Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment SAT at an early age

Anybody have their kids take the SAT in grade school? If so, what challenges did they face? What advice would you give?

I was thinking about it for my 5th grader and 8th grader, but a 3 hour exam would be too much for them although they do well on practice exams (and do work on their own for hours on computer learning programs).

They both took the SCAT today, which is only two parts and an hour total. On the computer and they get a break to walk around and get a drink of water.

My main concern is not being able to be in the room with them or even nearby when they were taking a 3 hour exam. I think there is a computer version of the SAT that can be taken, that might be a better option for a younger child.

My DD was 11 when she took it. We did some prep work on both the test and going to take it. For the test, I had her read the very helpful chapter at the beginning of a carefully selected SAT study guide that explained what to expect on test day, what you are allowed to bring, what you need to bring, how the test will be run and things like that. The study guide was selected to not emphasize "how nervous you may feel" since that might have made her nervous. We used this as a jumping off place to discuss the total test taking experience step by step including that she would wear comfy clothes and a watch. "You'll arrive and we'll find the bathrooms and the test room. Someone will ask for your ID and check your name off on a list. Then you ask where you should sit. Sit there and put your clear Ziplock bag with pencils, calculator, etc on the desk and your tote bag with snack and turned off cell phone under the desk�" Literally step by step, including when she could go to the bathroom and have her snack. She also practiced the test twice with me as the pretend proctor and timer, so she could practice filling in bubbles carefully, looking at her watch and keeping track of the time for each section. We also discussed that if she finished a section early she should check her work and not look around at the other students.

Day of the test was fine. She was calm and prepared, but shocked (she told me later) that some teens came in pajamas and one teen had no pencils!

DD found it helpful to think of the test as several smaller chunks rather than one big one.

DD went/goes to a bricks and mortar school so being away from me for 3 hours was no big deal to her and we carefully did not emphasize the "stress" aspect of it.

My son took the SCAT test at age 9- he loved it. He didn't care that everyone else there seemed to be in their 50's and were taking some kind of national engineering licensing exam! He kept spinning around in the chair and at several points, he fell out of the chair. He did really well though so...
Did your daughter do the essay part too or just leave that blank?

Quick question for kcab- I filled in the bubble registration form and whited it out. Is that okay? We had to drive to another city to get the SAT registration form on paper. Thanks!
Did your DS11 finish the test? Is that a problem?

Yep, just realized the date is May 9 to register. Good idea, I'll call them to ask. Thanks so much for your input!

You should be able to get a registration packet at your local high school. The guidance office usually has them.

Our local high school didn't have one on paper! They said they only have it online. I drove to a nearby city 15 miles away to their high school and they finally found a paper copy. I guess I can drive back though to get another one...