Crappy standardized tests

J-0080 · Post by **J-0080** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:13 pm

I just took it today, was pretty easy, only had a little trouble on the second math section.

billy_wires · Post by **billy_wires** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:40 pm

Ughh, that math portion was disgusting! I was offended that math that low brow is considered acceptable testing standard for college, where you take calculus and such. Oh well. The writing section was hard for me because someone felt the need to play the bongos next door, and I couldn't concentrate.

Savia · Post by **Savia** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:42 pm

billy_wires wrote:Ughh, that math portion was disgusting! I was offended that math that low brow is considered acceptable testing standard for college, where you take calculus and such. Oh well. The writing section was hard for me because someone felt the need to play the bongos next door, and I couldn't concentrate.

If you know it all already, what's the point of letting you in to the college?

Seriously though, the test standards are de facto lower than that of the work at the college.

Toecutter · Post by **Toecutter** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:43 pm

I managed a 1210 on the SAT I (I decided to take it once, and didn't bother to study). I'm pretty good at school, but my memory is shot to hell, which isn't much help when I'm trying to solve problems I haven't had to mess with in the last few years.

The problem with the SAT's, is the fact they test material that SHOULD be covered by every elementary school, but usually isn't. What really pisses me off, is how the system has made it so easy to pass the test, if you shovel out hundreds of dollars to get the manuals. The manuals don't actually cover the old material you should know, but just teach you how to cheat on the test. It's just as bad as the english litterature classes that use the Cliff's Notes, because heaven forbid someone thinks for themselves.

billy_wires · Post by **billy_wires** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:45 pm

Savia wrote:
billy_wires wrote:Ughh, that math portion was disgusting! I was offended that math that low brow is considered acceptable testing standard for college, where you take calculus and such. Oh well. The writing section was hard for me because someone felt the need to play the bongos next door, and I couldn't concentrate.
If you know it all already, what's the point of letting you in to the college?

Seriously though, the test standards are de facto lower than that of the work at the college.

I see your point. But still, they could have incorperated some trig...

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 3:53 pm

billy_wires wrote:Ughh, that math portion was disgusting! I was offended that math that low brow is considered acceptable testing standard for college, where you take calculus and such.

don't worry the ap/ib calc and the ap/ib calc exam is pretty tough if you take it.

angelx03 · Post by **angelx03** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:06 pm

If I were you, take AP Statistics. You ONLY need an Algebra 1 experience since most of the concepts are VERY new and don't relate to other math courses. Besides you get to use the graphing calculator A LOT!

BogoSort · Post by **BogoSort** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 6:40 pm

Toecutter wrote:The problem with the SAT's, is the fact they test material that SHOULD be covered by every elementary school, but usually isn't. What really pisses me off, is how the system has made it so easy to pass the test, if you shovel out hundreds of dollars to get the manuals. The manuals don't actually cover the old material you should know, but just teach you how to cheat on the test. It's just as bad as the english litterature classes that use the Cliff's Notes, because heaven forbid someone thinks for themselves.

Damn, now I feel bad for taking that SAT prep course, back in my high school days. They had promised me a 200 point increase in my SAT score, and that plain just never materialized.

Toecutter · Post by **Toecutter** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 10:48 pm

Damn, now I feel bad for taking that SAT prep course, back in my high school days. They had promised me a 200 point increase in my SAT score, and that plain just never materialized.

The SAT prep course is just a way to memorize the "formulas" for your typical SAT questions. You know, like "You're given a math problem with these parameters, so plug in these numbers this way, and you'll get the right answer". If you're like me, and have a horrible memory when it comes to stuff you haven't touched in months, then you're pretty much screwed. I found those old MAT-7 tests in elemetary and middle school far superior, because they tested your logical reasoning more than just memorized facts. Your ability to think rationally and solve problems with new data on the fly is far more important than what you know.