Ahira's Hangar

Where the hell is everybody?

--A

Boo!

I've been enjoying my summer holiday away from all online forums. But don't worry, I'm still capable of rants here and there when I get going, whether anybody cares to read 'em or not.

Well Duchess is away...

Anyway, I need help from anyone who recently went through, or whose kids recently went through, AP and ACT testing, please...

Both results for Beorn arrived today. Keep in mind he just finished his sophomore year and we have heard even AP's generally aren't taken until junior year.

As a freshman, he took AP World History last year. At the time he took it, College Board did not have all his accommodations in place, and we're fairly certain his essay brought his overall score down. He passed with a 3, but even his guidance counselor/sponsor of the Cambridge Program at his school told me privately he was a little disappointed in Beorn's results.

This year he took AP European History, and had all of his accommodations in place, including use of a computer for his essay. So, his score went up to a 4, out of the maximum (I think) of 5. Considering his writing level, due to not knowing about his dysgraphia until 8th grade, we'll take that score with celebration. I know a 5 would have been better, but well, we'll take it.

Now, the ACT. The scores are different from the practice one he had taken, so I have no idea how colleges would look at them. This take was only done to get his accommodations in place with ACT; they insist the student take the exam in order to put them in place. But now that they are in place, they will remain in place when he retakes it his junior, and if needed, senior year.

That all said, his composite score was a 32, out of a potential of 36. In both nationwide and in the state, ACT says his composite score of 32 puts him in the 99% of recent high school graduates who took the ACT.

However, his four subject test scores are all over the place...

English: 29 score 92% rank
Mathematics: 31 score 97% rank
Reading: 34 score 99% rank
Science: 34 score 99% rank
Combined English/Writing: 27 score 86% rank
(essay combined with English score above)

Again, I would say given he took it at least six months early compared to his classmates, we're pleased. But, I am curious how this first take compares with our gifted college aged students (or those who took it and remember their scores) here in the Hangar.

I know for certain he'll take it again at least one more time, in his junior year next year.

Thanks for any feedback.

*Looks round furtively...*

--A

...uh-oh...

Menolly, he did fine you silly girl! Those ACT scores are good enough to get decent scholarships at smaller public universities.

The cats were fine. Bud loves to go camping. Matty spent a lot of time hiding under blankets in the beds (we have a small pop up camper with two bunks), earning him the new nickname of "Lumpy". We went camping on top of a huge Lake Michigan sand dune with a set of stairs leading down to miles of sandy beach. So lots of time spent on the beach, lots of evenings watching the sunset over the Lake, lots of trips to local farmers' markets to buy fresh sweet cherries and blueberries.

Very cool, duchess! Getting out of the city for the weekend is something I wish I could do. Oh well, that's what I get for not having a car.

But I did see some cat action, too: today at the zoo, some very adorable lynx cubs were frolicking around with the mother.

Welcome back Duchess.

--A

Oh, what cute babies!!!

awwww...!

I've been running around like crazy this morning: taking care of a sick Grace, watering plants, spreading mulch, doing the dishes, folding laundry, pulling weeds. Taking a break and dripping sweat into my keyboard. Next vacuuming and mopping!!! It's much cooler than the 100 degrees we had yesterday, and it rained last night!

Good thing it's cool over there, danlo. Wouldn't want you dropping from heatstroke doing all that work!