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wow, everyone loves to hate standardized tests. why? because nobody wants to know the
truth about their abilities. nobody wants to know that others are stronger academically. ignorance is bliss, right?
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<p>As a parent of an 11-year-old, I agree that there are too many folks out there who fear the damage that any sort of adjudication can do to tender young self-esteem. I am certainly not a big fan of the youth sport teams that give an "MVP" trophy to every kid who simply shows up.</p>
<p>But kids today are already assessed up the wazoo. My son took both Iowa tests and our state assessment tests in elementary school. In middle school, he'll continue with the state assessments, and it seems that every week he has several tests or quizzes in his classes, along with numerous graded assignments. So I feel that we can clearly tell how he stacks up.</p>
<p>I am not in favor of subjecting my child--or anyone else's--to a preliminary version of the SAT in 8th grade. (Taking SAT's for CTY or TIP is another story entirely. The top students know that they're trying out for a special elite program and that they're grappling with an exam that's not really designed for them.)</p>
<p>Luckily, I live in a community where parents aren't apt to clamor for ReadiTest results nor are they likely to obsess over them, if we get 'em anyway. But I do foresee this test fanning the admission-anxiety flames in many other parts of the country and filling test-prep company coffers even fuller than they already are.</p>
<p>While I definitely concur with WhiteSox on the dangers of schools using it for placement (my NM commended senior D was almost written off in 7th grade and I had to fiercely fight it!!), this test looks like a great opportunity for younger students to learn EARLY what types of SAT questions they would have trouble with, with plenty of time to work on improvement before they take the PSAT, JMHO....(D2 will need it no doubt!)</p>
<p>I'd be horrified if I had to take this as an 8th grader, and I'm young enough to remember what it was like also (worrying about high school and the SAT). We are already "told" how to prepare for state standardized tests (just do well), and now Collegeboard wants to train us to prepare for their tests? Isn't that what the PSAT is for?</p>
<p>I'm smelling a bait and switch tactic here. The SAT is already a huge part of a high schooler's life due to the fact that college admissions is partially based on it, but now they want them to start as early as middle school? I still don't understand the purpose of this besides increasing profit for a "not-for-profit" company. (Not the same as a non-profit)</p>
<p>I did perfectly well in junior high in all Honors classes, and I fought my way to transfer from 7th grade nonHonors to an 8th grade Honors (middle school's unauthorized placement). If I had to take another a test from Collegeboard to determine if I could even be "placed" properly, it'd be upsetting to learn that I had to learn how to game a test to get into the classes I "deserve."</p>
<p>I took the SAT in 7th grade through Duke TIPS. I was what 12 or 13, broke 1000 points without studying and never worried about it simply because it didn't matter. In 8th grade, if I took a test that I knew would matter, I'd have been pretty ****ed off. It's ridiculous. How much earlier are we going to start this? How much longer before the TSAT (T for Toddler) determines which day care you go to?</p>
<p>Sounds almost as if the point of the test is to help students learn how to take the next tests they will have to take. If we want to know if students are on the right path, why not look at the yearly achievement tests our schools give, or classroom performance?</p>
<p>Lay off the kids, I'm a senior and even I resent the college process. If I had been thinking about college since eigth grade I would be miserable.
The SAT and its implications can be stressful to ANYONE, because it encourages kids to stress about the college admissions process. </p>
<p>ChoklitRain, you have an entirely different experience -- you took the test as a one-time thing to get into a summer program. I'm sure you took it and forgot about it (maybe stressing a little bit about getting into the program); you probably didn't get on CC and analyze how difficult it would be to get into college, or wonder (any more than idly), "If I scored this at this age, what will I get in my junior year? What will my chances be at [College X]?" But THIS test could have that effect. How much do you wanna bet that this time next year, the boards will be filled with parents wondering about their kids' ReadiStep scores ("Is it possible that she'll get this up to an SAT score of [X]?!?") and, naturally, their little prodigies' chances of getting into the colleges of the parents' choice. And the kids will be a part of the craze, too. I didn't even begin thinking about college until after I got the results of my sophomore year PSAT, and that was definitely a good time to start scoping things out (but NOT worrying) -- anytime earlier be harmful to kids' stress levels throughout high school.</p>
<p>Oh, and "the truth about their abilities"? As much as I'd like to believe that the SAT is an indicator of one's intelligence (;)), I know better, as I'm sure you must, especially if you're one of those at the top of the bell curve.</p>
<p>wow. can we americans find more ways to test the living crap out of kids? i already feel like i'm tortured by SAT/ACT/PSAT. it's just sick to keep testing more and more at a younger age.</p>
<p>The problem here isn't so much that this test exists, but the fact that certain parents will probably be making their kids study and getting tutors for it. It's way too early, and it continues this trend of starting college prep earlier which is absolutely unhealthy.</p>
<p>How do all of you feel about grades at school? I ask, because where I grew up in the 1960s, elementary schools didn't issue grades (A, B, C, D, F) at all. That didn't start until seventh grade. How early is too early in giving students grades for their homework and school assignments?</p>
<p>How stupid is this? This is just another scheme for the college board to make some money off of over-involved parents and worrisome children at an even younger age.</p>
<p>tokenadult, I'm trying to remember when I started getting grades. I definitely remember report cards with E (excellent), S (satisfactory) and N (needs improvement). I don't have a problem with real grades.</p>
<p>I took the SAT for the first time in 6th grade and I thought it was great. I felt to special that I got to take it. I took it in 8th grade too, along with everyone else in my school's Honors program. It's not that big of a deal.</p>
<p>BTW, my elementary school didn't give out real grades. We got E (excellent), S (satisfactory), and U (Unsatisfactory).</p>
<p>I think this is a mostly pointless endeavor. I had plenty of state testing by 8th grade, and if I had had any serious academic problems, someone would have detected them. If you're doing well, someone will have noticed that by then as well.</p>
<p>Now, what I don't like is stressing over standardized tests altogether. There is certainly a culture around it. In my 4th grade class, when we were doing state assessments, kids were being all dramatic and saying things like "nice knowing you" before it started. If people grow up learning that exams like this are matters of life and death, of course the SATs make them upset.</p>
<p>I think taking the SAT for CTY was actually a really good thing for me, and I'm wondering how it could be replicated for any student. I learned a little math with one of my parents, and went through a verbal practice book on my own. I was just trying to do the best I could, but I didn't even know what the grades meant. When it came time for the SAT in high school I put almost no pressure on myself. I didn't put energy into it until I got to the actual exam and it was time to turn the brain on. I wish other kids could have such a reasonable experience, but I'm not sure how it could happen for too many without just adding exam hysterics for the middle school set.</p>
<p>I really like the comments above that point out that the real issue here is culture of the school and attitude of the learners. If this is a low-stress experience to find out what a student's areas to grow in are, it shouldn't be a problem. A lot of schools (and the students in them) could benefit a lot if everyone read the book </p>
<p>I've recommended this book before in other threads on CC. I just heard it highly recommended yesterday at a conference I was attending on gifted education. </p>
<p>For people who think they are too busy to read a whole book, no matter how good the book is, I recommend </p>
<p>which includes a good summary of the book's most important ideas. Learners in eighth grade or at any age can grow and learn new things. A learning challenge is nothing to be afraid of.</p>
<p>You know, everybody blames the SAT, other standardized tests and their progenitors for all this anxiety on the part of parents and children. But is it really their fault? I (currently a sophomore in college) took the SAT a couple of times, did well, and didn't stress about it. Why should my situation be atypical? Obviously not everyone does well, but whose fault is it when a student stresses because he/she didn't do well? The test setters, or the students/parents who had unrealistic expectations or place too much emphasis on the thing? </p>
<p>The answer is that it is often parents, who are unhappy with the way these tests assess their children, who create so much of the stress and anxiety. It doesn't have to be that way, and it's not necessarily CB's fault that it is.</p>
<p>That said, I think there's enough testing without another in the 8th grade.</p>
<p>you're right about the parents. some parents don't like to be told that their little prodigy was outperformed by 20% of test takers nationally and go crazy. currently my mom is pressuring me to retake a 2370 to get 2400 and I feel like giving her a practice test and laughing as she scores a 1900</p>
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currently my mom is pressuring me to retake a 2370 to get 2400 and I feel like giving her a practice test and laughing as she scores a 1900
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<p>There are a LOT of other things that you could do that would have more impact on your college application, if that is her concern. Every college in the land largely ignores the tiny difference between a score of 2400 and a score of 2370.</p>
<p>^ i think she just wants to brag to people that her son got a 2400. my guidance counselor said not to retake and to instead get my SAT 2's out of the way so I can forget about standardized testing before my peers even start.</p>
<p>Frankly, I don't see there being a problem with another standardized test. I understand that 8th grade is pretty young, but I think the benefit of this test might be greater than the downsides. By making 8th graders aware of the importance of a test early, they will start preparing for the sat earlier and not have to slog the summer before and make life miserable for themselves. </p>
<p>In terms of the schools that may use this as a placement test, I am sure that they will look at the grades as well. I mean if a kid gets a bad readistep score but has straight A's, the counselor will realize that the readistep was just a bad day. I remember taking the sat for JHU as an 8th grader(I got a 1900 back then) and it kind of made me aware of such a test b4 some of my friends. This awareness helped to me prepare for the SAT where i got a 2330. I'd say the readistep is extra stress, but it may have a lot of benefits. </p>
<p>Also judging from the NY Times article, it seems like test will be a much better guage of intelligence than the SAT, which just tests one's ability to do mc questions.</p>