<p>what are the chances that CB will make more changes before the year is out?</p>
<p>Mr. B -- you have now officially moved to a parallel universe. Time to go to the Parent's cafe and join the new college/univ faculty.</p>
<p>(Edited out for courtesy.)</p>
<p>As for the discussion, I have no problem with the test being 4 hours. I do have a problem with 5 minute bathroom breaks. When you have to go, you have to go-period! This urge can, as you noted, be deferred. However, I am not sure it can be deferred for 4 hours. What's wrong with having the exam for 2-3 hours and a 30 minute bathroom break before the writing section? I don't think that having a break is asking so much. The test should never be about endurance and bladder control. </p>
<p>Also, if I may add, there are many adults who are going to college these days and have to take the new SAT. Adults don't have the same bladder control as kids. I, as an adult, certainly don't. To a large extent men get enlarged prostates as they get older. This causes reduced bladder control. Again, having a break help them too.</p>
<p>Folks, let's try to keep the discussion to the topic of the New SATs, and stay away from critical personal comments (otherwise known as flames).</p>
<p>Thanks for your cooperation.</p>
<p>Honestly, i think the writing part is a good idea. So many colleges only see the essays that kids write after 8353 other people critique them and polish them up, and this gives them a real taste of how the kid actually does write. And yeah, you couild just take the sat2, but this way every college gets a look at how their applicants actually do write. and two five minute breaks for 4 hours? that's a bit ridiculous, for girls anyway. girls need to keep in mind when they go in there that they don't have all day. i was just in florida and 35 of us had 2 hours to shower in 3 shower stalls. that's 6 minutes each.. for getting unddressed, showering.. hairwashing.. shaving, and getting dressed again... but hey, we got it done.. as far as the test being 4 hours.. that's not an obscene amt of time.. unlessthe kid has adhd or something of that sort where they can't concentrate for 4 hours they should be fine. and if that is the case i believe you get special accommidations or something of the sort. and furthermore, grading of the essay? half the things you do in college are essays, and they are objectively graded. if you can't do an essay and have it objectively graded for your sat to prove to colleges how you write, then how are you going to do an essay in college to prove to your professors h ow you write? just my two cents on the matter.</p>
<p>I hope colleges have a way to see a copy of the SAT essay. This will eliminate the advantage a kid could use getting outside help in editing his college essays. Prep school kids take an essay as part of SSAT. School looks these essays as part of entrance requirements. . I hope college start the similar trend also.</p>
<p>The only positive about this new SAT is that perhaps high schools will require more timed writes and just plain assign more writing. My kids have gotten great educations with that one single exception.</p>
<p>But I'm worried for my third one, because the older two could game the old SAT a bit as kids did. I'm afraid the third one will try to compare herself to the older less subjective standard.</p>
<p>jeeze if you go to the bathroom before the test...and you're not allowed to really drink/eat anything during the test unless u do it during the break anyway...chances are you won't need to go to the bathroom after 1.5 hours ...AND then again at next break...however i think it would have been less enervating for me had break been a little longer</p>
<p>I have a feeling that an application will be red flagged if there is a major difference between the quality of the colleage essay and the SAT writing score.</p>
<p>I have said for a long time that many students receive way too much help in writing their college essays and that this issue could solve by submission of the SAT2 Writing test via email.</p>
<p>The new SAT test seem to have done that. As a result I think students will be more reluctant to ask for too much help in writing their college essays, particularly if the colleges indicate they will be compared with the SAT essay.</p>