<p>The SAT is not an aptitude test. In fact, the collegeboard stated the letters 'SAT' no longer stand for "scholastic aptitude test." Now they are just a series of letters. Also, because it is not an aptitude test and does not have questions designed to test IQ, it is not appropriate to assign IQ equivalents for SAT scores. An average person can do very well on it with enough study.</p>
<p>Studying for it is fine. The collegeboard actually publishes a blue Official SAT prep book with tips and practice exams.</p>
<p>Definitely a factor. Did he have time to finish all the questions? Are the wrong answers scattered throughout the test or are they concentrated at the end of each section?</p>
<p>Lol poseur, i remember you. For you to bring up this topic-after debating it countless times- is a sad commentary on YOUR cognitive abilities and "aptitude". Is this really necessary? There are dozens of threads regarding this issue, most of which died out after getting tramped by common sense. </p>
<p>Personally the SAT 1 reasoning test does correlate pretty darn well to the Wechsler IQ test--if you don't prep for the SAT 1.</p>
<p>What I think is that folks should be courageous enough to NOT prep for the first one, that is, if they want some idea of their IQ. (and by the way, the IQ test doesn't test important areas of talent like manual dexterity, etc. So a lower score just means in those areas, and you could have giftedness in another important area that is not tested.) After they get the results, then they should prep so that they get some decent scores (If they didn't get them the first go-round, or else good enough but they want higher scores) since colleges super-score these days, and so your first scores won't be held against you (which I assume is the case). </p>
<p>Preparing for the test doesn't really do much for you except release innate ability. It's still a test of aptitude if you study. There are ways to raise thinking skills, but it takes time.</p>
<p>I'm part of some parent email networks that give me some good tips. I first learned about Carol Dweck's research through an invited online speaker in a parent seminar sponsored by the Davidson Institute for Talent Development Young Scholars program. </p>
<p>Tell you what, if you can convince everyone else to not study, then I wont. Until then, everyone will prepare for said “aptitude test” because it gives them a leg up over the next guy, and in college admissions, that’s all that matters.</p>
<p>I think it’s an aptitude test to some degree. Studying definitely helps, but college requires the ability to work hard. Innate intelligence is a component to some degree. Most of the people I know who scored 2200+ are people who I would consider smart.</p>
<p>Some people like reading. Others don’t. Those who do are essentially studying for the critical reading section of the SAT’s by learning new vocab and identifying new sentence structures.</p>
<p>Someone who reads a lot probably obscures the measurement of their “natural ability” more than someone who does not read a lot and chooses simply to take prep courses.</p>
<p>Poseur, just from your username I can tell that you’ve been through years of this kind of studying, and have thus accrued considerable unnatural advantage. Let’s not kid ourselves.</p>