Comments on: 8th graders taking a pre-PSAT?

By: No Pre-SAT : College Admissions Counseling

No Pre-SAT : College Admissions Counseling — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:01:04 +0000

[...] The New York Times is reporting that the College Board is putting off the launch of the 8th grade test it had planned for this fall. This test, called the ReadiStep, was criticized by many, including me, as an attempt the start the college admissions process into the 8th grade. [...]

By: Mark Truman

Mark Truman — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:01:45 +0000

As a test prep provider, I agree fully with Todd. No one in the industry wanted this test and generally it has been perceived as a huge waste of resources and time.

It will, however, generate millions for College Board.

By: Todd Johnson

Todd Johnson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Leila,

While this may happen to some extent the real people making money off this additional testing is the College Board who brought out the test. There really is no purpose for this exam in the first place that I can see other than generating more money for the College Board.

By: Leila

Leila — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:53:53 +0000

In my opinion, these standardized tests are just a way for teachers to make extra money through private coaching. In foreign countries especially, these teachers make huge profits by taking large groups of students and literally coaching them to pass the exams. This defeats the whole purpose of the exam.

By: Todd Johnson

Todd Johnson — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:39:49 +0000

Kareem,

I agree that parents and students should be looking to find the right college. However, adding on another layer of standardized tests is not the way to go, particularly when the evidence that such tests provide any real information is limited.

I do agree with you that many parents and students are worried about getting into the right college but I try to take a different approach. The search for the right college should be an enjoyable time for the student and family. The worry tends to come for many families because they focus on a limited number of “name” colleges most of which are highly selective. If one of the highly selective colleges is a good fit for your child, the go for it. But also make sure that you have some other colleges on the list that are more of a sure thing for admissions. There are a number of great colleges out there where admissions is much easier than at the highly selective colleges. And many of those colleges offer a great education.

By: Kareem Gouda

Kareem Gouda — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:29:15 +0000

But then again, that’s the way it is, and ultimately parents and students are, and should be, worried about getting into the right college.

By: Kareem Gouda

Kareem Gouda — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:28:02 +0000

I agree. If only theses Standardized tests taught you anything useful!

By: AlexM

AlexM — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:08:48 +0000

Your blog is interesting!

Keep up the good work!

By: Mark Truman

Mark Truman — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:03:31 +0000

Perhaps it’s time to encourage students and schools to boycott the test? It would be great to see a movement dedicated to reversing this trend toward early testing?