SATs, ACTs & other ???

[The Dragon Academy]

I feel like I have been living under a rock...you all discuss these tests like they are as commons as peanut butter cookies. Did you discover all of this information on your own or is there some place to go to figure this out?

In another thread Asta mentioned the SAT-II Biology-E or Biology-M. I had no idea what either of those were so I had to go look them up.

I want to do what is best for my DS and give him the opportunity to make the most of himself but I am afraid my ignorance about homeschooling and testing will hinder his chances for success. Would the public schools know about the different tests and help guide him toward which tests to take and when?

Is there some website that gives detailed testing information for homeschoolers?

Do I need to figure it all out? How much time do you spend looking up tests and contests and gifted programs?

[MariannNOVA]

Hi, D.A.: I'm not going to be much help, but I can give you some background, you will likely see how the milieu has changed over the years.

When older dds were in private school back when dinosaurs roamed the earth (twenty years ago), JHCTY was THE program that was promoted almost exclusively in NJ. Testing dates and locations were made known via printed literature sent home to eligible students. Notices, schedules, etc were received in the mail.

One of my nieces, who is now a senior in high school, went to quite a few of the JHCTY summer courses when she was younger.

I have noticed now with 'les petites enfants the sequel' that even when they took their standardized tests in private school, and their scores were in the 99th percentile (all three children), there was no mention made of it, no supporting info sent home with the test scores. In fact, it was not until a few months ago when I went in search of their standarized test scores from last year, that I saw that their scores were quite impressive. I located scores from previous years, and saw that all three consistently scored higher than 98 percentile. I mention this b/c NO ONE at their school ever said a word to us about this -- and I don't mean a pat on the back and a suggestion to take them out for ice cream to celebrate.......:glare:. I mean no mention of programs that might be available (even if they might only be available a few years down the road) for any of the three -- and dd11 is now in fifth grade, so last year's scores should have been mentioned.

I say all this, because it appears to me that as a homeschooler, one must decide to do the legwork themself. I have read up on a number of programs, and I am wrapping my brain around our being prepared for either fall or winter (2010-2011) testing. I am also staying on top of our public school's testing for admission into their Level IV GT program and the IB program for Grade 6 and up. I may not use either of those, BUT I want to know what there is to know about them. The onus of learning this information, and researching the programs, certainly seems to be on me. I spend a couple of hours a month looking up these programs. As I get closer to the time when tests are administered, I will likely spend more time focused on the 'one' test/program we will pursue.

Having been through all this once before, I can tell you (and I in no way mean to be irreverant) that MUCH of the stuff one hears other parents talking about regarding this (and I don't mean the parents here -- I mean the parents at sports events, birthday parties, choir practice, etc) amounts to nothing more than a 'p*ssing contest.' I have forced myself to block out what I hear them talking about (unless one of them actually has an important tidbit of info unknown to me at that point) and proceed in an orderly, pro-active and informed fashion. Many of them end up doing nothing for their GT children b/c they end up like this: :willy_nilly: I would imagine that homeschooling families are in some respects better equipped (I'm not saying they do more, just saying that they are equipped to do more) to pursue these programs as hs-ing families already have taken a hands-on posture regarding the education of their children.

[dmmetler]

It's worth it to check Yahoo groups, Google groups and so on and find out if there's a GT parent group in your area online. Often there's at least ONE kid on there who has a together GT teacher who keeps up with those things and has a parent who posts them ;)

Having said that, except for DITD, talent-search programs tend to cost a fairly large chunk of money for classes that may be available cheaper locally, so don't assume that these programs will be anything more than bragging rights and a resume builder. While they were about the only game in town for highly gifted kids in the 1980s, there are now a lot of other options available without the Stanford, Northwestern, or Johns Hopkins price tags.

[KJB]

Stay here. Read these boards. Pay close attention to the High School boards since your child sounds older than I suspect those children of the average AL board posters.

It's amazing the font of information that flows through these hallowed hallways.

Ask questions and read here frequently and you'll get up to speed pretty quickly about many resources you (and most public school teachers) had no idea existed.

[The Dragon Academy]

KJB - I plan on stickin' 'round for as long as I can.

I have learned so much here.

[Nan in Mass]

Hop over to the high school board. People periodically ask there about the tests. Mine took the PSAT sophomore year for practice, and junior year. You take this by signing up with your local public school. There are scholarships associated with high junior year scores so many people put lots of effort into the PSAT. Others (like us GRIN) just use it as test practice. Next, people take either the ACT or the SAT. These are the main tests required by most colleges for entrance. The ACT is more knowledge based and the SAT is more like a puzzle or intelligence test. We are seivebrained, so we take the SAT. The SAT has a math, reading, and writing section. That is taken junior year and possibly senior year. Some colleges want applicants to take tests in specific subjects as well, usually 3-5. These are called SAT-IIs. It is advisable to take these close to when you have studied the subject. For example, it is not a good idea to take the bio SAT senior year if you have taken bio your freshman year and haven't taken it since. To take an SAT, you sign up online with the college board people at a location and date from their list. It isn't a bad idea to get a test prep book for those, either, to see if you have any holes. Honour students often take AP (advanced placement) tests as well in some subjects. These are also better taken the spring you study the subject. Many very selective colleges like students to take AP classes, although a few are now saying that it is too formulaic. To take these, you sign up with a local school who is offering the tests, like the PSATs. You can take any of the tests without taking a class in them if you think you can pass them. In order for a homeschooler (or a shcool) to call a class "AP" the syllabus has to be approved by the college board people. Some colleges offer credit for a 4 or 5 (highest score) on an AP test. Some don't. Some colleges offer credit for CLEP tests, too, which are subject tests at the college level. Homeschoolers often use a combination of all these tests to prove to colleges that their child has learned something homeschooling, as outside verification of their "mummy" transcript. The tests need to be taken in time for the scores to be sent to colleges along with college applications, so that means by the end of junior year or very early in senior year if you are going to apply early decision, or by about Christmas of senior year if you are applying in the regular way. G+T people sometimes use these tests as a handy way to prove their child has learned the material despite being unusually young. The standard advice for picking a test prep book is to take your child to the bookstore and let them look through them and choose one they like. Some people do no test prep, but it is at least advisable to go over the practice test that you receive when you sign up to make sure your child understands the directions, knows how to fill in the bubbles, and knows whether it is advantageous to guess or not.

I'm sure the guidance department at your high school can explain it all to you, but so can people on the high school board.

-nan