Mom’s seven SAT ‘test’ run ... the impossible dream

<p>[46-year-old</a> mom takes the SAT’s seven times as she makes it her goal to make a perfect score. - NYPOST.com](<a href=“http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mom_test_run_fXlS4deCnHMARJEK6Szr0H]46-year-old”>Mom’s ‘test’ run)</p>

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<p>Isn’t Great Neck about 35 miles south of Westchester? For that kind of money, she might have found a few alternatives and willing entrepreneurs! Or she might have spent a few “more” hours on College Confidential. </p>

<p>Here’s the link to her “journey” [One</a> Mom’s Quest to Ace the SATs | Perfect Score Project](<a href=“http://perfectscoreproject.com/about/]One”>http://perfectscoreproject.com/about/) I have not read it with great attention and cannot comment on the reason why she has been unable to raise her math score as it is the area that usually responds the best to serious preparation.</p>

<p>My perspective on stories like this one is that the money spent in an elusive quest for the Holy Grail of test preparation is usually not well spent. Year after year, it is the same story. Students spent time and money trying to identify the best mousetrap, the magical tool that will deliver the superb results without a lot of work. There ARE no secrets and no shortcuts. Of course, in this story, a lot of work was devoted to this “quest.” Leaving me with the conclusions that the test taker reached her natural maximum score, or that she did not pay the needed attention to the tutors she hired. </p>

<p>Fwiw, a student who only answers the easy to medium questions on the SAT scores well above 500 points. This means she could have left all the hard and medium to hard questions blank. </p>

<p>PS Enjoy this [The</a> Impossible Dream-Man of La Mancha - YouTube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow]The”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow)</p>

<p>I don’t get this lady. What a waste of money. And has she ever considered that maybe she’s just not that smart and can’t score a perfect score or even near it? </p>

<p>From the article

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<p>I HIGHLY disagree. The math topics are extremely basic. It does not take that much work to learn them all and do some practice.</p>

<p>I read this lady’s blog where she said the current test was harder than when she took it in high school. IMO it’s simpler since they got rid of analogies and quant comparisons. The math is pretty simple but the curve is tough for an 800. People overthink it and make careless mistakes. And some people just have a mental block with math.</p>

<p>It boggles my mind that this woman had nothing better to do with her time.</p>

<p>She should be seeking her passion and working her ECs. ;)</p>

<p>Pretty cool project. Not one I’d choose though I admit it’s crossed my mind to take a practice test just to see how I’d do.</p>

<p>Ok, so let’s start with this: </p>

<p>That was an article in the “New York Post.” </p>

<p>Do you all really believe everything you read? Do you not realize that their agenda is very different than my agenda. </p>

<p>Incidentally, I’ve since posted my edition of their story, in case anyone’s interested.</p>

<p>That’s the deal when you participate in media interviews (as opposed to posting on the internet in your own words). I’m really surprised that all of you high SAT scorers don’t realize how essential it is to consider “the source.”</p>

<p>In fact, I’ve read many many things that weren’t true on College Confidential (much as I love to come here and read all that I can). Unfortunately, a lot of what I have read here has turned out to be misinformation.</p>

<p>Given that I had a very successful career for 20+ years, and did this project as A) a way to share what I learned with all other parents (and it turns out students too) who were as overwhelmed as I was by how to best prepare for this test, and B) I had a book deal with a major publisher to sample as many of the the different test prep methods as I could in a year (which, I now think is a mission at odds with actually getting a good score), I may not be as stupid and time wasting as you all think ;)</p>

<p>It was a job (and a very fun one at that). My intention was to spare others time and money wasted, and cut to the chase about the best way to prepare for this high stakes test.</p>

<p>Incidentally, have any of you posted your un-doctored, verified scores…or am I just to believe on blind faith that you scored well?</p>

<p>She’s clearly got time on her hands and clearly has some sort of need to redeem her high school years…if she’s got the time I say why not, she’s not said if she’s going to look for another job or just blog, clearly she spent one year practicing SATs tests - to each his own…The nice thing about blogs is you can read them if they interest you and not read them if they have no interest. My high school SAT math was an abysmal 580…I doubt I could even crack that today. About all I remember is and some basic geometry and Algebra I. The difference is I could care less about all that and this author for some reason cares deeply. I feel sorry for her kids knowing what her scores are. Good, bad or ugly she is basically throwing them in her son’s face.</p>

<p>and I forgot one more thing:</p>

<p>I did get an 800 on the Writing and a 760 on the Reading. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.</p>

<p>momofthreeboys ! You are so wrong about me, I can hardly believe!!! My son did much better than me in the math, and extremely well on the Writing and Reading.</p>

<p>I’m not throwing my scores in his face. I’m could not be more thrilled that he did so well! I’m so proud of his hard work and how well he did.</p>

<p>And btw, I did well myself on the reading and writing sections. (i.e. 99th percentile)</p>

<p>Why are people so ill informed and judgmental on the internet…it boggles my mind.</p>

<p>Ok, I’ve got to get back to writing my book, but if any of you have something positive, constructive, honest, and nice to say, please, for the love of god, email me. I can’t bear to come back here anymore!</p>

<p>I don’t know about anybody else but I wasn’t criticizing. Just giving my opinion of the relative difficulty of the currednt and past tests. I’d suggest that if you’re weriting a book for a major publisher it’s likely to draw a lot of attention and commentary- negative and positive. That’s the nature of the beast. And as far as myself I don’t recall mentioning my scores. I haven’t taken an official test since high school anyway and wouldn’t unless someone wanted to pay for my time. I haven’t been offered a book deal.</p>

<p>Forgive the spelling. I’m on my Blackberry.</p>

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<p>Or perhaps being smart and a perfect score, or near it, are not the same thing?</p>

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<p>I’ll bite, but I will do it here, and not via email. </p>

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<p>I am not sure if this contradicts the “I can’t bear to come back here anymore!” quote above, but I will assume you have read many parts of CC, and will continue to do so.</p>

<p>It is true that many things are not true on CC, but isn’t that expected from a site where clueless teenagers and misdirected parents come for … assistance. However, except for truly hopeless but entertaining areas such as the WAMC, you have to admit that minsinformation on CC is quickly dispelled by people “in the know.” For instance, I think that you would be hard pressed to find better information on financial aid and transfer admission than on this site. The same for information directed at Hispanic students. </p>

<p>And, fwiw, since I have participated in the SAT Prep forum since 2003, I believe that the positive and helpful comments dwarf the recurrent misinformation that permeates with each arrival of “freshly minted” high schoolers. I happen to believe that plenty of information posted in that forum might have helped you increasing your math score, and this, at a fraction of the price quoted by others. And, if your scores happen to represent your own limits, it would have been nice to know that it only set you back a good twenty dollars and a few hours! </p>

<p>If your comment about misinformation was directed at the press, it is indeed the price one pays when deciding to place a story or a name in the hands of the … writers with a penchant for creativity and the need for something juicy. This is perhaps why I always condemned the decision by parents to share their children stories. NOTHING good ever happens from playing with the desire to be … famous or recognized. </p>

<p>As far as writing a book, the last book that I remember bringing up the misinformation of CC was none other than Crazy U. I hope that the book you might write will be more accurate and present a much better understanding of the subject it purports to cover. Simply stated, Ferguson only showed his lack of efforts to understand the subject and a desire to be different. The biggest crime is that poor parents actually will continue to buy that type of book with the erroneous assumption it is a guidance book, and not a humorous and self-deprecating book. Of course, we also know that books that are controversial do generate more traffic. Is your idea to be cloning or channeling Amy Chua by crucifying the SAT Prep industry? </p>

<p>As far as your research, while nobody can criticize your efforts, I am not really certain how an individual experience will be useful to the readers. Despite being repeated ad nauseam, it remains true that the plural of anecdotes is not data. As an example, since the NY article mentioned a negative opinion of the Khan Academy tools, I have to openly wonder if you clearly understood how Khan’s videos are supposed to be used, or understood that Khan did NOT pretend to replace a tutor or provide a SAT Prep course. </p>

<p>Oh well, this is a starting point. If you were to come back with additional comments, I promise to address them. </p>

<p>Your call!</p>

<p>Would’ve been nice if someone had spent $10,000 paying for low income kids to get free SAT test prep help. Most of them can’t afford that and their families won’t be able to buy a book like this to see what the alleged “best” ways to prepare are. </p>

<p>Not sure how a book about the various methods one person used to prepare for a test could be helpful to all the different SAT test takers out there. Not everyone learns the same way, retains all the info well, or uses the same testing strategies when they’re at the test site. The methods of private tutors will change from one tutor to the next and even from one session to the next. Every tutor can have a bad day or doesn’t make a good connection with every student. Seems like the content of the book could just boil down to “this worked for me, this didn’t work for me, your mileage may vary.” That’s the same info everyone had already.</p>

<p>PerfectScoreProject: Without giving away the entire story, there had to be large +'s and some -'s associated with your research…is it possible to whet the reader’s appetites with a few morsals?</p>

<p>What is the publish date for your work? Are you doing any signings or a tour?</p>

<p>Best of Luck?</p>

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Best line of the week!</p>

<p>Sorry, I wasn’t criticizing your ambition but I still feel for your kids. It’s my opinion. There is enough angst between kids about their scores they really don’t need to be getting a year long blow by blow from their parents…just sayin’</p>

<p>She sounds like someone with too much money and time on her hands, book deal or no.</p>

<p>I do agree, though, that Kaplan books are riddled with typos. I had that experience when studying for the GRE a few years ago.</p>

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<p>Well, that’s silly. I happen to think this was a huge waste of time and money, but it’s her time and her money to waste; “better uses” could be found for pretty much anyone’s time and spending.</p>