PSAT's for Middle Schoolers?

[Figment22]

Our DS13, who is in the eighth grade, and scored in the 94th percentile on last year's Iowa Test of Basic Skills (standardized testing), has been invited to take PSAT's along with some of his other classmates who also had exceptional scores. (We're very proud of him!)

Anyway, my initial opinion is that if he takes the test and scores poorly, it could be demoralizing. Our school principal feels that it is a good way for these kids to get accustomed to this type of testing and also it can prepare them for the kinds of things they will need to know by their junior year in high school.

Anyone out there had a similar experience they'd be willing to share opinions on?

 

[snuggles]

My dd took the SAT in 7th grade as part of the Duke University TIPS program. She thinks it was worth it because when she took it for real she had already been exposed to it and it made her more comfortable taking it when it really counted.

 

[sandramaac]

Go for it--this is a no pressure situation. My oldest dd was invited to test for the Johns Hopkins Gifted program. The students take the SAT's (she tested for this in both 7th and 8th grade). There is no good or bad, no right or wrong, it is simply a way for them to actually qualify to partcipate in the actual gifted program Johns Hopkins offers. All student who test get a cerificate of participation. Now my dd actually scored high enough to be admitted to the program. But it is such a good experience to take these test when they don't count. I would say go for it

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Definitely go for it! My 8th grader has taken the ACT twice and the SAT once.... and wants to take both again this year.

He loves seeing all of the older kids stressing because it's their first and ONLY time ever taking the tests. He actually enjoys it and tries (successfully) to get a better score each time. He was surprised at the score he got the first time.... and now he is just competing with himself to do better.

Just tell DS that whatever his score... he is doing it for the experience taking the test. That will be very valuable down the road!

 

[ToriLammy]

I agree with the other posters - go for it and let him test. My son took the PSAT in 9th grade and then when it counted in 11th he was a National Merit Scholar Commended Student. It's good to practice As for if he scores poorly, make sure he knows going in that this test is meant for 11th graders and that he is not expected to know what 11th graders know. Tell him to just do his best and the rest will fall in place.

 

[jsmith]

absolutely do it-there is great payback when those scores count if the student has experience. Both of my sons began college board testing in 6th grade throught the Rocky Mountain talent search and I recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity.

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I took the PSAT two years ago, when I was in eighth grade. At first I was upset I had to take some dumb test for practice, but since I was in the school's gifted program, I had to as a requirement. I found many of the questions tough and when I got my results, they weren't too bad...weren't the best though. I don't quite remember where I was...maybe in the middle, which actually isn't too bad since we were compared to juniors who took the same test. I am now required to take the PSAT as a sophmore, and will have to take it again as a Junior. I'm glad I took the PSAT because now I know what to expect, and I feel I have an advantage to the others who never took it before.

But that's JMHO.

 

[SoonerKate]

I took the SAT as a seventh grader and the ACT as an eighth grader as part of the Duke Talent Search. (Do they call it something different now?)

I scored well on the SAT (for a seventh grader) and was invited to a summer learning enrichment camp at Duke which was a blast, plus when I had to take the tests in high school I had already been exposed to both the SAT and ACT, and knew which one I was likely to do better on -- definitely an advantage over those who had never seen the actual tests before they had to take them.

 

[JulieWent]

I teach 9th graders, and our district is offering the PSAT to our 8th, 9th and 10th graders. At first, I thought it was pushing too hard. But last year, I spent time going over the results with my 9th graders, and it was actually pretty helpful. When the kids get their scores back, they also get their booklets back. That way they can look at the items they scored poorly on and try to work through them. Also, the test breaks down strong areas and weak areas, and it is very specific. (I was able to look at my kids' scores and zero in on one area of grammar that I guess I just hadn't done well in teaching. This year, I'm really working on improving my instruction in that area.) But the kids can also look at the areas that they are weak in and concentrate on those areas. (A lot of my kids said that they were really glad that they had the booklets to go back and look over. They were going to spend some time with the problem areas before they retook the PSAT again this year as 10th graders. By the time they take the SAT as 11th or 12th graders, they should feel pretty test savvy.) Once again, sometimes this sounds as if we're going overboard. (And I'm not a big fan of teaching to any test.) But, especially for those kids who will be competing for scholarships, it's a boost to get good at test-taking and to not feel pressured the first time they take any college board test.

Julie

 

[Figment22]

Thank you for all the great insights. I didn't know anyone who had been in a similar situation but I can always count on my fellow
Dis-er's to come through!

Yes, DS is going to take the test. It's in mid-October and he wants to do it (mostly because he gets out of class that morning!)

Thanks again for all the responses.

 

[4greatboys]

Originally posted by snuggles
My dd took the SAT in 7th grade as part of the Duke University TIPS program. She thinks it was worth it because when she took it for real she had already been exposed to it and it made her more comfortable taking it when it really counted.

My oldest did that as well. Boy was he wiped out after the test, lol.