ACT/SAT

My son took the ACT when he was selected for Duke TIP. As part of the Duke TIP, if a 7th grader scored 99% on any part of a standardized test, then they encourage you to take the ACT or SAT to see if you qualify for Duke TIP. They feel that if your child excels at the grade appropriate standardized test, for instance, 99% of his peers, then the test for that grade is not a good measurement of the student's knowledge. My son was 99 or 98% on everything on his ITBS this year. He took the ACT, and his composite score was 27, that being at 89% of all students who took the test, regardless of age. We live in a very poor school district right now that is struggling to get their students up to grade level. So, he does not have the opportunity to take any high level maths through the school. He was so bored that I pulled him out of school and started home schooling him. He scored excellent on the ACT without the high level math knowledge. To prepare him, I bought an ACT study guide from Barnes and Noble. I feel that it helped him to practice for the test. The primary reason for middle school students to take the ACT or SAT is to qualify for honors programs, scholarships, and programs like Duke Tip. I believe that every state has some program like it. Duke covers the Southeast, a 16 state reagion. After qualifying, the opportunities for the student grows. For instance, my son is taking Social Psychology this summer through Duke as an e-study course. They also have programs where they spend 3 weeks on a college campus study a topic of interest. Plus they offer field studies where a student will spend a few weeks actually in the field learning something they are interested in. For gifted children, these are wonderful opportunities to explore their interests and help them to gain knowledge and experience that would not otherwise be available. He applied for a scholarship that will help pay for private school and all of his educational needs through high school. None of this is accessible without an ACT or SAT test score though, at least through Duke Tip. The local community college also permits underage students to take college courses based on test scores. These test really open up opportunities that you never knew were available.