SAT Score Changes

[DVCLiz]

First, I totally disagree that we are talking about 5th graders ever taking this test, unless you have some information I don't know about.

Second, my seventh grader has taken standardized tests every year since she was in the 3rd grade, and she has never shared her scores while she was in middle school. Neither daughter ever has. Our school encourages parents to keep this information private, so I never shared the scores with my daughter. Obviously, she knew she'd gotten a 95% in one area to be invited to take the SAT, but so did every other child who took them.

When SAT scores came out, none of the kids had any experience with what the numbers meant, and again, I didn't share the score with her until we had a talk about keeping the number private. I said, "You did really well for your age, but not well enough to be able to skip 8th grade and high school and go right to college." She laughed and said she was glad, and that was that.

If I asked my 13 year old daughter what her friends who took the SAT last year made, she wouldn't have any idea.

I think 7th grade is plenty old enough to start figuring out that some kids are smarter than you and some aren't. There are all sorts of rankings, and I think most kids by that age have figured out where they are in the lineup. To me it's no different than an Honor Roll or Headmaster's List - if you fall on one side of the numbers, you're on it - if you fall on the other side, you're not. Elementary school is too young for that, but the middle of middle school? I think it's perfectly reasonable for the ones who are bright enough to qualify to have the chance to see how they do. I don't think any parent in our school has ever had any regrets about letting their 7th grader take the SAT.

 

[JoyLuck]

You are aware that the SATs are now an empty anacronym, (formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test) owned by the Collegeboard company, and they FREELY admit that it is NOT an intelligence (or "IQ") test....but a test to see how good of a test taker you are? Add to that fact, they are basically designed for students applying to UCLA, whom the writing portion is designed for. This is all information freely given out by the College Board company. What good is it for a 7th grader?(or any student, really).

 

[allison443]

My two older girls both took the SAT in 7th and 8th grade. They were invited to take it by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Talented Youth because they scored in the 97th percentile or above on the elementary school standardized tests. They both scored well enough on the SAT to qualify for the three-week residential summer programs offered by Johns Hopkins at various colleges around the country. My oldest daughter attended for several summers and my second daughter attended one summer as well. The academic programs were awesome and a great experience for my girls.
There was no pressure on them to do well on the SAT-it's a test for high schoolers, so they really weren't expected to do great. The scores do not go on their permanent SAT record. I will say it was quite a boost to them when they scored above the average high schooler scores. We never told anyone their scores and I'm pretty sure they didn't discuss them with their friends.

My girls attended a parochial school, they were never in any kind of "gifted" program (nothing offered at their school). So these summer programs were a great opportunity for them. It was totally their choice whether to go.

They are good test-takers, which I don't think is a bad thing I was one of those as well. I know many bright, intelligent people who do not do well on tests. But I have never met anyone who did well on these tests who was not very intelligent, if you know what I mean. So yes, they are good test-takers and also very smart. I am only saying this because I am anonymous on this board I am just trying to explain why someone would let their kids take the SAT in elementary school.

 

[allison443]

You are aware that the SATs are now an empty anacronym, (formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test) owned by the Collegeboard company, and they FREELY admit that it is NOT an intelligence (or "IQ") test....but a test to see how good of a test taker you are? Add to that fact, they are basically designed for students applying to UCLA, whom the writing portion is designed for. This is all information freely given out by the College Board company. What good is it for a 7th grader?(or any student, really).

It is certainly not an intelligence test, but do you admit that it does test knowledge of certain subject areas such as math? Of course test-taking skills, especially reading skills, are a big factor in determining one's success on the test.

 

[Nancy]

You can learn a lot from the admissions sections on schools websites...I've been doing a lot of looking, and from what I can tell it is different by school. Usually they say what their average/cutoff scores are and which parts of the test are included to get that score.

Yes, I've noticed that too. I've been checking a lot out now since my DD really hasn't.

I asked my 2 youngest DD's about kids taking the SAT's in 7th and they had never heard of it. My youngest has scored in the top percentile in the standardized tests and we were never offered the SAT test and neither was the top student in the grade. Middle DD also never heard of it. They were looking at me like I grew another head when I asked them about it.

 

[allison443]

I am not heated at all, DVCLiz, I am DISILLUSIONED as to what these schools (& parents) THINK to have 7th Graders (today) and 5th Graders (tomorrow) taking STANDARDIZED tests!!

How about when the SCORES come out and everyone starts COMPARING? That is what bothers me. This is the STRESS I speak of. Whether you want to admit it or not, kids do talk and kids do compare and kids do get very upset when they just do not make the grade or the cut (as you stated). This is when I questioned "thrilled and honored"!!!!!! And this is why I think 7th Graders are too young for these tests. There is just so much competition already out there at that age group from music, to arts, to sports, to clubs, to gf's and bf's and now the added stress of how you scored on an SAT?

Maybe in Lake Woebegon (where all the children are above average) there are a lot of 7th graders taking the SAT. In my kids' school, maybe only 3 or 4 kids took the test each year through the Johns Hopkins program. (I'm not even aware if it is possible to have a 7th grader take the SAT, unless it is through one of these special programs. ) That really cut down on any comparing or competition since so few kids took it.

 

[Green Tea]

When mine took them in middle school, I think he was one of 2 in 7th and maybe the only one in 8th. It isn't wide spread. We were also through Johns Hopkins. He had no idea what his friend in 7th grade got; I've discovered over the years kids talk A LOT less than moms talk.