Comments on: Gaming the ACT and SAT http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/10/gaming-the-act-and-sat/ Free-linking and thinking on education by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:31:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Catch Thirty-Thr33 http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/10/gaming-the-act-and-sat/comment-page-1/#comment-60206 Catch Thirty-Thr33 Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:45:11 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/10/05/gaming-the-act-and-sat/#comment-60206 In Texas, public schools used the TASP test when I entered college (I believe they still do). There were various levels at which students would get flagged for needing remediation in writing, reading and mathematics, and other levels indicating "passing" (a student passing math, for example, who scored high enough to not get flagged for remedial courses, could go straight into entry level College Algebra.) In Texas, public schools used the TASP test when I entered college (I believe they still do). There were various levels at which students would get flagged for needing remediation in writing, reading and mathematics, and other levels indicating “passing” (a student passing math, for example, who scored high enough to not get flagged for remedial courses, could go straight into entry level College Algebra.)

]]> By: Cal http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/10/gaming-the-act-and-sat/comment-page-1/#comment-60181 Cal Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:41:36 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/10/05/gaming-the-act-and-sat/#comment-60181 I think you might be unaware of the relatively low level of math skill at the CSU level. The SAT and the ACT are perfectly good for indicating whether or not the student has mastered algebra and geometry, and that's about the average level of ability for a CSU student. The UC has this problem as well, but they use their own placement test. I very much doubt any university would use the SAT or the ACT for calculus admission. I think you might be unaware of the relatively low level of math skill at the CSU level. The SAT and the ACT are perfectly good for indicating whether or not the student has mastered algebra and geometry, and that’s about the average level of ability for a CSU student. The UC has this problem as well, but they use their own placement test.

I very much doubt any university would use the SAT or the ACT for calculus admission.

]]> By: M. J. Wise http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/10/gaming-the-act-and-sat/comment-page-1/#comment-60177 M. J. Wise Sat, 06 Oct 2007 17:36:18 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/10/05/gaming-the-act-and-sat/#comment-60177 I can't believe colleges would place people in math classes by using the SAT. As you said Charles, the actual math knowledge content is pretty low. It doesn't even have any trigonometry content right? Even the state college I went to required a math placement test for everyone in addition to your SAT or ACT scores. I can’t believe colleges would place people in math classes by using the SAT. As you said Charles, the actual math knowledge content is pretty low. It doesn’t even have any trigonometry content right? Even the state college I went to required a math placement test for everyone in addition to your SAT or ACT scores.

]]> By: Charles R. Williams http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/10/gaming-the-act-and-sat/comment-page-1/#comment-60164 Charles R. Williams Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:14:11 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/10/05/gaming-the-act-and-sat/#comment-60164 The math content of the SAT is very low. I once had a student who placed into calculus based on the SAT who could barely function in in pre-calculus. Compared to the ACT the SAT is more of an intelligence test. This student was extremely bright and apparently very good with test-taking strategies on multiple choice tests. Unfortunately, he had learned virtually no math beyond the middle school level in high school. The math content of the SAT is very low. I once had a student who placed into calculus based on the SAT who could barely function in in pre-calculus. Compared to the ACT the SAT is more of an intelligence test. This student was extremely bright and apparently very good with test-taking strategies on multiple choice tests. Unfortunately, he had learned virtually no math beyond the middle school level in high school.

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