<p>
</p>
<p>The new security system starts next fall, but it is for both SAT and SAT subject tests. [Enhanced</a> SAT® Security Measures Announced for 2012-13 Academic Year](<a href=“News and Press Releases - Newsroom | College Board”>News and Press Releases - Newsroom | College Board)</p>
<p>Kids already need their ID and admission ticket to take the test, but now there’s a lot less flexibility in last minute changes (test center, type of test, walk in registration) and you have to upload a picture of the student when registering. sigh.</p>
<p>@momsings</p>
<p>The ACT certainly can be a shock if you’re not prepared. Most un-prepped students don’t come close to finishing within the time limits, and that can be terrifying. I feel like the question types are a bit easier on the ACT, but the time constraints are brutal. But congrats to your son. 32 is FANTASTIC!</p>
<p>^^^ that’s what my 2012 son said about the ACT. Questions were easier, but it was a much faster paced exam.</p>
<p>Good Morning,
I decided to join in with the group and stop lurking on the sidelines. I’ll need the support from this group to maintain my sanity. I’m so happy that I found CC while searching for summer programs but I’m afraid that it’s turned into a slight addiction. Is that possible?</p>
<p>Anyway, my DD is finishing the year very strong. She’s headed to Stanford U for the LEAD CSI program this summer. I’ve heard great things about the program and I’m looking forward to the trip to CA. We’re going to out 3-4 days early to check out the area. If you have any suggestions on where we shoud visit, let me know.</p>
<p>
Oh, yes! Just look at the # of posts some of us have. Also, once you’ve read the college-related threads, check out the Parents Cafe for all sorts of off-topic threads. :)</p>
<p>@4cookie, welcome. Yes it’s possible but it’s a better addiction, if it even makes sense. 
</p>
<p>Thanks much swans004. It’s great to have you here.
When she took the SAT in 8th grade, her reading was 600, math 610. that’s with several sample tests as preparation. She really wants to get better and do well in PSAT in the fall. She is a great reader but somehow her SAT reading (from real test and all the sample tests) stays around 600. That’s 1.5 years ago of course. Do you see noticeable improvement between age 12 - 15? grade 8 - 10? I know not every 12 year old takes the SAT but if you all know anybody?</p>
<p>D1 scored a 1790 on SAT in 7th grade - her final score as a junior was 2290. So yes, I would say you can expect an improvement.</p>
<p>Wow, I have learned something new…I had no idea kids took the SAT in middle school.</p>
<p>momsings - around here, middle schoolers take the SAT early (the score isn’t retained once the student hits high school unless you specifically request it to be) for different reasons. It can help them feel acquainted with it by taking it in a real setting but when it doesn’t matter (“you should see stuff on this test you’ve never heard of before - don’t worry about it!”) or to qualify for some summer programs. My oldest didn’t take it in MS, but my middle one did. From my point of view, it was a no pressure way to see what it’s like - he never went to the cool summer programs he qualified for. From his point a view, a bunch of his friends were doing it so he wanted to. </p>
<p>With my youngest (my 2015-er), I had him take it in 7th grade because he was going to enter 8th grade public school after being in our beloved Montessori school since age three. They didn’t give grades or tests (Terra Nova once a year), and I knew his “transcripts” (which consisted of a 4 paragraph letter explaining what a great guy he was and how he liked to approach learning) was going to make our huge public schools system’s head explode since it had no grades of any kind. 
The SAT scores from that helped them place him into honors English & Math.</p>
<p>I still get a chuckle out of picturing them looking at his transcripts for preschool - 7th grade and wondering what the heck weird hippie school he had gone to that didn’t give a single grade for anything!</p>
<p>^^^
She took it as part of the Duke TIP program. D2 decided not to take it. She took the pSAT in both 8th and 9th grade.</p>
<p>Gibson, so when your D1 took the SAT in 10th grade, did it show big improvement from her 7th grade SAT? Did she study for any? if she did, equal amount of study would be considered fair for comparison. For example, most kids don’t study if they take the SAT in 7th or 8th grade. If they study for their SAT in junior year, then it’s not a good measure for improvement, if this makes sense.</p>
<p>In my D’s case, I’m sure her math will be much better. But I’m not sure about reading. Reading is reading. She reads a lot since she could. She was hoping to get a good score when she took the SAT. But she only got 600, which is not bad for an 8th grader, but not as good as she was hoping for.</p>
<p>max - my S’12 improved on his SAT score between 8th grade and 11th grade, and he didn’t study for either one either time (he seems to be allergic to studying…). In reading specifically he went form 610 (8th grade) to 730 (11th grade).</p>
<p>Oh that’s encouraging! I guess part of reading requires certain degree of maturity. When they’re in HS, they read more sophisticated things, like William Shakespeare. :)</p>
<p>I think he had a teacher for one semester of 10th grade English that really challenged the kids, and he felt that guy helped his SAT reading score.</p>
<p>D1’s SAT CR and M score improved some between 8th grade and 11th, but the writing score actually decreased by a few points. I think it has to do with becoming a better writer and over-thinking it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I wish my 15 years old would love to read. He does not play video games but he does spend time on FB or YouTube after finishing his HW. He is in honors English but there have been hardly any reading assignments at home this year. He always told me that he was able to complete the readings in class. </p>
<p>How much your 9th graders read at home? Will your kids read if you take away the digital entertainment?</p>
<p>*D1’s SAT CR and M score improved some between 8th grade and 11th, but the writing score actually decreased by a few points. I think it has to do with becoming a better writer and over-thinking it. *</p>
<p>ACK! I do not want to hear (ok, read) that! D took PSAT in 7th and 8th, skipped it this past year because she was all, “been there, done that.” Her score did go up in that interval, though.</p>
<p>She is a big reader and always has been, but she definitely dials it back a bit during the school year, when she has plenty of reading to do for homework. She mostly reads fluff during the school year, which I get because I switch between fluff and more serious literature now and then. Does anybody have some recommendations for reading for her? I’d love to have her read the Kite Runner.</p>
<p>I’m going to jump in and introduce myself - and ask for a bit of advice.</p>
<p>My S is 2015 at an arts magnet high school (his art is writing). He has had a great freshman year - ranked 1 or 2 every quarter so far, all honors classes, loves school, very motivated. He loves politics/writing/debate/literature. Next year he will be taking one AP class.</p>
<p>Here is where I need some advice. Things have changed so much since I went to Columbia in the '80s. How essential is it to have AP Calculus. He is taking Algebra I Honors this year so he is not on track to get to AP Calc in 12th grade. He wanted to take Geometry over the summer so he could get to Algebra II next year - but now he has gotten admitted to a desirable summer program which I think would be better for him than the summer class. So he will probably take both Geometry and Algebra II next year in order to take the AP Calc in 12th, but in order to do that he has to give up another class that he would really love to take.</p>
<p>My question is how necessary is this? Back in my day Calc just wasn’t essential if one wasn’t a science oriented kid. But I know standards have changed so much, and I get the feeling that anyone aiming for the most competitive schools needs the AP Calc.</p>
<p>Another option would be to kick the bucket down the road and aim to take Algebra II next summer . . .</p>
<p>I love reading this forum - definitely an addiction :)</p>
<p>D2’s freshman honors English class read the Kite Runner. The rape really bothered her. Of course, this was the first of a number of works that seemed to feature sexual violence. I really wonder what point the teacher was trying to make. Whatever it was, I don’t think it was what she meant to teach.</p>