SAT(SAT Reasoning Test formerly known as Scholastic Aptitude Test or Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test for college admissions, administered by College Board at specific dates and times in a year. The entire test takes 3hours and 45 mins to complete, with three sections, Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing. The possible scores can range from 600-2400, with 800 being the max score for each section.
Check the SAT Collegeboard for the information on the upcoming test dates, deadlines, testing information and much more.
In addition to the SAT Reasoning test, there are SAT Subject tests available that test on the specific subject content. Here is information on SAT Reasoning test and SAT Subject tests. SAT Reasoning tests are also offered through CTY(Center for Talented Youth) as part of Talent Search.
There is also PSAT/NMSQT(Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a program offered by College Board sponsored by NMSC (National Merit Scholarship Corporation). PSAT is a baby-SAT, which helps in practicing for real SAT and also a chance to enter into competition for NMSC scholarship programs(test is taken in Grade 11).
In addition to the SAT Reasoning test, there are SAT Subject tests available that test on the specific subject content. Here is information on SAT Reasoning test and SAT Subject tests. SAT Reasoning tests are also offered through CTY(Center for Talented Youth) as part of Talent Search.
There is also PSAT/NMSQT(Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a program offered by College Board sponsored by NMSC (National Merit Scholarship Corporation). PSAT is a baby-SAT, which helps in practicing for real SAT and also a chance to enter into competition for NMSC scholarship programs(test is taken in Grade 11).
Just a bit about our SAT experience:
SAT Reasoning scores are useful in advocacy of gifted/talented children towards programs meant for higher grades which would be otherwise not possible to access. DD took her SAT Reasoning test for the first time as a 9yr old. We registered her through College Board, by mail-in application that was picked up from our local high school in our city (as opposed to 'online' as the online application does not take the registration for kids younger than 13). Though we could have registered her through CTY Talent Search, we went through Collegeboard for some reason I don't seem to recall at the moment. I am guessing that the test dates we were looking for was not available through CTY at that time. The reason for her to take the SAT was curiosity more than anything else. She loved tests but resisted preparation. She took 6 sample tests through the College Board Official SAT book and throughly blew us away with her scores each time. Those sample tests helped her to familiarize with the test itself along with time sense and planning for each section. Although we never had to use her exceptional SAT scores for any of the college programs and classes she was taking at that time, it gave us an indication on her strengths and weaknesses. Also, extraordinary SAT scores in Math or Critical Reading qualifies one to be part of SET (The Study of Exceptional Talent). Here is more information on what SET offers to the qualified participants.
There are advantages(the way one sees it ie) if a young child is registered through CTY instead of Collegeboard. For one, the Talent search kids through CTY would be seated at the test center along with their age peers, which is sometimes important to some kids and families. When DD was registered through collegeboard, she was the only student at age 9 taking the test at that time while the rest of the students taking the test were high school aged kids. It did not affect DD to be the sole young student(but cannot say the same for us parents), but would have mattered if it were my son who was scheduled to be taking the test at that time.
We called the test center ahead of time to inform them about the young student taking the test. We also had to inquire and make sure that they were OK with the snacks and water bottle that DD was planning to take along with her. This purely depends on the test centers and proctors, as some proctors do not allow the snacks to be brought by the kids into the testing room. The SAT tests begin very early in the morning. If I remember, DD was expected to report at 7am in the morning on the day of the test. They gave her choice to of separate room for her to take the test alone which of course, our DD firmly refused. She was then given the choice of entering the room early where the test was conducted. They also let her pick the seating of her choice. Someone offered to accompany her to the restroom if needed, as the restrooms were outside of the building where the test was conducted. This particular test center turned out to be an excellent one with wonderful and considerate proctors.
It is not uncommon for the tests to run late due to some reason or the other. In my opinion, SAT is more about mental stamina to cope with the entire duration of the test than the ability to do just the math and critical reading well. Some kids manage this well despite being very young in age. And if the SAT student is very young and is just sampling the SAT test for experience or for Talent Search, he or she also have the choice of skipping the writing portion entirely when taking the test through CTY. Now that my dd turned 13, she thinks SAT to be one of the boring test there is :-).
We called the test center ahead of time to inform them about the young student taking the test. We also had to inquire and make sure that they were OK with the snacks and water bottle that DD was planning to take along with her. This purely depends on the test centers and proctors, as some proctors do not allow the snacks to be brought by the kids into the testing room. The SAT tests begin very early in the morning. If I remember, DD was expected to report at 7am in the morning on the day of the test. They gave her choice to of separate room for her to take the test alone which of course, our DD firmly refused. She was then given the choice of entering the room early where the test was conducted. They also let her pick the seating of her choice. Someone offered to accompany her to the restroom if needed, as the restrooms were outside of the building where the test was conducted. This particular test center turned out to be an excellent one with wonderful and considerate proctors.
It is not uncommon for the tests to run late due to some reason or the other. In my opinion, SAT is more about mental stamina to cope with the entire duration of the test than the ability to do just the math and critical reading well. Some kids manage this well despite being very young in age. And if the SAT student is very young and is just sampling the SAT test for experience or for Talent Search, he or she also have the choice of skipping the writing portion entirely when taking the test through CTY. Now that my dd turned 13, she thinks SAT to be one of the boring test there is :-).
There are many sites and resources for SAT tests and preparation. Here are a few I have researched on.
Number2.com This is absolutely free SAT prep site and all you need is to create an account to access the site.
I need a pencil.com Free SAT preparation.
Official SAT Question of the DAY. Subscribe to this collegeboard service via email to get one question each day on math or critical reading for a casual practice and learning for SAT.
100 FREE and Excellent SAT preparation tools wonderful site with many links and resources on various sections of SAT preparation.
Khan Academy There are SAT practice tests and test help in the video library. And the price is just right-FREE :-)
ACT/SAT Prep software reviews. The top ten is reviewed and compared.
SAT full practice test from collegeboard.
SAT Study Stack a list of resources and flash cards for critical reading and vocab.
SAT full practice test from collegeboard.
SAT Study Stack a list of resources and flash cards for critical reading and vocab.
Some useful links:
About.com article on SAT scores.
Comparison of ACT vs SAT tests for CTY Talent Search comparison of both tests.
Ultimate Guide to SAT: 100 Useful Sites and Resources long list of resources.
SAT Self-Study Resources by a IVY grad turned SAT prep tutor. Some useful links and resources.
SAT online Kaplan test prep program is often offered at a discounted price for homeschoolers through HSBC(Homeschool Buyers Coop).
There are many prep books for SAT preparation. My kids used only the Official SAT Study Guide for the New SAT to learn and familiarize about the SAT test, about managing the time and also for practice tests.
College Confidential site has a lot of discussion on SAT test and prep guides by parents and students who have used them.
Top 10 SAT prep books a list of books from the site IVY bound.
More questions on SAT tests, check the Homeschool2 college yahoo list and College Confidential for btdt advice and recommendations.
I appreciate the reminder of some of these sites. I think I'll try them out with my son. :o)
ReplyDeleteHave I mentioned how awesome I think your kids are? We are all test phobic here. My oldest tends to show the same test anxiety I always did, and I attributed mine to over-testing in school, which is something she never experienced. I think it's wonderful your kids treat the tests like another challenge or puzzle to solve.
Peace and Laughter!
Hi Cristina,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your warm comments. I think test-phobia and anxiety is quite common amongst gifted kids.....Perfectionism, having extreme high expectations of oneself, fear of failure etc etc can also add to it. I think treating the tests as means of just another experience would probably help? Of course, SAT is not a test that is worth sweating so much. The colleges are looking beyond the scores and As these days, and there are many great colleges around.
Thank you for visiting me, Cristina...
S