<p>Crepes, I think the program my son uses for music composition is Sibelius. When he finishes writing his first piece he’s hoping to send it to the percussion teacher at his old high school and ask him to have his group perform and record it so he can hear it played.</p>
<p>I just drive, A hacking competition sounds fun and if you have a daughter interested in comp Sci, scholarships will be thrown at her feet! Computer science department are dying to get more female students! My son took two intro computer science courses at Ole Miss during their Summer College for High School Students and loved them.
Shoboemom, I’ll admit I have a hard time accepting any boy as good enough for my daughters -it used to drive my now 19 year old daughter crazy but now she just thinks its funny. I hope you handle the boyfriend thing better than I do. :D</p>
<p>So my daughter has had two SAT math sessions so far and on the first day I questioned him on SAT versus ACT math. He told me that kids like my daughter will not need ACT math tutoring- he will show her how to self study. I plan to have her begin this next week after her first round of tests ends. He has not shared the technique yet but I assume it’s taking practice tests and reviewing your answers. The tutor told me that the kids need to study and learn technique for SAT math, regardless of who you are. My daughter is at the top of her class ( top 2% ) in a competitive high school where there is no grade inflation ie top kids are not getting 24 on their ACT. She is a grade ahead in our district and has never gotten below a 99 on anything ( honors level- now in pre calc). I realize that some kids may already be beyond this level, but in our school that rarely happens. My point is that she is strong in math although I have no doubt that there are kids who are beyond her. There have been a few kids here and there in our district who have outgrown the math curriculum- maybe 3- but most top kids are like my daughter. These kids ended up taking classes outside of the school.</p>
<p>Last night she threw a mini tantrum because she sat down at 10 pm to do her her math work, which was her second timed test. The first one was last week. I told her that 10 pm was too late and that she needs to do this earlier. Anyway she became very upset because she scored worse on this timed test than last weeks- last week she got a very decent score as her starting point before tutoring. This week- eh- not so much. This rattled her and threw her for a loop. I reminded her that the tutor just explained that this is normal and that kids need to study and learn technique for the SAT- although some walk in and naturally score a 750, most do not!!! She flipped and said she will not take the SAT. I reminded her that she has 11 more weeks of tutoring and studying and please calm down. She will take the SAT- I paid for it LOl!! I also reminded her that it is perfectly fine with me to attend our top state school- she will get in- but she wants to try for more. If she wants to try for more than she has to accept the fact that she can’t just slide into SAT math unprepared and do well enough. </p>
<p>Next week I will give her a math section from the ACT cold as a comparison between the tests. I am curious.</p>
<p>She did well on the PLAN test (99% percentile). Math was the lowest. Science was good, while English and reading were 100% for school and national. I was told that ACT math is more straight forward so maybe that will be her stronger test, although the tutors both said that it is way too early to tell.</p>
<p>We will keep plugging along and I am sure that over time her SAT fits will go down as she gets more practice with the test. The CR/writing tutor told me she is one of his strongest students, but he keeps repeating to everybody in our town that they must know vocabulary. Without vocabulary the test is impossible. She is clearly not one of the stronger SAT math students LOL, although she learns and catches on very fast.</p>
<p>The next couple of months will be interesting as I will continue to diffuse meltdowns when my kid realizes that she needs to work on the SAT math!!! Hopefully her scores will rise- she has only done this so far for a few hours!</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me vent. As I said the next few months should be interesting. When this is done I think we will have a " burn your SAT blue book party." After she takes her first tests i am wondering if there will clearly be one that comes out stronger. That will be the test she re-takes. Like I said, it is too early to tell as she just began studying for math- and it’s not like she studies all day. It’s one hour during the week and 1-2 hours on a weekend for the math part. The cr/writing is clearly her stronger area- at least right now. </p>
<p>She has a test in every subject this week, so I will not make her take an ACT math section until next weekend.</p>
<p>I just reminded her that she just started math prep on the 13th. It has only been a week.</p>
<p>Twogirls, My D is also in precalc (I think it’s called IB Math…but is basically precalc). I wonder what exactly is meant by “study and learn technique for SAT math”. Hmmm.</p>
<p>when D took the PSAT last year, as a soph, she was pleased with the results and I think that has made her less interested in studying for this one. I worry that what you described might happen…do well one time, not so well the next.<br>
It has to be frustrating for them to have all this pressure on them on top of the regular school work (that is already often way too much).</p>
<p>I gave my daughter a practice PSAT because I have the one from my older daughter. The school sent it home with the answer key. She scored in the mid 70s for the math. She did not score in the mid 700s on these practice tests- weird. The tutor did tell me that the SAT is a different type of test that requires more studying and/or tutoring than the ACT but I don’t know why. I will ask him this week what he meant. Maybe the ACT math is easier? I will ask next week and report back.
Meanwhile there was an 80 point difference between her first practice math test and her second practice test- she went down on the second one!! I keep reminding her that it has only been one week. She skipped a lot on the second test so maybe they need to work on that. She may need to take some more risks. Also she completed her second test at 10 pm after working most of the day. I still want to give her a math ACT next weekend. I will convince her to give me an hour of her time.</p>
<p>Twogirls - kids can burn out on this stuff. It may be that the answer isn’t that she needs to work harder, she may benefit just from taking a break, getting refreshed, and making sure she doesn’t feel too much pressure about this test. And she needs to realize that the tutor is selling his services - it benefits him greatly if all the kids think they can’t possibly do well on the math section of the SAT without being tutored. She sounds like a hamster running on a wheel just as fast as she can. I know the pressure is coming from inside her, not from you, but what she needs from you might be guidance on how to slow down, protect her sleep and health, and not jump through every hoop that the modern college application process throws her way. </p>
<p>It’s not uncommon to go up and down on practice test scores - let her know not to freak out about it! Hugs to both of you!!!</p>
<p>Thanks- you are right!! I know that she ( and all of them) will ultimately go to a school that is right for her/them- despite the fact that the road traveled may be a bit bumpy!! I keep telling her not to worry about any of this and that it will all fall into place. I agree that it’s common for test scores to go up and down depending on that particular test. She also just started SAT work and it takes time. These kids have so much school work that there is not much time!</p>
<p>Twogirls, she will be absolutely fine by the time she takes the test! (I’m talking about being calm and prepared, not ability–that’s already there, lol) </p>
<p>I understand though-last night my D threw a huge fit that she was NOT going to take a practice SAT today. She was absolutely hysterical. I wanted her to take another practice test in October and she screamed that this was too much and she wasn’t going to take ANY practice tests. She also said she doesn’t want to take the SAT in November because she’s not ready and she wants to wait until spring. </p>
<p>I was really shaken because I don’t want to add pressure to an already high strung and perfectionist kid. I thought I’d been handling things well up until now. I thought she was on board and agreeing that the plan in place was the one best for her. I know from experience that deferring this test is only going to make her life more difficult not less and she’s ready for it now. School is going to pick up with a vengeance and she’s going to be thick in the middle of tests and projects, research papers, and clubs later in the year and will not want to focus on standardized testing. I also know that this is her tendency: put off big things she doesn’t want to deal with if at all possible. The only section that is holding her back (in her own mind) is the essay. She freezes at the thought of organizing and writing an essay in a very short time. This is a skill that will improve as the year goes on but she is a strong writer so that even with less than perfect timing skills, I’m not sure it’s worth putting the whole thing off. </p>
<p>On the other hand–and this is really key in my mind, this is her decision. I do not want her to feel that this is something imposed on her but something she has decided to do on her own volition. She is a stubborn kid who will waste energy holding this against us (me especially) instead of planning her own future. Sigh.</p>
<p>TwoGirls, </p>
<p>At BunHeadGirl’s school, she’s a year behind in math by being in precalculus, as a majority of juniors take the equivalent of BC Calculus at the school or an advanced math course at a local private university.</p>
<p>Needless to say, my D does HORRIBLE on the SAT/PSAT math section, but does much better on the ACT math section. She can never best the high 60’s on the PSAT, but her ACT math score is always in the 700’s when scaled to the SAT. Although the ACT math section are more straight forward, the time allotment is less than on the SAT. A student that knows math through basic Trig should do very well on the ACT math section as long as the student masters test completion with precision and speed while not depending on a calculator for a majority of the test. Memorizing square roots, and divisibility math tricks helps, too. Oh, and knowing factoring backwards and forwards is a necessity. </p>
<p>We use the Xiggi method, but with the ACT. My D already sat several real ACTs, as her school requires all 9th-11th graders to take the ACT & PSAT tests annually. </p>
<p>She’s working on increasing over all speed, increasing the science score, and increasing the essay score. If BunheadGirl raises her essay from a 10 to a 12, and does not miss more than 1 question on the English, reading or math sections (specifically geometry) while maintaining her current science score, an increase from a 31 to a 33+ composite is possible. She only wishes to increase by 2 points for certain automatic merit scholarships based on test scores. We also invested in a timer specifically designed for the ACT.</p>
<p>[Testing</a> Timers TT-A1 ACT aTest Timer Watch: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Testing-Timers-TT-A1-aTest-Timer/dp/B009O08AW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379861850&sr=8-1&keywords=act+watch]Testing”>http://www.amazon.com/Testing-Timers-TT-A1-aTest-Timer/dp/B009O08AW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379861850&sr=8-1&keywords=act+watch)</p>
<p>3Girls3Cats,</p>
<p>Have you thought about having your daughter sit the ACT instead? Although the ACT and SAT tests look different, they both test aptitude, but differently. Some kids do exceptionally well on one or the other, while a handful due well on both.</p>
<p>BunHeadGirl prefers the ACT over the SAT, and if the ACT did not have that darned ACT science section, she would rock a perfect composite score, I’m sure.</p>
<p>Hmm can you take a look at some essay prompts and possibly figure out if she can come in with a " can" of ideas to pull from? I am not sure if I am making sense…I agree that taking this test sooner rather than later is better- at least for us. I think that taking these tests in the spring will be down right impossible given school work, APs etc. There is a possibility that I will have her take her last (3rd?) ACT in June. We are aiming to be done by the end of February if possible.</p>
<p>Yes this all must be their decision because otherwise they will blame the mother!! I have to assume that these scenarios ( fits) are being played out all over!!</p>
<p>My eldest had a similar challenge as BunheadGirl with SAT math. The verbal parts came so naturally that she all but ignored prep. She was also “behind” in math in that she wasn’t in the most advanced math classes the school offered for her year. So she would get perfect scores on the verbal sections and barely squeak by 700 on the math (only once, that was her best score). When she took the ACT, she soared on the math. I was stunned. She had a 35 on the math section. Her bigger problem was that she did abominably on the essay which she deemed “juvenile” and declined to take seriously. Her overall English score was still very high but I worried that the essay score was going to be an obstacle for her (a writer who was featuring her writing in applications).</p>
<p>It makes sense that a kid who can work quickly and accurately should try the ACT. I know that our school has, over the past few years, started to recommend it because kids seem to do better on it than on the SAT. My only question is whether it’s too much to try and take the two different tests if your kid is aiming for National Merit. In that case, don’t you have to have a corroborating SAT score? Is there an equivalent scholarship awarded via the PLAN?</p>
<p>Bunhead she is registered to take both tests in December. If she does equally well on both then she will most likely take each one again ( January- February- March ). If one comes out as a clear cut winner then she will only focus on that one test. She was getting 32s on her ACT practice tests from the summer without studying so after studying and practicing then the ACT may be the way to go. She is a perfectionist and really needs to come to terms with the fact that she may need some SAT math work. I really want this to be over!!</p>
<p>twogirls/3 girls & cats–I agree with BunHeadmom. A student who has completed Alg 2 knows all the math needed for the SAT while the ACT includes questions through Trig. ACT requires students to move more quickly through the questions (less time per problem), but the ACT does not attempt to trick students with the answers. For example, the SAT may ask a student for 3X, requiring the student to solve for X along the way, and then list X as the first answer choice but bury 3X as answer C or D. A student moving quickly under timed test conditions may choose answer A.</p>
<p>Your D’s SAT practice scores may vary quite a bit as she just experienced b/c the math curve is quite unforgiving. Three incorrect on CR can produce a 770 while five incorrect on Math would be a 680.</p>
<p>3 girls/cats—would your D consider the Dec exam? That worked for my son b/c it was one weekend after Thanksgiving. Not that anyone wants to spend Thanksgiving weekend prepping, but the four day weekend did allow a bit of down time that was otherwise unavailable during the fall, especially with hectic fall sports. I agree with you about not postponing until spring b/c of the pressures of APs, SAT IIs, Finals and the prom (silly, but true).</p>
<p>3girls–RE: NMF qualifying score. I believe it is 1960 or 1970, a much lower score than the corresponding PSAT score needed in the coastal states. You can google and find the calculation but the confirming SAT score is a national one so even if your D needed a 223 on PSAT, she would only need the lower national score to move on to Finalist consideration.</p>
<p>Perhaps wait until the PSAT results are released in Dec to see if her score leaves her in the running in your state. If it does, then have her take SAT. She can wait until next fall to take SAT for purposes of NMF but then you are adding to Sr year stress!</p>
<p>There is no national merit type thing for the PLAN- oh well. Being a NMF or commended will look great on her app, but I don’t think the schools that she has in mind will give her money for it. Some schools do- but not the ones that interest her. </p>
<p>Like I said I am going to try and get her to take a math ACT this weekend under timed conditions as a comparison because her tests will be over. This may be tricky as she has a few meetings that she must attend for her ECs- and she can’t skip them. December will be interesting. I hope one test clearly comes out ahead.</p>
<p>I am guessing that the ACT is not a good fit for this child. She is a slow and thoughtful worker who consistently tells me–on virtually every test and paper she’s ever attempted–that she could do better if she had more time. (She’s ALWAYS surprised when she does well.) This is true for math, English, history, lab reports. EVERYTHING. Never mind the actual results, it’s the way she feels about it that concerns me. I think the essay would likely be just as much a stumbling block with the ACT as with the SAT so now she’d have two challenges rather than just one. She might also threaten me with violence if I suggest MORE testing! Having said that, if she struggles with the SAT, I will suggest the ACT as an alternative. </p>
<p>So far she has done very well with SAT practice (math at her school places a heavy emphasis on problem solving and I think that helps) and the one stumbling block is that essay. She has looked at a bunch of prompts and I’ve tried to guide her how to approach it with that can of ideas twogirls suggests. I had her make a list of books and articles she’s read over the years that made an impression and then to pull particular themes from these readings that she can pull out quickly. I’ve also tried to help her to understand that she doesn’t have to craft a publishable essay. She needs to adjust her expectations to the test.</p>
<p>What I’m getting loud and clear is that I have to offer her the options, lay out the consequences of each scenario, and then let her make the decisions.</p>
<p>Bunhead in our district the kids who are ahead in math are taking precalc this year and AP calc senior year. It’s interesting to see how different schools operate.</p>
<p>Duke is coming to her school this week for a visit and she already sent me a preemptive ( sp?) strike telling me she won’t miss class. I told her to do what she wants- no stress. I am thinking that Duke is there for seniors more than juniors.</p>