Self-study for 7th and 8th graders

Mascara
Tue, 25 Sep 2012 04:17:39 +0000

Why should it be a goal to get the National Scholar award? I think a better idea would be to take the APs you want to take, and then do well on those. You shouldn’t be slapping AP scores in just so you can get some title barely matters. Echoing what someone else said on this thread–there’s a difference between saying, “I’m pretty good at this subject” and “I got a 5 on this test!”

You cannot compare yourself to your children, and vice versa. Instead of pressuring them (which is the vibe I’m getting from this thread) into taking tests and “scoring in the top percentile,” why don’t you let them explore their interests? And no, studying AP Environment Science is not an interest.

Don’t mention tests around them. Let THEM bring it up, and then you’ll know whether they’re actually interested in it or if you’ve been pressuring them into testing all along.

Also, age does not equal emotional/mental maturity. The fact that your son “should” be in ninth grade means very little. Just because he “should” be in high school does not mean he “should” be doing high school work.

I’ve taken a couple AP tests. They require motivation from the student himself–not a friend, not a teacher, and not even a parent. At the end of the day, he’s going to be the one taking the test. Try not to live vicariously through him. Good day.