My daughter was accepted to boarding school as an incoming 11th grader. How is testing and test prep handled at boarding school? I just received an email from the tutor my son (current high school senior) used and she is recommending that students take the old SAT test in the Fall of 2015.
Have any current BS sophomores been advised similarly?
That’s the advice that my SAT teacher gave me. I took it in October, did very well, and I’m taking it once more in May. My advisor at Lawrenceville told my parents the same.
I agree with taking the old SAT. The PSAT this fall will be the “new” test though. IIRC the “new” SAT will start March 2016 so it would be best to be done with SAT by January if you want to avoid the new test.
@mrnephew - Is your SAT teacher affiliated with the school or an outside tutor? Just wondering if test prep is included in BS tuition or if they just have a list of recommended tutors and it is up to you to schedule and pay for prep.
@payn4ward - At least all current sophs will be in the same boat and will be guinea pigs together for the new PSAT! I guess we’ll do the same as we did with DS - take both the SAT and ACT and see which format she prefers and then just concentrate on that test.
Outside tutor. I attended an academy in California. Test prep is NOT included in BS tuition.
DS (also a sophomore) has not been told anything about testing for next fall yet. All 10th & 11th graders at his school take the PSAT. Right now they are focused on AP & SAT subject tests for May & June. At his school’s parents weekend in October they have many sessions about college for 11th graders so we’ll probably get advice then about the new SAT.
The scary thing about the new test is that people can’t prep for it because no one knows what is on it.
Sounds like the ACT will see a marked increase in business.
That it will.
The IDEA of revamping it is so you can’t study for it the way you could for the old one, or learn how to “game” the test (especially the essay). We’ll see if that turns out to be true, but that’s the idea. Also that free and equal prep materials will be on the Khan website, so you can have access whether you’re rich or poor. Kind of belies the idea that you CAN’T prep for it anymore (“you can no longer prep but here are some prep materials”), but that’s what they’re saying. It is supposed to be more similar to the ACT now, and have less esoteric vocab, less advanced math, more complex problem- solving and data analysis, and a longer, more analytical essay.
But since no one has taken the test yet… No one wants to be the guinea pigs.
Taking a contrarian approach, maybe taking the new test is a good idea. If all those students who can afford tutors, private college counselors, etc. aren’t taking it, perhaps that will increase your chances of doing well in it, relative to the overall test taking group. Just a thought. And if it doesn’t turn out to be true, there’s always the ACT. Of course, those that make their living off tutoring are going to suggest sticking to the old test for now. How else are they going to make money?
I don’t know… as long as there are tests, tutors will always make money so they don’t gain much by recommending either test.
The kids who test well will always test well whether new or old. After all, what the standard tests tell us is that the people who test well will test well, that’s it. So in the beginning after the “new” test rolls out, natural test takers will score well whereas the “test prepped” kids may flounder. In two years or so the new test will be analyzed by tutors and prepping material and test taking strategies will emerge. Then, kids can prep and improve their scores. Thus, if you are a natural born test taker who will not prep (or has no money so will not prep), it doesn’t matter which one you take. If you plan to prep and that tends to improve your scores a lot, it’s better to take the old one since there are books by the professionals ( Erica Meltzer, M. McClenathan, etc) who have analyzed the old SAT unless you have time and would rather wait over a year for the new prep material. Freshmen can wait but sophomores and juniors need to hurry if taking the old SAT.
At my son’s school (he’s a sophomore at Deerfield), they have not encouraged anyone to take the old test next fall, although of course you can choose to do so. They had them take the (old format) PSAT this year (which didn’t count), even though in the fall they will ALL be taking the new format PSAT (which will count). They did suggest not particularly studying for the PSAT in 10th, both because it didn’t count and because the format is going to change. Then they’re having them take the (new) SAT in the spring and suggesting they also take the ACT at some point to see on which they do best. Kind of looks like MA2012, whatever school they’re attending.
Some schools do include SAT prep in tuition. And some kids don’t need it…