<p>What are you talking about? That has been out for at least a year now. My brother got a 3 in AP colors and shapes, but he had a 1 in AP farm animals; I guess thats my fault for teaching him that cows go 'moo' and ducks go 'quack'.</p>
<p>But seriously, I don't find this to be all too bad. There are many kids who already prep for the sats in 7th grade. This may be an improvement on that because it is supposedly going to test over lower level material.</p>
<p><em>snorts</em> what about 1st graders?</p>
<p>Unbelievable. That's all I have to say.</p>
<p>At the rate education is going now, it will no longer be recognizable as enlightening of the mind. Where is this all going? I hate to use the slippery slope argument, but I see a road ahead littered with minds wasted on mindless standardized testing. Where is creativity and exploration? It's dead. It's dead.</p>
<p>Hasn't anybody heard of the EXPLORE, the test for the same age group already published by ACT? It hasn't caused such severe harm, and probably helps some students be identified as students who can try more interesting (because they are more advanced) courses.</p>
<p>I used to be a teacher. I did not use standardized tests to help me determine the level of work or pace that a student needed.</p>
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Hasn't anybody heard of the EXPLORE, the test for the same age group already published by ACT? It hasn't caused such severe harm, and probably helps some students be identified as students who can try more interesting (because they are more advanced) courses.
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<p>I've heard of it, but I'm assuming that the number of people who take the EXPLORE or even PLAN doesn't match the number of kids who take the PSAT based on my experience. Although I'm not much of a proponent for standardized testing, I feel as if the ACT is more academic and less of a "trick" than the PSAT and SAT. It's very straightforward and what you need to know; it matches more of a placement exam given. </p>
<p>The PSAT? Not so much. The math portion covers only algebra and geometry and is just based off of trickery (see doughnut question example.) In fact, based on my PSAT results, I probably shouldn't have been in any AP English class. I got 4's on both AP English exams.</p>
<p>I don't understand the wave of negativity regarding this announcement. </p>
<p>Students have to take tests during their entire career, if is not the PSAT, it's the PLAN, or a number of tests with fancy names such as the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills. </p>
<p>From my vantage point, it is GOOD news to have a test that will compete DIRECTLY with the inferior products of the ACT of Iowa City. Oh, here is that Iowa again! Why do we feel less threatened by a midwestern organization that by the New York/New Jersey TCB/ETS? Why don't we question the money interests of the ACT? Do we think they'll (Iowans) be nice after gouging the country for corn and foodstuff? </p>
<p>The best news is of this announcement is that this MIGHT wake us earlier and make us face how desperately behind our schools are falling after elementary schools. It is also good to have a BETTER test at an earlier stage. </p>
<p>There is no doubt in my mind that the more SAT and less ACT is indeed good news for students, and a minimum that competition between the two should be positive.</p>
<p>lol, I predict by the time we (class of 2008,2009,2010, etc) have children, collegeboard will have tests for middle schoolers and maybe extend it to elementary school students.</p>
<p>This is ridiculous. I feel bad for our children already...</p>
<p>I can just hear all the self obsessed parents now, "my <jimmy> got a PERFECT SCORE on his PSAT! We are driving to Harvard next week to interview." Blagh.</jimmy></p>
<p>For those of you who took the SAT in 7th/8th grade, I am curious as to how you did.</p>
<p>You don't have to take it or make your kids take it. I never took the SAT in 7th/8th grade and certainly didn't get a "head start", yet I have a 2300+ score. </p>
<p>Parents, especially the overzealous ones, should just chill out and not force their kids to participate in this money grubbing tactic.</p>
<p>y would u be so desperate to take the PSAT in 8th grade when u dont even know 3/4 of the material? u probably have no life cuz theres no way i would take a test just to fail.</p>
<p>I would like to point out that in 8th grade, I had almost no notion of what I wanted to do in life. To a certain extent, I still don't. I think it's ridiculous to implement this test for 8th graders. By specially tailoring it to a certain age group, it just becomes a "voluntary" test that's mandatory for students to take. To me, it's sort of like how SAT IIs are "recommended" in certain colleges. Not taking the SAT IIs would be incredibly stupid unless you had some sort of hook or greatly exceed the basic requirements.</p>
<p>Some snooty sophomore at my high school told me he got a 2150 when he took it in the 7th grade. Which makes me laugh, because that was my final score as I was applying to college.</p>
<p>I have many other friends who've taken the big SAT I while they were in the 7th grade.</p>
<p>So, why not? Revamp this thing and unleash it on the populace.</p>
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Some snooty sophomore at my high school told me he got a 2150 when he took it in the 7th grade. Which makes me laugh, because that was my final score as I was applying to college.
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<p>Well certainly there's a difference between getting a 2150 in the 7th grade and a 2150 during senior year. Its very possible that he was looked at as a genius. This could win extra points with adcoms.</p>
<p>Overall, I think the benefits outweighs the costs. With the new plan, students are likely to get more prep for the SAT at an earlier age. Right now what happens is that a lot of HS seniors and juniors, despite getting great grades, get schooled by the SAT. Then many of these students frantically cram for the next few months hoping to unrealistically raise their score by several hundred points.</p>
<p>@xiggi</p>
<p>And how is the ACT "inferior products"?</p>
<p>This is really pathetic on collegeboard's part. The sad thing is that they know some parents will actually pay for this bs and force their kids to take it.</p>
<p>bs, that's what it is. And for the record, i got like a 410 verbal, 450 math on my first practice SAT in 7th grade. Who gives a fooey? For goodness sakes, this is ridiculous.</p>
<p>What really bothers me is that CollegeBoard says they're a NON-PROFIT company (as does ACT). The day I believe CollegeBoard is non-profit (more than just on paper) is the day I decide to take AP Colors and Shapes, AP Farm Animals, AP Kickball, and AP Show and Tell for college credit at Harvard, after I'm admitted as a freshman, after I graduated in the bottom half of my class. Enough said.</p>
<p>Seriously, how could a non-profit organization charge $84 a single AP exam?! Non-profit? Yeah, right. It's not the PSAT and the SAT; it's the P$AT and the $AT for them. CollegeBoard=$$$$$.</p>