Here’s my cynical take. I would think that there are smart people at CB who probably realize or suspect that offering summer test dates will not necessary make them more money. On the contrary, it could cause them money. Without the burden of other school work, kids could do better and might opt to take less sittings because of it. At least if the students continue to take about the same number of tests, their cost probably would go up by offering more test dates. It is more plausible that offering a course with test for a lot more money is a better way to increase revenue and this is the pilot program for it. I think they probably knew that there would be a push back, thus the tiny pilot program. If they are truly care about fair and equitable testing, how could they possibly come up with such arrangement? They surely notice the amount of money being spent in the test prep industry.</p>
<p>It is not fair that I am driving Audi instead of Mercedes, while others have an opportunity to drive Mercedes paying more money for it.<br>
I also would not mind a diamond ring for couple mlns $$
Also, I would like to point out that it is not fair for all of us to live in the USA while so many are living in …Cuba. We have opportunities that they do not have…
I do not see much difference between these argumenst and argument in this thread.
LIfe is not fair, but living is still a very attractive condition as some are dead too early, which is not fair either.</p>
<p>Ds2, a rising senior, has taken the test once and, at this point, will only take it once. He did really well, though he came 10 points shy of a certain psychological threshold that he would have loved to hit. But I’ve discouraged him from taking the SAT a second time because he’s already got a great score and has too many irons in the fire once school starts (a fall sport, spring sport and tons of leadership stuff, not to mention college apps). </p>
<p>IF there had been a summer test, I would have let him take it again. I think the extra six months alone likely would have yielded a bit of a gain in CR, his lowest score (his only sitting was in January). So, our family would be counter to your take of a CB hypothesis. But I do think you may be on to something!</p>
<p>Yds, for me, I would forego all the Junior test dates and let my kids start taking the test in the summer. Probably, July for SAT 2s and August as the first SAT 1. October and November would be my backups. Yes it is just hypothesis.</p>
<p>“Unjust to those who want to take it this August”
That is what I have a problem with. A particular SAT test date should not restricted to a few students, regardless of whether they can afford the "privilege of the elite test prep camp. And anyone who equates posts objecting to the circumstances of when and who is being offered the chance to take this test to “car envy” simply does not get it. I suspect that millions of students would like the opportunity to take that 4.5 hrs test on a Sat morning in Aug when they are not exhausted from lack of sleep.</p>
<p>Not as moronic as suggesting that there are more cheating risks at inner city high school. But, hey, I think I get it where you are coming from.</p>
<p>"The test prep programs are a joke. "
of course they are, but the SAT is NOT a joke. It has a very large effect on where students are accepted.
“They won’t do any better or worse because they took it in June instead of May.”
The discussion is about taking it in Aug, when students are NOT in school, not May vrs June. A student who takes a 4.5 test on a Sat morning in May, or April, or Oct, when school IS in session, after getting little sleep for an entire week, is likely to do more poorly than one who is rested. Take the word of experienced parents who do know that. Sleep deprivation, especially in teenagers , is a big concern, as it has been proven to have a negative effect on performance.
So all else being equal- so if we eliminate WHERE the test is administered, the level of poverty of the students, etc, etc and consider only WHEN it is given, then I dont think anyone can justify that an Aug test date is available to only a small group of students, when potentially millions of others would like the opportunity to take it then, and can’t.</p>
<p>mathmom’s sons seem to have experienced a much better school system than our local one. On the other hand, menloparkmom has/had children in a school system that is similar to ours, at least in terms of the time demands on top students. Ditto Bay, probably. So menloparkmom, Bay, and I have quite similar viewpoints (at least on this topic).</p>
<p>I already mentioned that this is definitely in the category of a “First World Problem.” But something that affects one’s kids tends to draw out the protective instincts.</p>
<p>Yes, there are lots of sources of inequality, and anyone with the luck to be born in the US has drawn a pretty good hand, right from the start. Yes, efforts to reduce inequality should be focused elsewhere, largely.</p>
<p>On the other hand, when an organization like CB makes a change which increases inequality, that’s just going in the wrong direction.</p>
<p>Rusty, I think it is insulting to suggest that unfortunate and poor kids are more dishonest than rich folks at summer camp. There are not enormous pressure for poor kids to do exceptionally well on SAT. I hope you take your elitist hat off and have some empathy for people who are obviously not living in your world. This is not class warfare, I am not asking for hands-out for the rest of the people. You can have your special test prep and testing at the summer camp, but offer the test at the same time for other people also, that is the fair thing to do.</p>
<p>Again, it’s the lack of Summer options for taking the test that is the problem, not the availability of test prep. There is a May and June test available in the Spring. That’s it. Most Juniors have the option of taking EITHER the May or June SAT I, since they need to reserve the other time for the SAT IIs. Yes, some may have taken the SAT I in Jan. or Mar., but sometimes that is not always possible. Or maybe they want to take it a second time.</p>
<p>The benefit of offering Summer test-taking options would give those kids who are overworked in the Spring of their Junior year a choice about taking time to study or prepare in the Summer. It would also give them another time to take the SAT IIs before they completely forgot what they learned.</p>
<p>"I’m not sure that you understand the concept of a ‘test run’, ttparent. "</p>
<p>the Collegeboard has NEVER before had to do a “TEST RUN” before when adding a testing date. It is not like trying to fly a new plane that has never flown before. Its NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. Its the SAME test . This is just their way of trying to “justify it” from a PR standpoint. It’s backfired on them badly and NOW they are trying to cover their tracks and call it a "test run " . give me a break …</p>
<p>Ahh the test run, just like they did the test run on writing section few years ago. Its not rocket science, offer the test to all kids in the summer.</p>
<p>Interesting theory. Effective cheating on the SAT (or ACT) relies on having access to someone who will do well on the test. You’d want to hire someone with a proven track record:</p>
<p>This is probably what we would have done, as well.</p>
<p>I’ll admit I have a lot of pent-up rage about SAT testing already, much of it due to the limited dates offered, which for all 3 of my kids conflicted with something very important during the school year, resulting in a tremendous amount of stress. Like others, my kids also had demanding academics and were sleep deprived.</p>
<p>Again, there are plenty of SAT test dates that ARE restricted to specific classes of students, starting in middle school. There are students who take the test on Sunday versus Saturday. One could make the case that this offers a much “rested” environment with a lazy Saturday to recuperate from the sleep deprivation of the week. Note that I am only half serious regarding the “rested” part. It only offers the opportunity to scout the wen and the underground for the latest discussions of what was tested on Saturday. Then you have the weekday tests offered to the extra timed students. Those administaration offer a very distinct environment from the Saturday’s testing.</p>
<p>As an additional comment about sleep deprivation, have you considered installing a timer on your internet connection. TCB is hardly the culprit. FB is … as in Facebook. In my book, sleep deprivation might be tracked to procrastinating and wasting time on our new social realm. Want your kids to sleep more? Take the iPhone and iPads away until all homework is done, and then cut the internet access off. Seriously. </p>
<p>As far as problems scheduling the SAT, this is a huge canard. Another one. During high school, there are 28 possible dates. While all might not be attractive, scheduling problems are a matter of poor administration and … again, procrastination. The issue here is that the SAT might be offered too … many times. Give students too many choices, and they will waffle about it forever. </p>
<p>Now, to give some credit to the parents, I also know that forcing students to take the SAT WHEN THEY SHOULD is not easy. As an example, and despite my repeated efforts, I never could get my younger cousins to pay attention and get them all done in their junior year. And, yes, I heard all the BS excuses about having to participate in EC, do homework, play sports, and devote all the needed attention to the usually moronic demeasured attention to the APs. </p>
<p>When all is said done, most students curriculum IS a very poor match to their ambitions. Spending time to collect a dozen AP trophies will NEVER undo the impact of a poor or lopsided SAT or ACT score. Yet, students will postpone and postpone taking the SAT, for the mere fact … that the test is offered on a Saturday morning! </p>
<p>While trying to avoid sounding condescending, I am afraid that this position is the basis for most of the scheduling conflicts for standardized tests. It is a risky and ineffective way to attack the problem. Summer is indeed the best time (and probably all that is needed) to prepare for the SAT, but NOT the summer between junior and senior year. It should be the year before.</p>
<p>There are NO reasons for a student to delay the SAT as none of the material covered in the last two years of HS are covered. The test is at best at the 9th grade level. </p>
<p>All the final SAT and ACT tests should be taken in the first 6-7 months Junior year, leaving the rest of the HS to suffer the AP/IB syndrome, and work on the applications.</p>
<p>Care to explain what you mean by that comment? Go for it, I am not the owner of the SAT nor work for the College Board. And I have a thick skin! ;)</p>
<p>But before you do, please note that this paragraph should be read in the right context, namely that the BS excuses were my cousins’! </p>
But I do think you may be on to something!</p>