Need Recommendations for me..the hs mom.. taking COMPASS exam, with poor math skills?

[lvbnhome]

Can you make a suggetion for me?
I need to learn and review my math/algebra in order to do well on the COMPASS exam.
I am applying for nursing school.

It is required and is STRONGLY suggested one obtain the best score possible. I understand the math is the most difficult. My husband (who has a minor in math) did not score well. This scares me, since math was never my strong subject, even in teaching dc.

We have schooled 2 dd's and using MUS, BJU, and now they are using chalk dust, and doing well.
Should I start with chalkdust? or Buy something like the Key To Series. PS I am 40 :) :)
please help, if you can.

[kate in seattle]

two thoughts

take the compass test and see how well you score.

if you can afford it, start aleks, take the placement 'quiz' and work HARD at it. Honestly, if you worked a solid hour a day at ALEKS I bet you would whiz through pre-algebra and algebra.

Best to you,
kate in seattle

[Maverick]

I took the COMPASS last fall. I was tutoring a group of homeschooled students who were going to be taking the COMPASS to enter Running Start and I was curious about the test.

Arggh! I had a long reply typed out and it disappeared. I hate it when that happens!:angry:

Anyway, as I was saying...in order to do well on the test it is recommended that you have completed at least Algebra II, and having some trig and/or pre-calc is even better. Since it is a college entrance test they expect you to work at a level as if you have completed all the high school "college prep" math, reading, and writing. Since most 10th graders are a lot closer to 12th grade level in reading & writing than math, more of them struggle with the math than anything else.

I agree that taking the test to see how you do is a good option. I think here it cost me around $18 to take it. It would be worth it to figure out what you need to work on. If you don't pass there may be a waiting period of 3 or 6 months, though, before you can retake, so make sure it will be okay for you to wait that long.

Aleks could also be a good option because it has that element of pretesting and working with you on just the skills you need. Whether you do Chalkdust or something else I would definitely try to do some pretesting so you can concentrate your efforts on the "holes" in your knowledge rather than go through whole courses. Especially if you are going back and starting from pre-algebra or algebra level. You could save yourself a lot of time by concentrating your efforts. Unless you are starting now and not planning to test or enter the program for another 3 years or so--then by all means be thorough! :001_smile:

Hope that helps some. Good luck to you! I am so impressed with those who go back to school while homeschooling. I so don't have the energy to do both at once. Maybe someday when the kids are grown I'll go back.

[Claire]

Bob Miller's Sat Math for the Clueless would be very helpful, I would think. It takes math section by section, explains, gives problems, then explains the solutions to the problems. I'm not familiar with the Compass but assume the types of questions would be at SAT level.

Also, I checked Amazon for prep books and found this list (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-2683826-6766206?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=compass+prep&x=18&y=18).

[Maverick]

Oh, I thought of one more thing--if you don't get the score you need on the COMPASS, you can take "remedial" math classes at the cc to get up to speed. Here they are math 96 and math 97, intermediate algebra and college algebra. I have known some kids who did that and they really liked the classes and did well. So that would be another option. Of course you would have to pay for those classes, but it might be worth it to not have to stress about the test and to give yourself a good foundation for further classes.

[Jane in NC]

Can you make a suggetion for me?
I need to learn and review my math/algebra in order to do well on the COMPASS exam.


Many CCs use Lial text books in their developmental (i.e. remedial) courses. They give lots of practice problems and are inexpensive on the used market, providing the background that you would need. Your family should be able to help you with the bumps in the road.

While Lial books are not my personal favorite for high schoolers, I think that they might be the ticket for someone in your situation.

Jane

[Eliana]

It's oop, but perhaps your library has a copy of Chart Your Success on the Compass Test (http://www.amazon.com/Chart-Your-Success-Compass-Test/dp/0898921538/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206551905&sr=8-1).

My eldest found this very helpful before she took the test. It gave her a feel for the kind of questions they ask... but it also has some math review sections as well.

[Michelle in MO]

courses there---I think they start with Basic College Math and work up through the Intermediate Algebra book. My suggestion is similar to the suggestions of others: try the test first, and then see where the loopholes are, and then possibly use Aleks or else just see where the test places you within the context of their math curriculum.

[Maverick]

I don't know if you've already looked at the ACT/COMPASS site, but they have some practice problems and a litst of what to study http://www.act.org/compass/tests/math.html