<p>Has anyone's student taken the SAT with the cassette accommodation? How did it work?
He also normally receives spelling accommodations and now that the SAT has a writing portion I am thinking that we might need to see if they can add another accommodation. I am going to call ETS on Monday but if anyone knows about any accommodations given for writing that would be helpful.</p>
<p>What is the "cassette" accomodation? And what would a spelling accomodation be? (Especially in a multiple choice test). I am just curious. My son had extra time which he didn't use.</p>
<p>A spelling accommodation would only be needed for the essay portion of the new SAT.
A cassette is a oral version of the test in addition to the written version. You have a cassette of someone reading the test. He would only want it for the verbal section but I don't know if you can cue it to certain sections or if you have to listen to the whole thing to find your place. We don't know anyone who has used the cassette so we aren't 100% clear as to how it works.
He just took the PSAT without a cassette but with 100% extra time which he did not use on all the sections.
With the SAT 2's they provide you with a reader instead of a cassette.</p>
<p>my daughter had extended time testing which she qualified for but didn't really need.
My initial thought frankly- was that if so many accomodations are going to be required for the test- you should probably have him also look at schools that are SAT optional.
I also think that unless he already recieves these accomodations at school, and they have been justified by an educational evaluation, it is gonna be pretty difficult to get the College board to add one just for the test</p>
<p>Information about accomodations
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/ssd/student/</a></p>
<p>Emeraldkity- He didn't end up needing the extra time on the math portion just the verbal. He is entitled to a wide range of accomodations at school which for some classes he ends up needing them and others he doesn't use any. For math and chemistry he just needs to sit in the front. For in class writing assignments he is not deducted for misspelled words.
I was surprised at how generous the ETS was with his accommodations for the SAT. They might not give him anymore then they already do and that is find even with not counting spelling his essay will be barely passable I am sure.
He could very well end up with a 800 math if he can stay focused and a verbal score that isn't even printable. His list of schools next year will have to be very well thought out.
What I am trying to find is someone who has used the cassette so he can have some idea what to expect. His counselor has never had anyone else given that accommodation.</p>
<p>I am asking because I am currently trying to get a 504 for my daughter who has elements of dyslexia- she has unusual capitalizations in her papers- and also makes spelling errors but we haven't had a spelling accomodation yet- formally anyway.
So is the main concern the timed essay part? Is he ok if he is able to use a spell check and have more time?
please excuse my nosiness- but I have been trying to piece together stuff on my own for my daughter and have a heck of a time.
Since she won't talk about ( or if she even knows) what would help- it is hit or miss- she doesn't do well on tests at all- at least without any accomodations- which is what she has at this point in the school year.
We are going to be looking into the schools that place greater weight on portfolio type applications than on just GPA and SAT scores I think.
Our state also has a high stakes test for her class to receive their diploma as part of NCLB- Of course only about 40 percent of 10th graders are passing it at this point :(</p>
<p>My D has 50% extended time on all CB tests. She just took her PSAT and found that though she absolutely needed it for the math sections, the CR and W sections were interminable...I can't imagine what the actual SAT will be like. She has ADHD and keeping focus for upwards of 6 plus hours is going to be a challenge. Sometimes I think the extended time can be a mixed blessing. Have any of your kids who have accomodations experienced this and do you have any advice I can pass on to her. Saturday she passed the time by writing stories in her test book!</p>
<p>runnersmom- he was lucky that he was the only one testing in his room. They gave him his own proctor and a quiet place to take the test. I don't know if it was because he was the only 1 or the only 1 with 100% extra time. What they did was he had double time on each section but if he was done with a section before that time was up he told the proctor and they went on to the next timed section. I think he ended up being done in about 3 1/2 hours. In all his practice PSAT's which were given in the standard time he did not finish so it should help.
I also have thought about the focusing issue on the real SAT. He would be allowed 8 hours and I don't see him focusing for that long. His score will depend on how focused he is on that given day. During the PSAT he said during the first cr section he could not get focused at all and had to reread the passage numerous times. He has recently started taking some meds and that has helped. He felt that next time he would take it a little earlier then he did on Sat so it is working by the time the test starts.
I have heard from several sources that chewing gum or sucking on hard candy helps some kids stay focused.
Emeraldkity-He had an IEP for years and I made the mistake of letting them release him in 6th grade. He went to a private school with a learning specialist and he had a 504 there. When he went to public high school I went with a prepared list of accomodations from his old school and the report from the psychologist. His counselor was happy to write the 504 exactly as he had it in jr high. His teachers are sent a copy each term. Some ask him what they need to do to make it work. Others just ignore that it exists. I find a email the 3rd week of school to each teacher helps with a short explanation as to some of son's quirks. He has had some great teachers and some who weren't so great. I have tried to get him to articulate to his teachers what he needs. He still isn't good at it. He is struggling with Bio right now with a D because he hasn't had any help because he hasn't asked his teacher. This was the result of a sink or swim approach this term that has now has me doing Bio each night this week in hopes he can pass the midterm exam.
I would start first with the counselor and see where it goes from there. Ours has been great. She has also offered to help my son talk to the teachers who he is having problems with. Without her support I don't know where we would be. PM me if you want specifics on the writing.</p>
<p>Emeraldkity- regarding the state testing. Our state has an exit exam that at some point students will have to pass to graduate. I am not sure what class it will actually happen for since the state has changed the date a few times. Since so many would not pass. At our school you take it for the 1st time soph year. I never thought he would pass the writing portion. I was pleasantly surprised that he passed all of them the first try. It definitely made me wonder how rigorous it was if he could pass. He took those exams without any accomodations. We just didn't think to ask.</p>
<p>My daughter has taken the state exam in 4th & 7th gd and will take it this year in 10th. She has not passed any part of it previous, although she did pass the science portion that was given in 8th gd ( will not be part of the exit exam)( She was in special education from 3rd through 7th gd although accomodations were not given- she could have had a scribe- but refused)
The district has now made the statement, that sophomores who don't have 5 credits won't be considered sophomores for testing purposes, ( although she has 6 credits).
It is frustrating- its hard to say whether they will actually be using this testing by 2008 when she will be graduating, but the districts mechanism to retake the test ( which is expensive to administer) over and over again- doesn't sound like a fix to me.
I am hopeful they will develop meaningful alternate assessments.</p>
<p>If my kid needed that type of accomodation I would much prefer a reader to a cassette player. My son had extra time (as I mentioned) but apparently used the time for staring into space rather than reviewing his answers.</p>