Does anyone know if game times are going to be changed this saturday to accomodate all the juniors taking the ACT ? What have they done in the past ?
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In my experiences, one year the game time stayed at the original time and juniors had to rush to the field and show up in the middle of the game. Another game, our coach and the opposing coach talked and both teams would be missing a lot of juniors. The coaches then agreed to start the game later. I don't think IHSA will do anything about it, I'm pretty sure it's up to the coaches to decide what needs to be done. Hope that helps. If your son and his teammates are going to be taking the ACT on game day, I would recommend for them to tell their coach as early as possible so he can make proper changes if necessary.
We always play a 2pm double header on ACT day
I thought that all juniors take the ACT at their schools on April 23rd during the day.
ripcord, that test is required by the state. But the NCAA does not accept that test for the ACT requirement. They require it be taken at a National Testing Site.
I would not expect the IHSA to do anything about it. There is also a National Testing Day in October every year and it often is complained about when a football team has a playoff game that day. If a team has to travel far at all, the players can't take the test.
I would not expect the IHSA to do anything about it. There is also a National Testing Day in October every year and it often is complained about when a football team has a playoff game that day. If a team has to travel far at all, the players can't take the test.
My understanding is that the NCAA does accept the April 23 test given by the schools.
The NCAA will accept the test taken in schools, they started that last year.
Ok, I stand corrected 
I just know that when I took it in 2006 the school one didn't count for the NCAA and I think something else.. It really didn't matter-- school I'm at now (not playing a sport) saw my 28 and was happy
I just know that when I took it in 2006 the school one didn't count for the NCAA and I think something else.. It really didn't matter-- school I'm at now (not playing a sport) saw my 28 and was happy
Just got word--games were moved to 2 P.M.
quote:Originally posted by Bulldog 19:
school I'm at now (not playing a sport) saw my 28 and was happy
But probably not as happy as your parents!!!!!
quote:Originally posted by play baseball:quote:Originally posted by Bulldog 19:
school I'm at now (not playing a sport) saw my 28 and was happy
But probably not as happy as your parents!!!!!
LOL.. didn't matter to them. They're not paying for it anyway even if I wasn't on an academic scholarship
Give me a reason why a public school student would take the ACT today.
Because it is a scheduled day for the act testing and they want to go to college. Sorry I guess that is 2 reasons.
Because there is a the written portion that some colleges might require. The writing portion is not given during a school test day.
Plus, taking the test twice within a few weeks will breed familiarity and possibly increase a score.
So the score my son received two years ago at school is tainted. Are you sure there is no writing part. He claims the part he took included writing. But you wont know your scores the second time you take it so maybe you get worse by diminishing returns.
ripcord, I took it within that one month of time. Yes, my score increased the second time.
The writing portion is not required. Even on a National Test Day, not everybody takes the writing portion. It was an extra 30 minute session at the end.
The writing portion is not required. Even on a National Test Day, not everybody takes the writing portion. It was an extra 30 minute session at the end.
What if you take it the second time and your score goes down. Do you have to take the second score?
The schools will have both scores on record but will always take the better score.
Schools only look at the highest score (of the six times that you may take it)
quote:Originally posted by ballyall:
Schools only look at the highest score (of the six times that you may take it)
actually athletes have to be careful... the NCAA starts averaging scores after three attempts.
also, the writing portion is now included on the psae (prairie state exam - ACT is on day one). and those scores can also be reported and will indeed be accepted as "official" scores.
So I still dont know why you would take the test 10 days apart without getting the first test results.
ripcord, I don't know why they would now. My junior year, we didn't have the writing part in the normal school day test and the NCAA didn't accept the school results.
actually schools encourage kids to take the April test prior to the PSAE a few days later. it's way more important to your school that you do well on the PSAE than it is how you do on your own - NCLB stats for AYP all come from the PSAE scores. the theory is that the more familiar you are with the test the better you will do. high schools live and die by the PSAE... biggest two days of the whole year if you're an administrator.
as far as why kids would actually do it? who knows... most parents don't know any better I guess and just go with the flow.
as far as why kids would actually do it? who knows... most parents don't know any better I guess and just go with the flow.
I am going to call our local schools on Monday and see if they encourage students to spend money on their own and take a test only to turn around and take it 10 days later set up officially through their own school. I would only buy the whole familiarity argument if you received your score back prior to taking the test for a second time. I have also emailed the NCLB board and will tell you their answer on this question when I receive it back.
Now that the NCAA accepts scores taken during school, not just on national testing days, it doesn't make sense to take it--paying out of your own pocket--without knowing your scores. You could become familiar with the tests without paying for them by taking the practice tests. They aren't much different, in fact, aren't the practice tests tests from previous years?
I supervised the tests yesterday and there were a few seniors who were taking it to qualify for scholarships.
I supervised the tests yesterday and there were a few seniors who were taking it to qualify for scholarships.
To tell you the truth, this thread is not all that interesting to me, however I need to address faulty logic (Kind of like an accident on the side of the road that you dont really want to see but feel like you must look at)
First, Ripcord, who seems to be defending his position to the death even when new info is brought up, claims that he doesn't buy the "familiarity argument" unless a kid gets his/her score back from the first test. Regardless of knowing their score, a student knows what to expect--the layout, the official setting, the timing, the pressure. Ergo, familiarity is bred with or without scores.
As for Play Baseball who claims that true familiarity can be gained from a practice test, I say NO WAY. That is like claiming batting practice is akin to a game situation because factors such as the fact that a player is batting a pitched ball. We all know that bp is not the same as a game situation. I can show you dozens of guys who look like All-Staters in the cage, but then look rather human against pitching in a game situation. This is why coaches, business leaders,the military and others like people with experience. Practice tests, batting practice, military drills, stock market simulations and other practices do not come close to the real thing.
Finally, I find it amusing that some on this thread are bemoaning and lamenting the dollars spent for another shot at eligibility, scholarships and/or college admission, when many people think nothing of throwing top dollar at any camp, clinic, showcase or publication.
And to quote Forrest Gump--"That's all I have to say about that."
First, Ripcord, who seems to be defending his position to the death even when new info is brought up, claims that he doesn't buy the "familiarity argument" unless a kid gets his/her score back from the first test. Regardless of knowing their score, a student knows what to expect--the layout, the official setting, the timing, the pressure. Ergo, familiarity is bred with or without scores.
As for Play Baseball who claims that true familiarity can be gained from a practice test, I say NO WAY. That is like claiming batting practice is akin to a game situation because factors such as the fact that a player is batting a pitched ball. We all know that bp is not the same as a game situation. I can show you dozens of guys who look like All-Staters in the cage, but then look rather human against pitching in a game situation. This is why coaches, business leaders,the military and others like people with experience. Practice tests, batting practice, military drills, stock market simulations and other practices do not come close to the real thing.
Finally, I find it amusing that some on this thread are bemoaning and lamenting the dollars spent for another shot at eligibility, scholarships and/or college admission, when many people think nothing of throwing top dollar at any camp, clinic, showcase or publication.
And to quote Forrest Gump--"That's all I have to say about that."
Thanks - Byall I have seen the light and now see the need to take the test as much as possible kind of like taking BP.
You can get "familiar" with the test by taking practice tests. They are tests from years past.
Some people "choke" while taking tests, just like they "choke" while at the plate or on the mound. So the more practice games one plays, the more likelihood that the player will not choke or "freeze" when it counts. The more a student "practices" the test, KNOWS the kinds of questions and material on the test, the greater likelihood that the student will do well on the test when it counts, right?
Of course conditions in taking the actual test are different than practicing....lighting, the time of the test, other students nearby, different classrooms....By the way, there are different versions of the test given on the same day, in the same classroom.
I did not say to not take the test more than once. I said it doesn't make sense to take it without knowing your previous score. Why take it over if you get a 34 or 35? To try to get a 36????
Some people "choke" while taking tests, just like they "choke" while at the plate or on the mound. So the more practice games one plays, the more likelihood that the player will not choke or "freeze" when it counts. The more a student "practices" the test, KNOWS the kinds of questions and material on the test, the greater likelihood that the student will do well on the test when it counts, right?
Of course conditions in taking the actual test are different than practicing....lighting, the time of the test, other students nearby, different classrooms....By the way, there are different versions of the test given on the same day, in the same classroom.
I did not say to not take the test more than once. I said it doesn't make sense to take it without knowing your previous score. Why take it over if you get a 34 or 35? To try to get a 36????
quote:Originally posted by ballyall:
Schools only look at the highest score (of the six times that you may take it)
Some schools actually take composite scores. So if you get a 31 science and 22 math on this test, and a 29 science and 26 math on the next test, the school will use the 31 science and 26 math to compute your admissions and academic aid eligibility.
A big advantage for taking the test a couple of times is the student learns how to manage his time better while taking the test. A common comment I hear from students after the first time is they felt a little rushed, the second time they feel they managed there time better. Also like cplz said you can combine the scores at many schools.
A couple of points
First in our experience, the test you take as a state requirement is not usually considered a National Test Date so it is kind of unofficial.
We were also shown some stats (baseball guys have look at stats) that show that not much improvement is usually made after the first two or three times you take the test. Like 2bagger said, learning to manage time and developing test strategies is a good reason to take it a second or third time. Know which tests to guess on (nothing deducted for being wrong) and which tests to leave questions unaswered (no points off for being wrong) also helps.
These tests can be great if a kid manages a good score, but can hurt if they are low. Thing is it isn't necesarily the best indicator of who smart a kid is.
First in our experience, the test you take as a state requirement is not usually considered a National Test Date so it is kind of unofficial.
We were also shown some stats (baseball guys have look at stats) that show that not much improvement is usually made after the first two or three times you take the test. Like 2bagger said, learning to manage time and developing test strategies is a good reason to take it a second or third time. Know which tests to guess on (nothing deducted for being wrong) and which tests to leave questions unaswered (no points off for being wrong) also helps.
These tests can be great if a kid manages a good score, but can hurt if they are low. Thing is it isn't necesarily the best indicator of who smart a kid is.
There is no better "practice" than taking the test as it is offered. Experience under the actual test situation is the best way to prepare for future tests.
Take the test, see where there might be room, or an area that can can be improved upon. Work on that area, then take it again, or multiple times. You are never penalized for a lower score on a retake. You can only stay the same, or go up! Experience with my two students showed improvement from their first tests to their final ones. They set goals for themselves and worked to achieve them. Similar to baseball and life in general for that matter. You get out of something what you put into it.
Take the test, see where there might be room, or an area that can can be improved upon. Work on that area, then take it again, or multiple times. You are never penalized for a lower score on a retake. You can only stay the same, or go up! Experience with my two students showed improvement from their first tests to their final ones. They set goals for themselves and worked to achieve them. Similar to baseball and life in general for that matter. You get out of something what you put into it.
Should I start my 8 year old with online practice tests this weekend?
Well Ripcord,
There are an awful lot of people who don't mind investing in their 8 year old kid's baseball future. Seems like doing well academically might be at least as important!
There are an awful lot of people who don't mind investing in their 8 year old kid's baseball future. Seems like doing well academically might be at least as important!
quote:Should I start my 8 year old with online practice tests this weekend?
You wouldn't believe how many have 8 year olds already studying for a specific test. I believe it's India where to get into a particular school you have to study for the entrance test for several years.
I wouldn't be surprised if there are people that have their kids here studying for the ACT or SAT at a very young age. And I think that's crazy. Neither of those tests are 'Life or Death' as some would put it. There are people who truly believe if you don't score above X, then you won't get into Y and because you didn't get into Y you can't be even remotely successful.
We have Saturday night blocked off from 6-9 and I have the online tests bookmarked ready to go. Looking forward to it!
There are a number of 6, 7, and 8th grade students, identified with "talent", who are invited to take the ACT and SAT tests. They are then invited to spend money at top academic universities in their summer school programs.
FastballDad, when our kids were in high school, the NCAA did not recognize the school administered tests as "official". They now accept them as being taken an a "national" test day.
My two boys each took the test 3 times. Both of their scores were best the first time they took it. One son's scores went down with the subsequent tests, the other son ended up with the same composite score, but did better or worse on each subject test. At the time, his college did not cherry-pick his scores for a better scholarship.
Conditions are rarely the same---they can be taken at different schools, and even within the same school, different rooms can have different lighting or other physical attributes, different supervisors can proctor the test, who may allow potentially "annoying" behaviors. The test-taking student may also have different conditions, such as sleep and general wellness issues.
If your high school offers prep classes, I recommend taking them.
FastballDad, when our kids were in high school, the NCAA did not recognize the school administered tests as "official". They now accept them as being taken an a "national" test day.
My two boys each took the test 3 times. Both of their scores were best the first time they took it. One son's scores went down with the subsequent tests, the other son ended up with the same composite score, but did better or worse on each subject test. At the time, his college did not cherry-pick his scores for a better scholarship.
Conditions are rarely the same---they can be taken at different schools, and even within the same school, different rooms can have different lighting or other physical attributes, different supervisors can proctor the test, who may allow potentially "annoying" behaviors. The test-taking student may also have different conditions, such as sleep and general wellness issues.
If your high school offers prep classes, I recommend taking them.
My daughters both took the test once to see what it was like. After the got their results, they took a test prep course, knowing their strengths and weakness. One improved 5 points, the other 7 points. They are both happy, one a junior at Illinois, the other at Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU). KU has the number 2 or 3 football team and number 1 in basketball. Not too bad.
bballdad1954--That's great! You got your money's worth!