Not sure where to vote as I did not take any prep courses and scored decently well on my SAT's. Not high enough to get into Ivy League school but just about any other place would have accepted me just based on SAT's.
Unless they have changed since the mid 90's then see no reason to change anything.
Pencils Down: College Board Reveals Big Changes to SATs
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pencils-down-college-board-reveals-big-changes-sats-n45136
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Pencils Down: College Board Reveals Big Changes to SATs
The College Board is making far-reaching changes to the SAT exam that it says will help close the test's socioeconomic gap among college aspirants.
College Board President David Coleman will announce Wednesday the alterations to the standardized test that is widely used by applicants to colleges nationwide, including free application waivers for low-income students and a series of changes to the test itself.
The College Board will team up with the Khan Academy — a non-profit educational website launched in 2006 — to provide free test-prep materials as an alternative to private courses that oftentimes carry a hefty price tag.
"What this country needs is not more tests, but more opportunities," Coleman said in a news release ahead of the formal announcement. "The real news today is not just the redesigned SAT, but the College Board's renewed commitment to delivering opportunity."
The SAT was last overhauled in 2005. More than 1.5 million high school students took the standardized test last year.
test last year.
The College Board said the redesign is a "critical component" of its equity initiatives. Studies
have found a strong correlation between family income level and test results.
A quick sampling of some of the marquee changes due to debut in the spring of 2016:
•The exam will return to the 1600 scale. The exam has been scored on a 2400 scale since the last overhaul in 2005.
•The essay will be optional and graded separately from the rest of the exam.
•Administrators will make the test available in both print and digital forms.
•The College Board won't deduct points for incorrect answers. Students will now simply earn points for the answers they answer correctly.
•Words used in the reading and writing sections "will no longer be vocabulary students may not have heard before and are likely not to hear again," according to a news release. Instead, the exam will "focus on words that students will use consistently in college and beyond."
The College Board also announced new criteria for the reading, writing and math sections."
Major Changes in SAT Announced by College Board
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/education/major-changes-in-sat-announced-by-college-board.html?rref=education&_r=0
"Saying its college admission exams do not focus enough on the important academic skills, the College Board announced on Wednesday a fundamental rethinking of the SAT, eliminating obligatory essays, ending the longstanding penalty for guessing wrong and cutting obscure vocabulary words.
David Coleman, president of the College Board, criticized his own test, the SAT, and its main rival, the ACT, saying that both “have become disconnected from the work of our high schools.”
In addition, Mr. Coleman announced new programs to help low-income students, who will now be given fee waivers allowing them to apply to four colleges at no charge. And even before the new exam starts, the College Board, in partnership with Khan Academy, will offer free online practice problems from old tests and instructional videos showing how to solve them.
The changes coming to the exam are extensive: The SAT’s rarefied vocabulary words will be replaced by words that are common in college courses, such as “empirical” and “synthesis.” The math questions, now scattered widely across many topics, will focus more narrowly on linear equations, functions and proportional thinking. The use of a calculator will no longer be allowed on some of the math sections. The new exam will be available on paper and computer, and the scoring will revert to the old 1600 scale, with a top score of 800 on math and what will now be called “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.” The optional essay will have a separate score.
Once the pre-eminent college admissions exam, the SAT has recently lost ground to the ACT, which is based more directly on high school curriculums and is now taken by a slightly higher number of students.
The new SAT, to be introduced in the spring of 2016, will not quell all criticism of the standardized-test juggernaut. Critics have long pointed out — and Mr. Coleman admits — that high school grades are a better predictor of college success than standardized test scores. A growing number of colleges have in recent years gone “test optional,” allowing students to forgo the tests and submit their grades, transcripts and perhaps a graded paper.
For many students, Mr. Coleman said, the tests are mysterious and “filled with unproductive anxiety.” Nor, he acknowledged, do they inspire much respect from classroom teachers: only 20 percent, he said, see the college-admissions tests as a fair measure of the work their students have done in school.
Mr. Coleman, who came to the College Board in 2012, announced his plans to revise the SAT a year ago. He has spoken from the start about his dissatisfaction with the essay test added to the SAT in 2005, his desire to make the test mesh more closely with what students should be doing in high school, and his hopes of making a dent in the intense coaching and tutoring that give affluent students an advantage on the test and often turn junior year into a test-prep marathon.
“It is time for the College Board to say in a clearer voice that the culture and practice of costly test preparation that has arisen around admissions exams drives the perception of inequality and injustice in our country,” he said in a speech Wednesday in which he announced the changes. “It may not be our fault, but it is our problem.”
Some of the changes will make the new SAT, more like, the ACT, which for the last two years has outpaced the SAT in test-takers and is increasingly being adopted as a public high school test by state education officials. Thirteen states use it that way now and three more are planning to do so. The ACT has no guessing penalty, and its essay is optional. it also includes a science section, and while the SAT is not adding one, the redesigned reading test will include a science passage.
But beyond the particulars, Mr. Coleman emphasized that the three-hour exam — 3 hours and 50 minutes with the essay — had been redesigned with an eye to reinforce the skills and evidence-based thinking students should be learning in high school, and move away from a need for test-taking tricks and strategies. Sometimes, students will be asked not just to select the right answer, but to justify it by choosing the quote from a text that provides the best supporting evidence for their answer.
Starting in the spring of 2016, some of the changes to the SAT will include:
• Instead of arcane “SAT words” (“depreciatory,” “membranous”), the vocabulary words on the new exam will be ones commonly used in college courses, such as “synthesis” and “empirical.”
• The essay, required since 2005, will become optional. Those who choose to write an essay will be asked to read a passage and analyze how its author used evidence, reasoning and stylistic elements to build an argument.
• The guessing penalty, in which points are deducted for incorrect answers, will be eliminated.
• The overall scoring will return to the old 1600 scales, based on a top score of 800 in reading and math. The essay will have a separate score.
The revised essay, in particular, will shift in that direction. Students now write about their experiences and opinions, with no penalty for incorrect assertions, even egregiously wrong ones. Going forward, though, students will get a source document and be asked to analyze it for its use of evidence, reasoning and persuasive or stylistic technique.
The text will be different on each exam, but the essay task will remain constant. The required essay never caught on with most college admissions officers. Few figure the score into the admission decision. And many used the essay only occasionally, as a raw writing sample to help detect how much parents, consultants and counselors had edited and polished the essay submitted with the application.
Starting in the spring of 2016, some of the changes to the SAT will include:
• Instead of arcane “SAT words” (“depreciatory,” “membranous”), the vocabulary words on the new exam will be ones commonly used in college courses, such as “synthesis” and “empirical.”
• The essay, required since 2005, will become optional. Those who choose to write an essay will be asked to read a passage and analyze how its author used evidence, reasoning and stylistic elements to build an argument.
• The guessing penalty, in which points are deducted for incorrect answers, will be eliminated.
• The overall scoring will return to the old 1600 scales, based on a top score of 800 in reading and math. The essay will have a separate score.
• Math questions will focus on three areas: linear equations; complex equations or functions; and ratios, percentages and proportional reasoning. Calculators will be permitted on only part of the math section.
• Every exam will include, in the reading and writing section, source documents from a broad range of disciplines, including science and social studies, and on some questions, students will be asked to select the quote from the text that supports the answer they have chosen.
• Every exam will include a reading passage from either one of the nation’s “founding documents,” such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, or from one of the important discussions of such texts, such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
Medical Term definition...............................Redneck Definition
Artery....................................................The study of paintings
Bacteria............................................. Back door to cafeteria
Barium...........................................What doctors do when patients die
Benign................................................What you be, after you be eight
Cesarean Section......................................A neighborhood in Rome
Cat scan...................................................Searching for Kitty
Cauterize..................................................Made eye contact with her
Colic....................................................................A sheep dog
Coma..........................................................A punctuation mark
Dilate............................................................To live long
Enema.................................................................Not a friend
Fester.......................................................Quicker than someone else
Fibula..................................................................A small lie
Impotent......................................................Distinguished, well known
Labor Pain...........................................................Getting hurt at work
Medical Staff...............................................................A Doctor's cane
Morbid..............................................................A higher offer
Nitrates...............................................Rates of Pay for Working at Night
(Normally more money than Days)
Node........................................................................I knew it
Outpatient...................................................A person who has fainted
Pelvis..........................................................Second cousin to Elvis
Post Operative........................................................A letter carrier
Recovery Room..................................................Place to do upholstery
Rectum...........................................................Nearly killed him
Secretion........................................................Hiding something
Seizure..............................................................Roman Emperor
Tablet........................................................................A small table
Terminal Illness................................................Getting sick at the airport
Tumor...................................................................One plus one more
Urine..................................................................Opposite of you're out
If vance did well...............oh, never-mind.
I’m a Redneck! Where is the P.C. Police, rebuking you for not being sensitive about my feelings?
Put on your big boy panties and suck it up... not all of us have to be P.C. ... LOL Most of us can relate to "red neck city"... lol
One of the advantages of being a Redneck is, we are not so insecure about ourselves that we need the PC Police. We couldn’t care less about what the rest of the world thinks about us. Maybe these Insecure/Low Self Esteem groups should take notes. LOL
Rebuking...rebuking? Dang, I had to look that one up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT8pqjMHRtM
Another advantage of being a redneck is that no one expects anything intelligent from you and, in that very limited respect, you never disappoint
Everyone hates a redneck until something breaks down.
I like rednecks myself. I used to be one.
I'm trying to think of something funny to add but am empty at the moment. I enjoyed the list very much and just want to say that I hope I haven't made too many enemas here on the forum.
Lots of things are happening to education in this country and I'm watching with great interest. I think it is worth allowing all to have tutoring as part of their education for taking the SAT's and ACT's, I'd make it after school or before school or during study hall and I'd make it free as it would be worth the expenditure for every kid to have the best chance. I have always wondered about those study sessions because I always thought these tests were to capture your knowledge base and cramming for it defeats that purpose but do think having some familiarity of test format, working under the time constraints, etc. is something that would be very valuable to have prior to taking it. And that should be available to everyone.
I'm watching also what happens with the core curriculum initiative. I'm expecting news headlines soon regarding this as I think it will definitely become even more controversial than it already is. States are not allowing kids to pass through grades unless their MAP testing puts them in a certain range. This starts in second and third grade and if kids aren't reading at a certain level, they can not go to the next grade level. As it is brand new in my state, my district is modifying it so that kids will go to the next grade if it is just one area they have difficulty with (as in, they are grade level for math but not for reading) but have to do language arts/reading with the lower grade. I have a good friend whose child has had every advantage in the world but he has reading comprehension problems. He will be repeating third grade language arts next year most likely if his test scores are at the level they have been in Fall and Winter. They are very upset but this is something that their son needs help with. It will impact him throughout the rest of his school career if he does not overcome his reading comprehension challenges .
these tests are also one of the tools used to identify kids that need advanced curriculum.
So, the core curriculum makes it clear which students are advanced, at grade level, and falling behind early on and forces action by schools.
While it can be a good thing, there will be many that have a problem with this identification. Some feel preschool is mandatory and underprivileged kids who don't have access are going to be behind. I don't personally believe in academics being part of preschool other than basic FUN activities-- I believe preschool is for socialization. But I also had a home rich in activities and learning opportunities in an informal way for my kids. I realize that does help my kids overall. And I have no problem with making preschool available to ALL-------- as long as they don't make it mandatory!! (I don't think parents should be forced to send kids to a preschool if they would rather have their kiddos at home with them like I did--- my kids just went a couple days a week to half day preschool). Anyway, I'm all in favor of funding for public preschool as an option for all children in the country.
I personally do love that teachers incentives/pay/ratings will be tied to how well students do as well although teachers hate that. Being held accountable verses tenure . . .
Anyway, I'm sure I may have made a new enema with this long off topic post. But I really find the topic of education interesting. And got carried away.
Are you intentionally writing "enema" for "enemy" or is it a slip or a spellchecker at play here?
Regardless it does add a bit of humor to your otherwise serious and well reasoned and well written post.
Thanks for that,
Mike
It was on purpose from the Redneck list. It was a small attempt to be as funny as the rest of you!!
Thanks for allowing me to go on my tangent and seeing value in it! A subject that I have thought a great deal about.
That was really funny......probably because I didn't know you did that intentionally. I was trying to figure out how a spellchecker could do that - really.
It's crystal clear that you've thought a lot about this issue.
Wow, Maybe "Rebuke" was a little to strong of a Word to use.
SAT prep courses don't dramatically improve test scores.
I took one, when I was a junior in high school, and my SAT score went up by 150 points, if I remember correctly.
Went from an 1140 to right around 1300 (if memory serves). It was a long time ago now, so don't quote me, but it was something close to that.
I just found this article(*), stating the same thing... those expensive prep courses don't largely improve scores.
(*) http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37197700/ns/us_news-life/t/college-board-sat-courses-have-little-effect/#.UxjEp_ldWCk
Trust me on that one - I will never quote you.
Does the New SAT Spell Doom for the Test Prep Industry?
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/education/does-new-sat-spell-doom-test-prep-industry-n45936
"When College Board President and CEO David Coleman announced major changes to the design of the SAT on Wednesday in Austin, Texas, one particular initiative made waves: the new partnership between the College Board and the non-profit, online-based Khan Academy to “provide the world with free test-preparation materials.”
Explaining the need for such a venture, Coleman took aim at the multi-billion dollar private test prep industry, saying it “drives the perception of inequality and injustice in our country.” He charged the companies with “intimidat[ing] parents at all levels of income” into paying exorbitant fees for coaching and tutoring.
Companies like Kaplan and Princeton Review, as well as smaller boutique test prep businesses, can charge more than $1,000 per course. Private tutors often charge more than $15,000 a year. According to the College Board, the industry is largely built on teaching kids “tricks” and gimmicks to outsmart the test, as well as other skills and facts that even Coleman now admits have been disconnected from what kids learn in school.............."
Now Mike, we all know no one can choose not to be a Redneck. That’s just they way we are born. You need to accept and embrace it.
P.S.- Piggly Wiggly has Skoal on sale this week.
I thought Skoal was more of a choice for the 1%ers. What ever happened to Redman or Levi Garret? At least most new vehicles now come with a spit cup holder.
“I thought Skoal was more of a choice for the 1%ers. What ever happened to Redman or Levi Garret?”
Yes, a lot people think that Skoal and "Corked Wine" is to good for us.
This is the typical Stereotyping we face daily. If someone references Watermelon or Chicken when talking about African Americans (or whatever the latest P.C. term is used today) they would be referred to as being demonized. But there is New Day acumen when we will be judged by our Character and not by The Color of our Necks. I see a day when The ACLU will join us in our fight to be free of this discrimination, a day when we can fly our Confederate Flags proud because it is a symbol of out Heritage not Racism, and our own Redneck History Month. A month of 24/7 NASCAR, History of Moonshine Documentaries, Documentaries on The Invention of Wine in Box, and Duck Dynasty.
"a day when we can fly our Confederate Flags " Good luck with that, didn't work out to well for Maurice Bessinger.