Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Ranks of Gifted Soar in NY

The other problem we've seen is that, when test prep is rampant, a lot of the kids in GT programs aren't actually as able as their test scores would indicate. The program then winds up changing to suit the needs of the kids who are in the program, not who the program purports to serve. If it is supposed to be a program that serves kids in the top 5% and 20% of the kids qualify, it becomes a program that doesn't even come close to meeting kids who are actually in the top 5% much less the top 1%.

Not by much:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124278685697537839.html
SAT Coaching Found to Boost Scores -- Barely
Study Results Run Counter to Test-Prep Course Claims; How Colleges Fuel Industry
By JOHN HECHINGER
Wall Street Journal
May 20, 2009

Families can spend thousands of dollars on coaching to help college-bound students boost their SAT scores. But a new report finds that these test-preparation courses aren't as beneficial as consumers are led to believe.

The report, to be released Wednesday by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, criticizes common test-prep-industry marketing practices, including promises of big score gains with no hard data to back up such claims. The report also finds fault with the frequent use of mock SAT tests because they can be devised to inflate score gains when students take the actual SAT. The association represents 11,000 college admissions officers, high-school guidance counselors and private advisors.

...

The college counselors' report concludes that, on average, prep courses yield only a modest benefit, "contrary to the claims made by many test-preparation providers." It found that SAT coaching resulted in about 30 points in score improvement on the SAT, out of a possible 1600, and less than one point out of a possible 36 on the ACT, the other main college-entrance exam, says Derek Briggs, chairman of the research and methodology department at the University of Colorado in Boulder and author of the admissions counselors' report.

The report was prepared by reviewing numerous academic studies from past years that examined the impact of test preparation on SAT scores. The studies predated the addition of the writing section of the SAT in 2005, which increased the possible score total to 2400 from 1600.


I think the report being discussed is "Preparation for
College Admission Exams" http://www.nacacnet.org/research/Pu...ce/Documents/TestPrepDiscussionPaper.pdf

I find that as I practice these tests, my score approaches the maximum.

The test prep idea is basically what "teach to the test" for NCLB/state assessments boils down to. They start with what material will be covered and drill it, practice the test, repeat etc. for months. Of course the idea is that this will raise the test scores as much as humanly possible.

Is this an education? IMHO, no. But in theory it raises test scores.

Also, the kids that are the most "coachable" and best at taking achievement-type tests aren't necessarily the most naturally intelligent, the most creative thinkers, or have the most natural leadership abilities. Maybe some kids are all of this in one outstanding package, but maybe they're not, or are slower to blossom, or just think about the questions so much they don't perform as well!