primitives discuss SAT (scholastic aptitude test)

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024624479

Oh my.

MineralMan (61,883 posts)    Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:14 PM

I guess I'm really old. How about you?

This morning's local news was talking about the changes in the SAT scoring. They had an interview with someone from an SAT coaching school on, which made me remember taking the SAT, way, way back in 1962.
 
I don't remember any coaching stuff at all from that time. You signed up for the SAT, paid your fee, and went to the high school cafeteria one Saturday and sat there and took it. Nobody I knew was stressed about it. Nobody did any preparation. I don't think there were even any SAT prep books available at the time. There might have been, but I never saw one.
 
A few weeks later, you got an envelope with your score in it. When you applied to colleges, they got permission from you to go get the score from the company that did the testing. I don't remember my score, but it was high enough to be a merit scholarship finalist. I was accepted at all three colleges I applied to.
 
So, when did all of the stressing come into effect? The only coaching we got was someone telling us about the difference between getting a question wrong compared to leaving it unanswered. I can't remember what the difference was. It seems like, these days, kids are scared stiff about the test or the ACT, whichever one they'll take. They go to classes, and all that stuff. I can't remember any of my classmates even mentioning any concern about the test.

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after which a bunch of primitives tell what year they took the test; man, no spring chickens, the primitives.
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NoOneMan (4,539 posts)    Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:22 PM

4. I had 3 years of high school english classes that trained us for the SAT

Plus AP English. They were called "college prep", but it was just SAT training (and we spent much of the year specifically doing SAT work).
 
My HS math was much the same.

I come from the "do not **** up and fail at life" generation.

grasswire (39,392 posts)    Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:33 PM

11. same here

No stress, no prep. I have always been grateful for the SAT because it was the first time I understood that I was really smart [sic!]; no one in my family had ever told me so. I was given honors at entrance to college because of my SAT scores. Those honors English classes were affirming.

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after collecting the data, the mineral oil primitive draws up his conclusion:
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MineralMan (61,883 posts)    Fri Mar 7, 2014, 03:04 PM

21. It looks like the panic started in the 90s, then.

It seems like high school kids today are panicked about it, if all the ads are true. How strange.

[Carl]

NoOneMan (4,539 posts)    Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:22 PM

4. I had 3 years of high school english classes that trained us for the SAT

Plus AP English. They were called "college prep", but it was just SAT training (and we spent much of the year specifically doing SAT work).
 
My HS math was much the same.

I come from the "do not **** up and fail at life" generation.

Look around at where you are posting...you ****ed up and failed at life long ago.

[JohnnyReb]

Well, I took the SAT in '63....no prep....no booklet to help....no coach....just went in and took it....made 1,200 something. 780 math half and a little over 400 something on the English. If it had been "Understanding Ebonics", I would have probably aced it.

[Wineslob]

4. I had 3 years of high school english classes that trained us for the SAT

Plus AP English. They were called "college prep", but it was just SAT training (and we spent much of the year specifically doing SAT work).

Here lies the problem with the scrool system.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Never sweated taking the SAT.  For some reason we almost all took the ACT in my area of the Midwest. 

[98ZJUSMC]

Never sweated taking the SAT.  For some reason we almost all took the ACT in my area of the Midwest. 

I thought taking both was standard stuff.  Cannot remember what the scores were except the ACT had a lower number than the SAT. 

[GOBUCKS]

grasswire (39,392 posts)    Fri Mar 7, 2014, 02:33 PM

No stress, no prep. I have always been grateful for the SAT because it was the first time I understood that I was really smart [sic!]; no one in my family had ever told me so. I was given honors at entrance to college because of my SAT scores. Those honors English classes were affirming.

Okay. It is only the seventh of the month, and already we have the DUmp Post Of The Month!

DUmmy grasswipe, pie-and-jam Judy Smith, is smart! Apparently her family knew her better than the SAT. If she went to college (highly unlikely), it must have been the same place as Amber Hoyt.

[jukin]

The reason for changing the SAT is the same as for changing the way the Obama Regime did GDP calculations. One is for making common core look good and one was for making the percent of GDP to debt look better.

It's just another scam from the leftists to prop up their failed ideology and theories.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I thought taking both was standard stuff.  Cannot remember what the scores were except the ACT had a lower number than the SAT. 

We obviously had the option of taking both, but I think it was a regional thing.  Plus, since the ACT was based out of the University of Iowa, it was far more common to just take it in my home state.

[Dori]

Isn't it strange that phDD hasn't posted her numbers - she usually doesn't let anyone forget how smart she is.

[Carl]

Hey DUmbasses...ever think that maybe it was a ploy by teachers unions to increase dues paying staff or add extra payable hours to a salary?

[GOBUCKS]

Isn't it strange that phDD hasn't posted her numbers - she usually doesn't let anyone forget how smart she is.

She's embarrassed that she's dumber than grasswipe Judy Smith.

[zeitgeist]

It seems to me back in my day (1960's) you took the National Education Development Test as a Sophomore, then the PSAT as a Junior to qualify for National Merit Scholar, then the SAT again as a Senior if you needed to boost your score to get into an Ivy.   Most colleges listed a minimum combined SAT score for consideration in their catalogue, some kids needed remedial test taking help to boost their scores.  You had to prove who you were when you sat for the test, I assume to prevent ringers from taking the test for you.  I went to a very 'college oriented' school, everyone did a weekly essay, all four years of high school.  Even the grounds keeper had been a valedictorian.       We had a couple kids a year score 1600 (perfect score back then).  I believe a potted plant could get a 400 combined.   

[Splashdown]

SATs are a bit of a "game" now. Since the changeover last time, it's more about how to take a test than showing actual knowledge. I tutor kids in preparation for the verbal portions. With a few simple strategies, you can boost your score, sometimes by as much as 100 points or more.

[NHSparky]

Probably one of the major reasons the "traditional" SAT/Achievement tests were replaced in the mid-90's by the SAT I and II.  The scores were also "recentered" with the old average of 900 Math/Verbal now about a 1000.  Then they threw a third score on it a few years back so a perfect score is now 2400.  I took it in 1983 and got around a 1400 combined on it (IIRC, 760 Math, 630 or 640 Verbal.)  I was also applying to some higher-tier schools so I took English Comp, Math II, and Physics on the Achievement Tests.  I did okay on those, but the one thing I remember is there was one kid who had a hell of a runny nose who kept sniffing (loudly) through the entire thing.

By the end of that morning the entire room was ready to kill that kid.

[GOBUCKS]

the old average of 900 Math/Verbal now about a 1000

Like bowling! In the 70s, a 180 average was an excellent amateur league bowler, an anchorman.

Today with bouncy pins, special balls, and shallow channels, averages are 30 pins higher.

700 series used to be in the newspaper, like a hole-in-one. Now it seems every league has at least one 700 series every week.

But we still don't roll on Shabbas.

[NHSparky]

Mark it zero, Smokey!!