Is something wrong with me?

[RubyJewelStone]

I do well enough in school. A’s and B’s and honor roll. Admittedly, there were quite a few opportunities where I could have studied a bit more and eliminated those B’s but overall, I consider myself a pretty good student. And everyone’s been telling me I’m a good student and that I’m smart for all these years.

However, then along comes standardized testing and suddenly I’m compared with the whole country and the results weren’t pretty. And where math used to be one of my best subjects in school, I rate below average on the SATs. However, when I took the Placement Test for the community college I rated above average.

What was the difference between those tests? Timed conditions.

Save, memorization, I’m not good at doing things fast. On the SATs I did alright on Critical Reading and Writing, nothing to really yell about but at least I finished before time was up. However, when it came to the math sections I was barely able to make it halfway before time was up.

Now I feel dumb because I can’t do math that fast enough. I know I can do it, the concepts are not impossible, but I can’t do it fast enough. It’s frustrating, I’m just not the type of person that can think fast like that, but I don’t see others really having that problem, after all, I scored BELOW AVERAGE for crying out loud!

How can I make myself go faster? I bought the book, and when I did the practice questions un-timed, I did pretty good. But when I tried to time myself it was horrible.

What’s wrong with me? And how come speed is suddenly and issue? It was never really stressed in school.

This has literally made me cry. I just want to qualify for that 100% Florida Bright Futures scholarship and make my mom proud as well as give her a break financially. But I just can’t do the math fast enough. And if I can’t get the math up high enough, not even a perfect score in Critical Reading will help me get high enough (I need a 1270 for the scholarship and it doesn't count Writing).

[Mithrandir]

I know how you feel. That's something that can really wear you down. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you at all. It just means you need to practice the speed part. Unfortunately, there's only one thing that can make you faster (that I know of):

Practice.

It's not fun, but it's also not the end of the world. Think of it this way:

You've mastered the hard part - learning. All you have to do now is get a little faster.

Ganbatte! You can do it!

[SolidÃ…rmor]

It's not you it's the rest of the country that's messed up. Seeing how schools in other cities, in other states have different teaching methods than others in your area. Plus, it seems to cheapen the intellect of a student when comparing it to others in the nation that may have above average academics.

This is what I hate about the world today. Putting thoughts like you don't measure up to other kids your age into your head. When those administering these test probably couldn't pass it themselves.

[Technomancer]

Like Mithrandir said, practice a lot. By doing many of these problems you will learn to recognize their pattern and structure much more readily than you would otherwise.

[ishy]

You may want to talk to your school counselor about being allowed to not have a time limit, and about your difficulty with timed math tests. They may make you take a sort of test for that, but usually the school district will pay for it and such.

[Technomancer]

You may want to talk to your school counselor about being allowed to not have a time limit, and about your difficulty with timed math tests. They may make you take a sort of test for that, but usually the school district will pay for it and such.

I can't see why. If everybody has to take the same test, there will be a fixed time limit that everyone will be subject to. When the time comes for the test to matter for college admissions, no one will (or at least should be) making any exceptions.

[Kura Ookami]

I think it's definately worth talking to your school counsellor. Maybe they'll let you have a little extra time? Maybe they won't but you won't know unless you ask.

[RubyJewelStone]

I can't see why. If everybody has to take the same test, there will be a fixed time limit that everyone will be subject to. When the time comes for the test to matter for college admissions, no one will (or at least should be) making any exceptions.

Still, how can I be certain that the admissions and everyone else will recognize the difference in speed and accuracy? If I'm rejected somewhere because they would rather someone who can work faster, that's fine, but I don't want to be rejected because they think that I don't know the work.

Take my guidance couselor for instance, when she recieved my score for the SAT she saw my score and snobbishly told me that I probably should not take a summer college course in math while, when I took the college's (untimed) placement test, they told me that I qualified for college-level and were even ready to help me sign up right then and there. But now the only reason I'm missing out on FREE early college credit is because of my guidance couselor's opinion which was greatly influenced by that SAT. She outright refused to sign the dual enrollment form. (Also, my school doesn't offer AP so dual-enrollment is one of the few chances for me to show an effort in taking higher level coursework.)

Therefore, I guess it's worth a try asking for an extended time limit (my g.c. will probably give me an overwhelming "no"), but my school doesn't administer the test since its a small private school. I have to go to a nearby school. So things might get complicated (if she even says yes). Plus we end up paying for almost everything that public schools can get for free, so therein lies another issue.

However, rant aside, it might not even be necessary since this time when I took it I at least got past the half-way mark, so there's a sign of improvement. I probably averaged 2-3 unanswered question in the math per section this time. So at least I know that I'm getting a little better with timing.

In any case, I suppose I can take solace in the fact that I have until about this time next year to take it. Now my next issue would be in convincing my dad to keep paying for it. >.<'


But in anycase, thanks for the support all!

[Kuro-Mizu]

I don't want to be mean...

But I say... don't worry about! Just do your best... you can't be asked to do anymore then that.

I think people in the world today are to worried about where they stand as far as grades go... and as far as what everyone elses grades are.

Yeah thats my opinion... and of course their is nothing wrong with you!!!

[Anna Mae]

Indeed, timing is always annoying. I know that for the ACT one can apply to get special provisions for extended time, but a good reason must be presented. I'm not sure if the SAT has an equivalent. In any case, like Mithrandir said, keep slogging through that practice, timed.

[RubyJewelStone]

Thanks and Thanks.

And I don't think you were mean at all Vern. It's just, things are so competetive, and I don't think of myself as a person with that many talents so I want to make sure I'm sucessful or at least look like it. After all, I went from overstroked ego to below average in my three years of highschool. Frustration abounds.

Besides, I can't even use the excuse that I was having to concentrate on something like sports or preparing for a show. I'm not sporty, and my miserable school lacks any arts. Everything is academic. What was my extracurricular class for the last two years? Business.

So it feels like after nothing to do in this school but study, my grades and scores should at least show it, right?

[K. Ayato]

If you really worked hard at it, the grade won't matter as much. It's when you slack off and barely get by with a grade of, say, C+ that is cause for concern.

[mitsuki lover]

C+ is not a bad grade.It is when you get a D that you should worry.Though I think the problem is we are talking about two types of intelligence here.Some people are just better at normal class work and lousy at standardized tests,while others might be so/so in normal every day lessons but ace the standardized tests.
You should also remember that a good deal with standardized testing is simply
luck and guessing.Is the answer to question 1 a,b,c,d or e?
Yes,I know there is a bit of essay writing on the more recent tests but overall it is sitll basically multiple choice and so guessing is much a part of it as anything else.
And by the way when you do get out into the real world it won't matter a fig if you had a A+ or F average in school.In the end it will all depend on your gumption and
how quick you can think on your feet not what you're grades were like.
And don't be too surprised if you work for someone who had poor grades and never went to college.

[Kaligraphic]

When you're taking a standardized test and have time issues, there are some tricks that can help you. For instance, if you can eliminate some of the answers, then it can be profitable to guess. The wrong answer penalty is designed to eliminate totally random guessing, but if you can get a better-than-random guess, over the course of the test you'll come out positive.

[Raiden no Kishi]

I know the tests usually have some algebra and geomtery in them [at least, I think so . . . it's been a while since I took my SAT II], but a habit I've gotten into is trying to calculate my change when I buy something before the cashier can punch the numbers in. I don't know when or why I started it [I hate math usually], but it's become fun for me, and now I can beat the machine most of the time. It might help with your basic calculations. Memorizing multiplication tables is pretty groovy too.

.rai//

[ich1990]

I too greatly dislike those timed tests. One thing that has helped with the pacing and such, is a study guide. The one that I used is "Cracking the SAT, 2007 edition by Princeton Review" I found it at my library, and have borrowed it on several different occasions. It takes you through with the timing on every section, why you should guess on most problems (like someone above me said), which questions you should answer first for maximum benefit etc. You may find that for your score you might not even need to answer all of the questions! Instead it might be wise to spend more time on the easier ones and make sure you get them right. The hard ones are worth the same amount of points as the easy ones after all. Even if you just use the math part of the book, it could really help. After that, there is only one thing you can do: practice. Hope it helps you.

[Aleolus]

Actually, there are a number of conditions that could make it so that you can do work just as well as other people, if not better, just not as fast. The one I am most familiar with is a condition called aspergers. I myself suffer from it. It is the mildest form of autism, and if you have it, you can function perfectly find in society for the most part, you just have a couple things about you that are slightly off, and people seem to be able to tell that there is something different about you, they just can't quite tell what. Look it up online to find the symptoms of aspergers, and see if maybe you fit. If you do, you qualify for countless accomodations to make stuff like that easier for you.