<p>Blue Bayou</p>
<p>If one error on math SAT I = 770, how did my son get 790?</p>
<p>Cross-posted with Opie --</p>
<p>Your point about not being taught the material is very well stated and valid IMHO. I did not mean to suggest otherwise; nor do I have any political or personal view on NCLB (no standing here bc I've never had a child in public school). </p>
<p>I was just wondering what counter-arguments might be advanced using the bare numbers. It seems so easy to use them as "proof" of whatever agenda might be paramount. For example, just look at what CB is saying about the drop -- "you just didn't take it enough times." (No self-interest there!) </p>
<p>There is much speculation as to cause, but I don't think we can draw any definitive correlations. What would help most is if CB listens to those who have taken the test.</p>
<p>But I do agree that kids who are minimalists in their writing often seem to be penalized in grading. My son is very terse and the kids who produce volumes seem to get better grades, assessmemts etc. Sometimes, he has probably failed to include important info and detail, but to an extent, I think kids are rewarded for blathering on. I'm hoping this will change in college, as it's more difficult to express oneself well and tersely than it is to ramble.</p>
<p>^^ The documented fact that women typically use more words than men in their communications is one of the factors being cited to explain why SAT writing/essay scores are lower for boys.</p>
<p>Esq,</p>
<p>One of my best classes was Stats in college (A+) There's an old saying that figures don't lie, only liers can figure. :) </p>
<p>I do find it funny that now days they encourage that second attempt. When S (senior in college now) took his SAT, they advised against a retake as they felt only a 10% improvement was likely. He had a 1510, a 1530, 1550 or 1600 was not going to make enough difference in the offers he got for college. </p>
<p>My D did take it(new one) twice 6 months apart and did improve math as now she covered more (not all) math topics. However her score was about the same (10% improved) overall. Again, absolutely no difference in offers. Both kids NMFs. </p>
<p>The new test is long, it would be nice if they were allowed to bring a snack and break for 10 minutes between sections as it would help concentration. Low Blood sugar does effect cognitive skills.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The new test is long, it would be nice if they were allowed to bring a snack and break for 10 minutes between sections as it would help concentration.
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</p>
<p>In fact, it is so nice that it is one of the suggestions of ... The College Board. One problem is that the tests are offered at high schools where locals make up their own rules as they go--not surprising as they are HS employees. A lot of the horror stories that have been reported about non-breaks are caused by rogue employees who run late, and afraid of missing the all important feeding time of Fluffy the Cat and the reruns of Andre Rieu on PBS, skip the all important breaks. </p>
<p>Anyone should check the rules BEFORE the test, PRINT a copy of the rule, and HAND IT to the incompetent proctors. The breaks are a right not a gift. </p>
<p>*Test Day</p>
<p>Tips to help you do your best"</p>
<p>Be well-rested and ready to go. Get a good night's sleep the night before the test. </p>
<p>Eat breakfast. You'll be at the test center for several hours and you're likely to get hungry. </p>
<p>Bring acceptable Photo ID and your SAT Admission Ticket. </p>
<p>Bring two No. 2 pencils and a good eraser — a pencil is required for the multiple choice questions and the essay. Mechanical pencils are not allowed. Pens are not allowed. </p>
<p>Bring a calculator with fresh batteries. </p>
<p>*Bring snacks. You will get a short break at the end of each hour of testing time. You can eat or drink any snacks you have brought with you during these breaks. A healthy snack will go a long way toward keeping you alert during the entire test. * * </p>
<p>(1) Writing: My son always had poor fine motor skills. When he wrote everything by hand, you could see how he was limiting what he said to the bare minimum number of words, because he hated to write, physically. Learning to type improved his writing immensely and immediately. But then, he had to practice a lot to get his handwriting ability up to snuff for school exams and the SAT. (Worked pretty well, though.)</p>
<p>(2) # Scoring 2400: I think marite posted a number around 970 a few weeks ago. It was widely reported that 107 kids out of 300,000 got 2400 at the first testing date in March 2005; that would seem to imply a lower total (like, mid-500s), but with re-takes and improved coaching maybe the 900s makes sense for a full year, and probably more than that for 2006.</p>
<p>xiggie, </p>
<p>Yea, that's pretty much the story during testing for my kids too. "I'm late so you guys are screwed". </p>
<p>And I love college board and the SAT. Both kids got fantastic deals at schools where we could have never sent them due to that NMF standing. I have more problems with things like NCLB because it does nothing for college for a family. If it did, I'd rethink it, but I just see it as a "feel good" name for an ffffffin roadblock to my kids college plans.</p>
<p>JHS:
I just saw this post from tokenadult on the Harvard forum, using stats from 2003 (which of course use the old SAT):</p>
<p>
[quote]
there was a running total of 5,030 students who had combined (single-sitting) scores of 1550 or higher (939 having scores of 1600) and a running total of 15,016 with combined (single-sitting) scores of 1500 or higher.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I sent snacks with my son and he was given breaks even though they started the testing 45 min. late. I think the snack breaks probably did help him. It's really unfair to kids who get hypoglycemic to not allow snack breaks.</p>
<p>My D's classroom during the SAT did not have a clock. She never wears a watch and couldn't estimate her time during the writing section. She barely got a conclusion on her essay and knows she could have improved with better time management. We did see later on that TCB suggested bringing a watch. Who would've thunk a high school classroom would not have a clock?</p>
<p>"One of my best classes was Stats in college (A+) There's an old saying that figures don't lie, only liers can figure."</p>
<p>LOL Opie -- just why I went to law school -- to avoid math! And one of my best classes in law school was Trial Practice. There's an old saying that you can find stats to support both sides of every argument -- sometimes even the same stat! :)</p>