 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
SoCalMom
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 47 |
| Mana: |  |
|
Posted: Thu Jun 26th, 2008 04:40 pm |
|
Somehow, I had a feeling the back posts on this topic area would be useful because I think my DS will be lopsided unless he takes a slightly different path, soon.
We've been debating whether it would be worth the money for a college prep service for the SAT. Meanwhile, as a sophomore, he completed AP Calculus BC and sat for the SAT Math Level 2 this June. He prepped for it by self study from two books, and managed to pull off an 800 (typical teenage summer routine, he doesn't know yet since he's luxuriating in bed at 9:30.)
Based on prior test results (SAT in middle school to qualify for CTY and PSAT this year), his writing skills are pretty good as well. It's the critical reading score that has always, always been the laggard.
It's not comforting to note that it's easier to prep for the math portion, and that general reading will help for the critical reading portion, since it's not been easy to get our son to do much of this. He is getting back to Magic cards because his group of friends are currently back into it.
We may need to set some reading incentives for him ... teenage version of the book clubs I remember from loooooooooong ago. Meanwhile, the house is packed with books and magazines and I'm the quintessential bookworm. When it's something he likes, he'll devour it. He finished the last Harry Potter book in less than a day in the car, while we drove back from Yellowstone last summer.
Any new helpful hints on this thread would be greatly appreciated!
|
Consolation
Member
| Joined: | Mon Apr 9th, 2007 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 488 |
| Mana: |   |
|
Posted: Thu Jun 26th, 2008 05:02 pm |
|
I'm assuming he took the PSAT? If I recall correctly, he should have gotten his results back showing which questions he got wrong. There ought to be some indication where his "weakness"--if any--lies: vocab, grammar, etc. He could then devote some attention to that, if he is motivated to do so.
Congrats on his 800!
|
SoCalMom
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 47 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Jun 26th, 2008 05:52 pm |
|
Thank you, Consolation.
Yes, he did take the PSAT as a sophomore. Unfortunately, there wasn't a strong pattern as to which critical reading questions were missed. We'll see what information can be gleaned from this year's October PSAT, which should allow enough time to prep for a March SAT. With any luck, the reading/writing required for last year's AP European History class, and this year's AP English Language class, will assist as well.
I'm thinking we may want to explore the route of looking for a private tutor for just this section of the test. It appears that math tutors are more visibly available, including the irony that my DS was one of them last year, and will continue on with this next academic year.
|
scoop
Member
| Joined: | Wed Oct 4th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 576 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Jun 26th, 2008 07:27 pm |
|
| Congrats on that score. What a nice present to wake up to.
|
Chedva
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 577 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Fri Jun 27th, 2008 12:49 pm |
|
I agree with the idea of getting a tutor. Otherwise, in a program, he'll be forced to sit through things he already knows well enough to teach!
My d used a tutor for just this reason (and it was easier to schedule). She needed more help with math, but she went to an "all around SAT tutor", not just one focused with math. This tutor has a lot of students who need help with CR.
The other advantage is that private tutoring takes less time. My d covered more in one hour per week than she would have in a class requiring 3 hours twice a week. And for her, it worked - she only took the test once.
|
mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 787 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Fri Jun 27th, 2008 04:07 pm |
|
A question for those who are concerned about these scores: What do you consider to be "lopsided"?
Is an 800 M, 700 CR lopsided? (I'll just neutralize the W at, say 700). I wouldn't say so.
How about 800 M, 690 CR (missing one more question)? Still a heckuva score.
750M, 650 CR? 710 M, 630 CR? Not "imbalanced" IMO.
Of course one nice thing about a 1500 score on CR and M is that it means both component scores are at 700 or above and the "gap" between them cannot be any larger than 100 points.
I think the concern arises most often when the gap is > 100 points between M and CR (in either direction), but the issue of imbalance is maybe another way of saying the scores are "too low" relative to the student's aspirations or types of school she would like to apply to. For some select schools, even moderate math scores (on SAT 1 or SAT 2) are very damaging, no matter how high the verbal. For others, any score below 600 on a single component may be very damaging. But again these are concerns about low scores relative to the school's norms, not "lopsidedness" in scores.
I think there may be other ways to "balance" the perception of a student in the AdCom's eyes than to focus on the test scores or test prep. One factor is "time": to reduce the gap in the scores as a result of maturation and test experience. As I watched "talent search" scores over the years, imbalance is very common in early grades, but less so in later ones simply because many students essentially max out their scores on one side of the test and the other side catches up -- naturally.
But I think that other parts of the application, including grades and academic program, awards, EC's, writing samples, or other demonstrations of aptitude and achievement largely shape the student's image to the admissions committee. For example, my daughter is an 'artist.' She proved that through her portfolio. But having high math scores told the admissions committee that she was 'balanced' in a way that having a high verbal (CR) score would not. So "high portfolio-moderate CR-moderate-high math" is a winning combination for admissions for an artist, I think.
In general, students who put together good applications create something equivalent to a portfolio -- something that shows the student's individual achievements, talents, and potential -- in which case the test scores become just a part of the supporting or auxiliary documentation. And the balance comes from the whole package, not from the tests as such. Lopsidedness in scores doesn't matter, because the balance is more holistic. Just don't get a disastrously low score on any section. (And don't expect spectacularly high scores to counterbalance a mediocre academic record.)
|
CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3319 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat Jun 28th, 2008 09:58 pm |
|
Mackinaw, as always, you bring up excellent points. Your point about looking at the big picture is very important. Students and parents need to remember that test scores are not looked at in isolation!
For instance, if a student's scores are lower in math, but has taken the highest level of math courses possible, and earned good grades, the admissions committee is going to put that test score into a different context than a student who hasn't done as well academically in math. The same goes with reading and writing --- if the student has consistently good grades in English and writing-and-reading intensive courses (such as history), the test score will have a different context, even if it is "lopsided." AP scores can also provide some evidence to the admissions committee, as can teacher recommendation letters. It is also important to think about the match between the student and the colleges and programs he or she is applying to. So, in looking at test scores, remember to look at the big picture, not just the single "lopsided" score!
|
mackinaw
Member
| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
| Location: | Michigan |
| Posts: | 787 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat Jun 28th, 2008 10:13 pm |
|
Carolyn, thank you. If you haven't written an essay about "lopsided scores" on your blog, I think this would be a good topic -- or at least a good Q&A item in a FAQ about test scores.
|
CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3319 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sat Jun 28th, 2008 11:09 pm |
|
| Good idea, Mackinaw. I'll see what I can do in the coming weeks.
|
SoCalMom
Member
| Joined: | Fri May 16th, 2008 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 47 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 12:37 am |
|
Mackinaw and Carolyn, thank you for your perspective on this issue.
If I'm reading correctly, if a math whiz kid is enrolling and doing well in honors or AP classes in history and English, the results from this will be compared against a relatively lower SAT CR score, since that score would be merely representative of a few hours effort on a day (or days if taken more than once.)
This makes sense and I hope many of the AdComs see it this way. This comports with the idea that grades and classes 9-12 are weighted more than one day tests.
This is comforting ... as well as knowing our very well respected AP English teacher (who also teaches English Honors 10) really encouraged DS to enroll in AP English for the upcoming year. She's been around a long time and everyone holds their breath hoping she'll not be retired by the time their kids are in the HS. 
|
CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3319 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Sun Jun 29th, 2008 01:09 am |
|
I've talked with many, many admissions officers, and this is the insight they have repeatedly given me. I've also seen it over and over again in my own counseling experience: students with lopsided scores who get into some pretty terrific schools because the overall picture of their application overcomes a possible weakness in one area. A great recommendation from that AP English teacher talking specifically about your son's reading and writing abilities will probably go a long way, assuming there are no other major weaknesses in his admissions profile.
Of course, individual situations and application materials will vary, but, in general, admissions officers are looking at the big picture of the applicant, not just individual components of the application.
Last edited on Sun Jun 29th, 2008 01:10 am by CarolynLawrence
|
expatdxb
Member
|
Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 04:19 am |
|
expatS2 hasn't taken SATs yet. His PSATs were respectable. However, he has really struggle with Math this year as a combination of a poor teacher, and spiraling self confidence. He ended up bringing his grade to a C for the second semester with a great tutor, which was cause for celebration. Humanities is his strong suit with high b's mostly a's across the board.
We will have him do an SAT prep course, as much for the confidence building and familiarity with the test as anything else. My concern is, what if the math score ends up below 600? I believe the CR and Writing will be 700 range. how does that type of situation play out?
The plan is SAT prep starting in September, SAT's in November so he has some time to restudy or retake if he wants to.
|
Chedva
Member
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 577 |
| Mana: | |
|
Posted: Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 12:00 pm |
|
expat, if he's really strong in humanities, you may want to skip the prep course and go with a tutor who can focus in on what he really needs. Otherwise, he'll be sitting around bored during the CR prep, and may not even get the help he needs in math if his needs don't match the rest of the class. A tutor works especially well for a busy kid. My d couldn't take a prep class because they met at least twice a week for 3 hours each; she worked with a tutor, who zeroed in on her weaknesses, for 1 hour per week. Yes, it cost a bit more, but she got what she needed and only had to take the SAT I once. That was certainly worth a lot!
ETA: Oops, I just realized I had posted something similar further back in this thread! Apologies to all for the redundancy!
Last edited on Thu Jul 3rd, 2008 12:01 pm by Chedva
|
Current time is 01:17 am | Page:   1 2 |
|
|
|
|
