as we can get, and sure a lot better (and scientifically sound) than relying on essays that people pay for anyways. </p>
<p>It’s like these days society is so liberal that they can’t accept the fact that some people are just smarter than others. It’s like being offended by the truth is the worst thing. </p>
<p>Of course, nobody is going to say that this test measures IQ, because IQ itself is controversial because people get offended when they know that they are ____ percentile. OF course, nobody is inferior, it’s all environment, LOL that’s a whole different story. </p>
<p>^^^But that “A” in the SAT no longer stands for “aptitude,” as it once did; and if it truly were an aptitude test, you couldn’t really “prep” for it either. I’ve never heard the current test’s creators claim it’s in any way, shape or form an IQ test.</p>
<p>SAT originally stood for “Scholastic Achievement Test,” but in 1947 it was changed to “Scholastic Aptitude Test.” Then, in 1990, the folks at the College Board used their critical reasoning skills and came to the conclusion that a coachable exam could not be called an “aptitude” test. So, these days SAT officially stands for…nothing.</p>