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SoCalMom
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| Joined: | Fri May 16th, 2008 |
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 01:12 pm |
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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-test8-2008aug08,0,1941799.story
College Board to debut an 8th-grade PSAT exam
The test, expected to be released in 2010, aims to identify talented students and get them into college-prep classes early. But many critics say students already face too many tests and too much stress
Not to mention that this also looks just like a product to compete with the ACT's Explore exam for 8th graders, which I'm not familiar with. As it is now, a 7th or 8th grader can take the SAT without it counting for college admission, say to gain entrance to enrichment programs. What this move by the College Board hopes to accomplish is open to debate.
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mackinaw
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 01:26 pm |
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I'm curious about this on another count. Students who are evaluated for "Talent Search" programs such as CTY and CTD already take the (regular) SAT for this purpose, as early as the 6th grade. Would this new PSAT serve as a substitute for that?
"Talent Search" students are generally first nominated to take the test by their schools. But a "PSAT-8" would presumably be aimed at a much broader pool of students -- all 8th graders?
What a boon to the test prep industry this is going to be! "Champagne for everyone, folks, the good times are arolling."
EDIT: If this is mainly a way for the College Board to provide a test that's equivalent to the ACT's "EXPLORE" test used in talent search efforts, I have no objection to it. If they hope to make this a standard for all 8th graders to use, that's another matter.
For example, for those who are not familiar with how the talent search programs work, take a look at this page from the CTD program run by Northwestern. (My children both took SAT in early grades -- 6th and 8th -- but chose not to attend the summer programs.)
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/mats/eligibility.html
http://www.ctd.northwestern.edu/mats/description.html
For analogous information about the Johns Hopkins CTY program you can look here: http://cty.jhu.edu/
Or here for the Rocky Mountain CITY program at Denver University: http://www.du.edu/city/
Or here for the Duke University TIP program: http://www.tip.duke.edu/
Last edited on Fri Aug 8th, 2008 02:44 pm by mackinaw
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 06:43 pm |
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That was my reaction as well, Mack. This is something that's been available for many years.
This is DEFINITELY just another way for the College Board to make money by convincing parents that their kids will fall behind the 8-ball if they don't start standardized tests in 8th grade. The problem, of course, is that this will just ramp up the current admissions arms-race, and make high school even MORE about "getting into college" than it already is. Sigh.
Also, thanks to "no child left behind" there are plenty of STATE standaridized tests which can identify "talented" kids for acceleration in high school. There is no need for another test.
I also think that the argument that this will help low income and minority students get ahead is somewhat disingenuous. How exactly will this benefit kids who comes from disadvantaged backgrounds? The College Board's own research shows that the averages on the SAT for these kids are typically way below the national averages.
Again, this is just another way for the College Board to rake in the dough. Methinks that they are also running scared from the effects of increased ACT takers and the growth of SAT-optional policies.
Last edited on Fri Aug 8th, 2008 07:01 pm by CarolynLawrence
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 08:35 pm |
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Methinks that they are also running scared from the effects of increased ACT takers and the growth of SAT-optional policies.
And, don't forget the end of the baby-bulge or whatever term demographers use to explain this year's (max.) senior class. CB (and ACT) will see their fortunes diminish as the number of total students declines.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 08:38 pm |
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Which is probably why they're putting a spin on this as something to help minority students --- because that will be the main source of growth in the college age population down the road.
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warblers
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 09:14 pm |
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LA Times wrote:The test, expected to be released in 2010, aims to identify talented students and get them into college-prep classes early. ...and more money for College Board from AP classes and exams.
Princeton Review's Kanarek, however, said eighth grade is too late to begin pulling together a college prep portfolio.
"Eighth grade is not the key year for college assessment. That's sixth grade," he said.  Last edited on Fri Aug 8th, 2008 09:15 pm by warblers
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Fri Aug 8th, 2008 10:51 pm |
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My concern is that some high schools might use this to PREVENT some kids who want to take AP courses from taking them by setting minimum score standards as an entry point to the AP track.
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mackinaw
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Posted: Sat Aug 9th, 2008 03:32 am |
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Tracking of almost any variety, and especially early tracking, is likely the wrong way to go. And to hinge it on a test taken at age 13 -- well guess what? Before long our school system will be firmly tied to the class system -- and pfffft, there goes the notion of equality of opportunity.
Last edited on Sat Aug 9th, 2008 03:33 am by mackinaw
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sun Aug 10th, 2008 06:45 pm |
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Yep, and what next? A PPSAT for kindergarteners and advanced pre-schoolers. After all, it's never TOO early to start thinking about college....
Sigh.
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