THANK YOU for sharing that!!! I can't believe the timing of that article - especially after writing my response.
There are only two solutions for this cheating.
1. Report all scores as timed or extra time.
2. Offer the test a. timed or b. extra timed to everyone AND report all scores as such
I'll be very unpopular writing this. I don't believe that ADHD is real. I don't believe that having anxiety should permit an advantage taking the test. And most of all, I hate the idea of kids being medicated for these so-called disabilities. Aside from dyslexia, it's all BS.
The worst is that these kids who get a big boost 100-200 points higher are getting into schools and taking a spot from other students who are more deserving. I've been watching it happen real time to my daughter. She's watching her weaker classmates (with extra time) succeed at this admissions game - they have been accepted to schools while my daughter has been waitlisted. Just terrible.
The schools are definitely playing a game too. As test optional, they need to make sure their admitted students who submit scores will fit in the ranges that they want to publish (ie. 1520 at the 75th percentile to 1450 at the 25th percentile). They make it clear not to submit scores if you don't fit in this range. Only half of applicants now submit test scores at many highly competitive schools - given the criteria.
I absolutely agree with you. Anyone who truly needs extra time struggles in ways that probably preclude going to the most competitive colleges.
Given that these cheating parents will resist any efforts to report who gets extra time, one potential "fix" is to give all students the maximum time permitted for those with accommodations.
Your daughter has something none of her peers has - integrity. They may be winning the admissions battle, but they are losing the life skills war. Their parents have basically told them that there is something wrong with them when there isn't or that they don't feel confident that they can succeed on their own merits. Eventually, most of them will reach a point when mommy or daddy can't run interference for them anymore and it won't be pretty.
I would love an expose on accommodations. Rich kids are never average or dumb; they just have different "learning styles" or "test anxiety."
Their parents are the academic equivalent of air travelers who take their emotional support peacocks on the plane.
From the NY Post - https://nypost.com/2024/03/27/us-news/private-school-students-get-fake-adhd-diagnoses-boost-sat/
THANK YOU for sharing that!!! I can't believe the timing of that article - especially after writing my response.
There are only two solutions for this cheating.
1. Report all scores as timed or extra time.
2. Offer the test a. timed or b. extra timed to everyone AND report all scores as such
I'll be very unpopular writing this. I don't believe that ADHD is real. I don't believe that having anxiety should permit an advantage taking the test. And most of all, I hate the idea of kids being medicated for these so-called disabilities. Aside from dyslexia, it's all BS.
The worst is that these kids who get a big boost 100-200 points higher are getting into schools and taking a spot from other students who are more deserving. I've been watching it happen real time to my daughter. She's watching her weaker classmates (with extra time) succeed at this admissions game - they have been accepted to schools while my daughter has been waitlisted. Just terrible.
The schools are definitely playing a game too. As test optional, they need to make sure their admitted students who submit scores will fit in the ranges that they want to publish (ie. 1520 at the 75th percentile to 1450 at the 25th percentile). They make it clear not to submit scores if you don't fit in this range. Only half of applicants now submit test scores at many highly competitive schools - given the criteria.
I absolutely agree with you. Anyone who truly needs extra time struggles in ways that probably preclude going to the most competitive colleges.
Given that these cheating parents will resist any efforts to report who gets extra time, one potential "fix" is to give all students the maximum time permitted for those with accommodations.
Your daughter has something none of her peers has - integrity. They may be winning the admissions battle, but they are losing the life skills war. Their parents have basically told them that there is something wrong with them when there isn't or that they don't feel confident that they can succeed on their own merits. Eventually, most of them will reach a point when mommy or daddy can't run interference for them anymore and it won't be pretty.
Wishing you and your daughter the best of luck.