<p>Where did you run this? I want to check if my SAT matches up. I can’t see how to do it on the link.</p>
<p>Why are 7th graders taking the ACT?</p>
<p>So far, several programs are listed that have 7th graders take the SAT or ACT. They all seem to have in common that they are run by a college (Northwestern, JHU, Duke) for “talented” students. I know that the Duke one involved summer programs (too expensive for me) if you scored into the 95th percentile or something like that of all 7th grade testers. I assume the others are similar.</p>
<p>It’s so that if your kid does well on the ACT/SAT as a 7th grader, you, as the parent, have the option of sending said kid to academic summer camps that cost in the range of $3,500 each :). We never did any of the camps (twins… and $7k can buy a heck of a family vacation!). The camps are stellar experiences and I know several kids who went and loved them. If you have the coinage and your kid wants to go to camp, I think it’s an excellent plan.</p>
<p>My son’s ACT in 7th Grade was a 27 and went up to a 31 and a 33. He is now a National Merit Finalist.</p>
<p>My youngest got a seventeen on it but I know she will do very well later. Why? Because all she actually tried hard on was the math. The others she didn’t do all the questions or at least didn’t read all of them since she figured they didn’t count. As it was, she scored well enough on the english portion to also be eligible for humanities classes (which she won’t take since she doesn’t like to write very much). I am just figuring she will do at least as well as my other two-29 and 30. I think she will actually end up doing better then them since she is better at math and science then they were and she is probably nearly as good at English and maybe a bit worse on reading. </p>
<p>We are all prepared to send her to the camp like we did her oldest sibling but are having to wait until we know where we are moving. We had already decided to do it when we suddenly found out we may be moving overseas. Uh, no, not 3500 plus an overseas airfare for her plus two for me since I would not be sending a 14 yo so far without a parent or other escort.</p>
<p>I understand why a 7th grader would take the ACT.</p>
<p>What I DON’T understand is why a 7th grader’s parent would be trying to project future ACT scores from her child’s score in 7th grade. Let’s say you could project a future score within some reasonably narrow range with decent (but hardly 100%) likelihood. What the heck are you going to do with that information now? That wouldn’t be a terrible idea, I mean.</p>
<p>JHS, these test scores play such a large part in scholarships and acceptance to college. It might tell me how much money to stash away!</p>
<p>To answer the question from BillyMc, above, on the Duke TIP link that I posted, go to “Talent Search Results Summary,” following the link in the first paragraph. This will give you the percentiles among 7th graders who participated in the Talent Search. Then convert to percentiles among all, using some reasonable estimate for the top % of the cohort who participate in the talent search. </p>
<p>This will be a rough estimate, because quite a few who qualify won’t participate and may not even have heard of the talent searches. Most people I know did this either because they wanted to attend special summer or school-year programs, or because their parents wanted some leverage with the local school administration, to have the students accelerated in class work.</p>
<p>At the final stage, I just Googled ACT score percentiles to obtain a national chart.</p>
<p>I think it’s harmless to project, JHS. I generally looked at the percentile scores on standardized tests when the results came out–never did a formal projection, but the method is simple enough. I’d probably have to admit to projecting informally in my head–was pleasantly surprised, eventually.</p>
<p>Incidentally, a 27 is in the 99th percentile among the Duke TIP participants, so definitely 99th percentile among all 7th graders. This would project out at 33-36–from the data I found, anyway, because the 99th percentile was not subdivided. </p>
<p>I think the method works somewhat less well at the high end of the range (xiggi frequently alludes to this). Reaching the very top of the score range may depend how much one thinks like the people who write the tests.</p>
<p>Sorry, JHS–but I think this is just harmless nerdism, to project scores.</p>
<p>My S took the SAT in 7th Grade to get into the CTY program and he knew what he needed in Math and Reading. He totally blew of Science (guessed the answers as he did not really follow them) and he did not care then. I cannot predict anything from that as the Science component is different in ACT and needs some HS science background. ACT emphasizes what is learned in school, SAT is more aptitude. So it is more difficult to project ACT scores as a lot depends on what the child learns in HS.</p>
<p>Here is a biased (from the ACT website) on the differences between ACT and SAT</p>
<p>[ACT</a> FAQ : What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?](<a href=“http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/actsat.html]ACT”>http://www.actstudent.org/faq/answers/actsat.html)</p>
<p>*What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?</p>
<p>The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.</p>
<p>The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.</p>
<p>The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you’re applying to.</p>
<p>The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.*</p>
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<p>Ha, ha, yeah, I agree. It probably originates from the same urge to calculate how long it would take to fill a wine glass to the brim. </p>
<p>To the answer the OP’s question, I think the improvement in math ACT is highly dependent on where you are in math in 7th grade. If you are in algebra II in 7th grade, I wouldn’t predict the same amount of improvement as someone in pre-algebra. Improvement in critical reading is probably a bit more independent on where you are at in 7th grade, so it may be easier.</p>
<p>I don’t remember any summer camps, but I do remember it opened up a writing class at a local college and some other enrichment classes at local colleges. I think as a parent you have to look at what might be interesting/beneficial before you get involved in these optional programs. I would say to be doubtly careful if there a high cost involved. These are very individual decisions.</p>
<p>“Relax and let him be in middle school!” - I tend to agree. If talent search programs need ACT and you want to go that route… take the exam. Then forget about standardized testing for a few years.</p>
<p>I understand: out of level testing is used to differentiate among high achieving students.</p>
<p>After that: “Relax and let him be in middle school!”</p>
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