In my last post, I mentioned preparation methods and specifically mentioned 7th Grade Talent Search students taking the SAT as an above-level test. I thought I would now spend a little time explaining how the SAT is an above-level test is and what it is used for. (If you are only interested in learning about the new SAT, this post may not be of interest to you. However, if you are a parent of a student taking the SAT through TIP, this post does contain valuable background information on this … [Read more...] about SAT as an Above-Level Test
SAT
Perspective
At the risk of inventing history, I’m going to say that my first experience with the SAT was in 1991. I was 9 years old. It was a Saturday. No, I didn’t take the test that day. Rather, I watched an episode of the old show “Saved by the Bell” in which Zack and Kelly and the gang take the test themselves. Zack manages a near perfect score while staring at a pretty girl the whole time. Screech stashes a lucky goldfish in his pocket. Jessie is rocking a denim and leopard-print shirt. If you’re … [Read more...] about Perspective
The new SAT vs. the old SAT
If you want to know about how many items there are on the new SAT, what the sections are, etc., don’t read a blog. Go to the SAT website. Their overview is clear, concise, and comprehensive. The above paragraph could easily be the entirety of this post. But then I wouldn’t be giving you your money’s worth. (Wait, you aren’t paying anything to read this? We’re giving this away? Nonprofits. I tell ya.) The first thing I learned upon visiting the Inside the Test page on the SAT site is that the … [Read more...] about The new SAT vs. the old SAT
Research STUNT
Dear Matthew Makel, You are registered for the SAT with Essay on March 05, 2016. Thousands of people are receiving similar messages as they prepare to take the SAT. Most will be high school students preparing for college, a smaller portion will be middle school students participating in talent searches. I’m guessing that very few will be 36-year-old, PhD-holding professional researchers. But I know that there’s at least one. Because it’s me. I am performing a research STUNT (SAT Taking to … [Read more...] about Research STUNT
About STUNT: SAT Taking to Understand the New Test
Duke TIP researcher Dr. Matthew Makel is taking the revised SAT in early March as a way to explore the changes in the test and the implications for Duke TIP students. As a researcher in the field of gifted education, Dr. Makel is well-versed in the academic, social, and emotional needs of academically talented students. Both before and after he takes the test on March 5, he will be blogging about his experiences, test preparation, and relevant research about the SAT test process and its … [Read more...] about About STUNT: SAT Taking to Understand the New Test
Above-Level Testing
Above-level tests are a part of most talent search models that help gifted students identify their academic strengths. Students who participate in above-level testing take assessments earlier than the tests were designed to be administered. For example, a fourth, fifth, or sixth grade student can take the ACT EXPLORE®, which is designed for eighth graders, or seventh grade students can take the SAT or ACT, which are designed for high school juniors and seniors as college entrance exams. When you … [Read more...] about Above-Level Testing
Test Advantages Found in Males and in Females
Thirty years ago, researchers published what was to become an extremely controversial finding: 12-year-old males were 13 times as likely as females to score over 700 on the SAT-Math, putting them at the top 0.01% (one in ten thousand) in mathematical ability. The controversy was in part about whether these differences were the result of nature (biology/genetics) or of nurture (socialization). The debate has continued throughout the past 30 years. … [Read more...] about Test Advantages Found in Males and in Females
What Does It Mean to Be Gifted?
Successful intelligence is being able to take advantage of one’s strengths, compensate for one’s weaknesses. Successfully intelligent people can adapt, shape, and select their environment to best suit their needs and goals. This perspective may be a useful reference when considering what can be done for gifted kids beyond their school curriculum. … [Read more...] about What Does It Mean to Be Gifted?
ACT and SAT: Optional?
Will universities stop requiring students to submit an SAT or ACT score as part of their application? Some universities are finding that scores on these tests are poor predictors of collegiate success. … [Read more...] about ACT and SAT: Optional?
Test Prep Courses: Helpful or Hype?
Kaplan, Sylvan, Peterson, and Princeton Review are just a few of the companies offering test prep courses for the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment. As students aspire to get into the college or university of their choice, many resort to such courses in the hope of gaining a competitive edge by raising their scores. Although the SAT and the ACT differ in format, most test prep courses focus on test-taking strategies and skills related to writing and grammar, critical reading, and advanced … [Read more...] about Test Prep Courses: Helpful or Hype?