<p>I’m assuming you guys are in pre algebra or algebra 1 since you guys are in 8th grade?</p>
<p>I would have found the math part extremely difficult especially on the equations and stuff if I had taken it last year because I’m in Geometry now.</p>
<p>If you guys get in the 90’s that would be amazing unless you did a lot of prepping</p>
<p>I’ve watched this board for quite sometime and, year after year, without fail, some applicants who proclaimed they “aced the test” with across-the-board 99+ SSATs, are distraught/dismayed on March 10 with across-the-board rejections. True, the SSATs are very important in the application process but students should be careful not to summarily dismiss and consider the other components of lesser importance in the eyes of Admissions.
Many of the admissions folks have been in this business for quite some time and I would argue that most, if not all, are fairly astute in detecting “inflated” grades, “hyped” recommendations, and extracurriculars, and forged essays. Admissions offices are bombarded with literally thousands of pieces of documentation from January to March and beyond. If schools view these requirements as “unreliable”, they would make it easy on themselves by simply not requesting them! </p>
<p>Applicants should treat all aspects of the admissions process with equal importance and even then, there are simply no guarantees.</p>
<p>2010, Don’t automatically allude that the rest of the CC population isn’t two years ahead, and realize that it is not unheard of to be in Geometry in Eighth grade in some schools. Like mine :).</p>
<p>Nyle, How do you know they’re not lying about 99th SSAT? :P</p>
<p>I have no way of knowing whether anyone is being truthful, but I think that misses the issue completely. A 99t+ SSAT, combined with a lackluckster application packet may very well get a student into their dream school. But I doubt it. Seriously.</p>
<p>It must vary from test to test, but I can give you some actual figures for the Dec. test of last year. Not sure if this is useful to you in some way. Here it goes: Verbal- Synonyms 2 wrong, 0 omitted, Analogies 4 wrong, 0 omitted; score 800, 99%; Math - 0 wrong, 0 omitted, score 800, 99%; Reading -2 wrong, 0 omitted, score 734, 97%; Total: 2334, 99%.</p>
<p>CCer, my son is also in geometry in 8th grade but it’s not normal at his public school. There are some 9th graders who were allowed to take algebra in 8th grade who are in his math class, but it’s mostly 10th graders. </p>
<p>Luckily, state law required that if he scored “with distinction” on the algebra regents, they had to give him credit and move him into the next class, geometry. Once he gained permission to take the test without having first taken an algebra class, it was just a matter of showing up and taking it in August.</p>
<p>I’ll bet there are quite a few 8th graders who are even further “ahead,” especially those that are homeschooled, or attend private or charter schools. </p>
<p>There is no good reason to keep a reasonably able student from doing algebra in 7th or even 6th grade. Many kids are fortunate enough to attend schools that realize this and they are able to go as far as they like. Some kids actually LOVE math and it is their passion. This is certainly not the case in my house. </p>
<p>And as far as a high score helping admissions: I would guess that at the top schools, probably not. I think excellence is expected and it’s just another way for applicants to show it. Besides, there are plenty of truly BRILLIANT kids out there who just don’t sit well for timed tests. If it’s 20 pts higher than the average, maybe it has more of an impact. None of us has any way fo knowing.</p>
<p>I wish my school would let us skip ahead, I’m in honors algebra I in eighth grade and it is super super easy.</p>
<p>I think I actually did really well on the test. I think I knew all of the verbal questions, so unless I marked them off wrong or I did some wrong analogies I think I’m good. I personnaly thought math was easy, so hopefully I’ll get a 800 for that -crosses fingers-. Reading was a lot easier for me than last year, because I didn’t have my meds then (I’m crazy), so I think I did pretty well. I’m gonna see what my scores are before I sign up to take another test or not. Good luck to everyone. ;]</p>
<p>I took algebra in 7th grade, took geometry over the summer, and took algebra 2 in 8th grade. So currently I’m in PreCal as a Freshmen, as my Highschool didn’t allow the class I took over the summer, so it’s basically a review. xD I love maths. [:</p>
<p>25% of my class are 1 year advanced and about 1% are 2-3 years advanced so i was implying that the majority of students are not advanced and a good chunk are only 1 year advanced</p>
<p>oh, in the lower level test which i took last year, the reading curve was absolutely brutal. when i take the test again this november (upper level!) i hope it isn’t the same case :(</p>
<p>guys, i think this is probably offtopic from what you’re all discussing right now, but i just want to point out that the ssat’s really aren’t a deciding factor-- or a very important one-- at all. i’m SURE you’re all very intelligent people and won’t be getting terrible percentages, which is great, but don’t get too hung up on them either way. my friend, who scored an 83%, got into andover. i, scoring 99%, was rejected. now i’m not saying the admissions process is a crapshoot, because she totally deserved to get into andover.</p>
<p>in this vein, if your grade is already in the B-A range you might not have to consider retaking it, and maybe focus on other things like essays (:</p>
<p>I HATE YOU ALL. Mostly because you all are ahead of me in math. 8th graders in Geometry? I’m the ONLY sophomore in my Geometry Honors class at Choate. What a fail. :(</p>
<p>BTW-
The SSATs don’t count as much as you think. Doing well is a bonus, doing poorly doesn’t quite matter. I’ve met 99% percentile students and 65% students at Choate.</p>
<p>Oh, don’t feel bad, Saer. I imagine that you didn’t have many options at your old public school, (which I think is very similar to my son’s). I’m sure you don’t fail at math. My daughter gets really upset some days when she feels she hasn’t learned anything in school. When she wails, “But I want to be TAUGHT!!” I simply remind her that education is something you TAKE and if you wait around for people to give it to you, you may be very disappointed. </p>
<p>You were accepted with full aid to Choate, NMH and Exeter because you did what it took to get into a situation where you WILL be taught. And now, you are taking all that they have to offer. Please don’t feel bad about being “behind” in math. It breaks my heart.</p>
<p>My son took October test and his score was quite low. He said that the test was very hard.
He is going to take a test again in December. Is there anybody who took the same test and found it difficult?</p>