<p>For those parents whose kids have applied this year- how have schools handled the new SAT. Are most taking into account the writing score. My Jr son received his PSAT scores back last week and they were better then expected but the writing score brings him way down. When you add in the essay component of the real thing it will probably come in even lower.</p>
<p>Gee I have read your post 2X and I cannot understand your question. You ask about SAT but then move to PSAT and change the questions? What is it you want to know?</p>
<p>I believe she is saying that, as indicated by his PSAT score breakdown, her S’s writing component suggests that the writing section of the SAT, when he takes it, is likely to bring his score down, especially as there will also be an essay to write.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, ican’t answer the question because I have no experience with the new SAT. However, it seems as though the issue is in flux right now,both because different colleges are handling it differently, and because individual colleges are in the midst of evaluating and possibly evolving how they handle it.</p>
<p>The best I can tell you is that if you cannot write well enough for a high score on the PSAT then you have little chance or doing well on the SAT. It will affect your choice of schools. What we don’t know is what schools are you looking at? I mean an engineering student who doesn’t write well…not a big problem. Other than that you can get into a good school but it will hurt you son. Most top schools are already dealing with many kids who have poor writing skill and in part the SAT was changed as a result of this very problem.</p>
<p>I think most selective schools are considering the W score, since many used to require/recommend the SATII-Writing. But, since the essay is so new, they haven’t figured out how to use that sub-score of the writing test – at least that’s what they said last year during general meetings.</p>
<p>on a positive note: you know now…this is a situation you can improve and it isn’t that hard to get the score up. I’d say knowledge is power and you have the knowledge so get a plan and get this resolved.</p>
<p>Garland’s interpretation is correct. We aren’t talking selective schools. His probable field of study will be either math or engineering. He has ADD and dyslexia which makes the essay component difficult.
He has no firm list of schools yet. But will want to stay in the west. Short list so far-schools he is requesting info from Univ of Redlands, Colorado School of Mines, University of Montana. He will also look at schools that have a learning disabilities program.
He has received 100% extra time for the SAT from the Collegeboard but I can’t imagine him sitting for 8 hours.</p>
<p>so you have nothing to worry about. You will find his place and he will get in on his merits from math.</p>
<p>I have read a couple of articles recently about how colleges are treating the new (writing) portion of the SAT. I will try to find one. As I recall, many colleges are not using it or discounting it heavily this year because it is a new test. Presumably it will carry more weight next year. It works both ways: Many students are very annoyed when they hear that a particular college isn’t using the writing score. They devote so much time to test prep and taking the actual test, and for what??</p>
<p>well, the article was from Nov 20, 2005, and only availabe via subscription. I could only get the following exerpt to identify the article:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Mom60, the news for your son should be good:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Despite your fears, your son should score BETTER on the SAT W than on the PSAT W. The PSAT is not an easier test. Also, improving a score on the W component is much easier than for the Reading component. A solid grammar review should do wonders for your son. </p></li>
<li><p>You mentioned ADD and dyslexia. If your son has been diagnosed by a specialist, by all means apply for the extra time. There is NO bigger advantage than obtaining the extra time, but it is offered to equalize the chances for people with true handicaps. As you know, the scores are no longer flagged, so there is no reason to forgo the added help. </p></li>
<li><p>If all fails, please realize that the essay component and the W scores are currently a quasi non-event. Very few schools are on the record as paying much attention to the W score. I see no reason for as drastic change in this situation as the critics of the writing component of the SAT are not retreating at all. If it were not for the massive sub-contract between ETS/TCB and Pearsons, I would not be surprised if talks about dropping the essay started surfacing in Princeton.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Mom60, I have a S who is looking at the same type of schools that your S is looking at. In fact he’s been accepted to Colorado School of Mines, I don’t know if he’ll be able to decide to go there because I don’t think that the money is going to come through. (I hope that was easy to understand, maybe it was clear as mud! LOL!)</p>
<p>Anyways, this is my opinion. I think that the SAT is a really bad fit for those who lean towards math and science. The writing and the CR just kills those who think on the other side of the brain. The SAT leans so much towards those who are better at English and Writing. The SAT is so long.</p>
<p>My S, who does not have ADD or learning disabilities, did much, much better on the ACT. It’s better for math and science leaning kids, it’s shorter and I think just a better fit. My S only took the SAT once, hated it and vowed never to take it again. He took the ACT 3 times.</p>
<p>Xiggi-He has already applied and received the extra time. He had extra time on the PSAT which helped. He was granted 100% extra time which is unusual. Most who get extra time receive 1.5 times. If you are granted 1.5 times you take the test at the test site. With 100% time you have to arrange with someone at your school to administer the test.
He is trying to decide where his efforts would be best spent. The reading or the writing. Right now from what I am reading I would push him to work on the reading section.
NJres- thank you for taking the time to search for the article.</p>
<p>I am a student.</p>
<p>The writing portion is almost entirely grammar. If you or a teacher can work with him on reviewing all of the little grammar rules (not the names for them–just the rules themselves), his score will rise dramatically, I presume. He also needs to think carefully about every question because the SAT tries to trick kids. He should spend time thinking about, answering, and then checking his answers. The essay is actually only a rather small portion of the overall score (for instance, it’s possible to get an 800 writing without an outstanding score on the essay). There is a lot written on the SAT essay, but he needs to work on crafting a multi-paragraph essay complete with an introduction and conclusion. Only about two handwritten pages are given, so he doesn’t need to fill a ton of room. It should include relevent examples to the topic and have as few grammar errors as possible. Complex sentence structure adds points, I think, but he can keep it pretty simple.</p>
<p>Try not to worry about it too much. He has a lot of time to work on his test taking skills, and most schools will take his learning issues into account when evaluating his scores.</p>
<p>Deb922-We haven’t looked into the ACT. Under this past year the ACT wasn’t given in our town so few kids take it. We haven’t applied for accommodations for the ACT but it might be worth looking into.
I am hoping that the more technical schools will be lenient in looking at the writing scores. Has your son visited Colorado School of Mines?
Corrangled- thanks for a students view of the new SAT.
I wish it were as simple as reviewing the rules of grammar. For a kid who didn’t learn to read till age 10 he knows few if any rules of grammar.</p>
<p>Yes, I understand now. Does he meet with any type of learning specialist? There may be someone in that type of field who would know a way to get him a basic enough instinct of some rules. Any knowledge of some simple rules at all can really increase the score, I would guess. </p>
<p>How well does he speak? They (as in all the test review people) tell kids not to do the writing section by how a sentence sounds because the SAT has some trick questions to fool that tactic, but if he is alone in a room with a procter and can read the sentences out loud, he may be able to improve his score by putting the answers that he thinks sound best. </p>
<p>Since I have very little knowledge of LDs and no experience with your son, I can’t give any good advice. I am confident, though, that there is someone at a learning center or some other private tutor who can help him improve, if you aren’t working with someone already. Remember, with hard work lower SAT scores can be dramatically improved. </p>
<p>I would also suggest looking into the less English intensive ACT test, as well as all of the fine schools that do not require the SAT (list: <a href=“http://www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm[/url]”>http://www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm</a> ). You should also look into schools that provide significant help and resources to kids with learning problems. Not only will this make his time easier and more productive, but these schools will probably be well versed in learning related issues and will understand the proper ways to evaluate his scores.</p>
<p>There are a lot of options, and there is a lot of time. With appropriate work and research, I am sure that you can find great schools for your son. </p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Corranged- you seem very wise for a high school student. The reading aloud idea is wonderful. He actually is also allowed a cassette reading of the SAT as one of his accommodations.</p>
<p>Strong teacher recommendations negated my S’s poor SAT essay score.
The essay prompt may be more challenging for the math/science brain. My S is actually a very strong writer and despite earning a 7 (on 12 point scale) on the essay (see prompt below), he was admitted ED to a top 20 LAC. Even with the negative weighting of a poor essay score he raised his score on the new SAT from 1840 to 2040 (540 writing raised to 640) by self study – learn those grammer rules for a higher overall score.
Essay Prompt:
Alone we can afford to be wholly whatever we are and feel whatever we feel absolutely. With others we are busy worrying what does my companion see or think of this, and what do I think of it? The original impact of our feeling gets lost or reduced.</p>
<p>Assignment: Doses worrying too much about other people’s opinions prevent us from seeing things clearly? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and iwth examples taken from reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>