Student entered University of Oxford’s graduate program at 17

Tuesday, May 8, 2012 by FunEd News

Student entered University of Oxford’s graduate program at 17

When applying to graduate school, individuals typically face stiff competition, especially for programs offered by prestigious schools like the University of Oxford. According to the institution’s website, the number of applicants for postgraduate programs at Oxford now exceeds the total for prospective undergraduates.

However, despite rigorous admissions standards and the fact that graduate students are typically older than the average student, Anne-Marie Imafidon began her postgraduate studies at Oxford when she was just 17 years old, the Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper reported. As a result, she went on to become the youngest student in the University’s history to earn a combined master’s degree in mathematics and computer science.

Completing a master’s degree program at Oxford is far from the Nigeria native’s only academic accomplishment. When she was just 10 years old, Imafidon passed high school diploma exams in mathematics and information technology. At 12 years of age, she received a scholarship to Oxford, which was followed one year later by another scholarship, this time to Johns Hopkins University.

"Every child is a genius," said Anne-Marie’s father, Chris Imafidon, as quoted by the news source. "Once you identify the talent of a child and put them in an environment that will nurture that talent, then the sky is the limit."

If children appear to have a gift for learning at an early age, parents may want to have them complete an IQ test for kids to discover their intelligence quotient.

Gifted student to enter college early

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 by FunEd News
Gifted student to enter college early
Thanks to Kristina Hu’s academic performance, the 16-year-old high school student is on the fast track to earn her college degree, the Fairfax Times reported. Hu, who is formally in the class of 2013 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia, will now graduate alongside members of the class of 2012.


However, this is not Hu’s only accomplishment. The news source reported that as an eighth-grader at Longfellow Middle School, the student taught herself calculus and then scored five out of five on the Advanced Placement Calculus exam. That same year, Hu scored 2,330 out of 2,400 on the SAT.

The fact that Hu was accepted at Thomas Jefferson was an accomplishment in and of itself, as applicants to the High School are subjected to a competitive admissions process. According to the news outlet, 3,410 individuals applied to the institution for a spot in the 2012 freshman class, which is composed of about 480 students.

Hu has already been accepted to Harvard University, but is waiting to hear back from other institutions before she makes her final decision.

According to British Mensa’s website, gifted children can have trouble coping with their intellect. Having these youths complete an IQ test for kids may help parents identify their children’s abilities before they become a burden rather than a blessing. 

Gifted student receives award for his artistic talents

Friday, December 23, 2011 by FunEd News
Gifted student receives award for his artistic talentsWhile gifted children can certainly excel in academic subjects like mathematics, many of these youths’ talents can be in artistic areas, such as music, dance and painting, according to the National Association for Gifted Children.


One student who has displayed exceptional artistic talent is 13-year-old Ben Glover, who attends the Bishop Stopford School in the UK, the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph reported. Glover’s mastery of 3D animation has led London’s Trinity College to honor the adolescent with its Gold Arts Award.

According to the news source, this honor is typically awarded to individuals who are at least 16 years of age.

"It’s brilliant to receive the award, it is not something people my age do or even hear about," Glover told the news outlet. "Everyone seems very proud of me and what I have achieved."

In addition to attending Bishop Stopford, the news source stated that Glover is a member of the Milton Keynes and Northants Explorers, which is a part of the UK’s National Association for Gifted Children.

If children show signs of exceptional talent, parents may want to have them take a kids IQ test to see what areas they shine in.


Gifted student hopes to earn his PhD by age 20

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 by FunEd News
Gifted student hopes to earn his PhD by age 20  

Many students struggle in the classroom. Some have learning disabilities, while others are simply bored by the material they are being taught. Occasionally, these pupils are unengaged due to the fact that they are actually gifted children.

According to the National Association for Gifted Children, the needs of gifted students are often overlooked.

Keenan Lyon, who is currently enrolled in Canada's Carleton University at just 16 years of age, is one student who found it hard to stay interested in what he was expected to learn in the fifth grade, the Ottawa Citizen reported.

During math class, Lyon would sit in the back of the room reading a physics book, rather than focusing on what his instructor was teaching, the news source stated.

After completing his studies at Carleton, Lyon plans to pursue a master’s degree in nanotechnology at the University of Waterloo and earn his PhD by the time he is 20 years old, according to the news source.

Parents who want to make sure their children are receiving an education that will keep them engaged may want to have them take a kids IQ test to verify their intelligence quotient.

North Carolina resident joins Mensa at the age of 6

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 by FunEd News
North Carolina resident joins Mensa at the age of 6 

Many students struggle to get through algebra class, while some adults still do not have a good handle on this branch of mathematics. This is not the case for Kalee Hall, a 6-year-old North Carolina resident, who learned the basics of algebra while having lunch in a Pizza Hut, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

This is not Hall's only accomplishment, but it is one reason why she is now a member of Mensa. It is not uncommon for the high IQ society to offer membership cards to gifted children. In fact, the news source stated that the group's youngest member on record was 2-years-old.

Hall's mother, Karen, would not release Kalee's official IQ, but she did tell the news outlet that the 6-year-old's score placed her in the 99th percentile. In order to gain entry into Mensa, her score had to be at least 132, but the news source stated that Kalee may have placed somewhere over 140.

As a member of Mensa, Hall will join around 110,000 members who come from 100 countries and all walks of life, according to the society's website.

Parents who are curious to see if their children have what it takes to join Mensa may want to have them take an IQ Test for Kids.

Games designed to improve intelligence

Thursday, September 29, 2011 by FunEd News
Games designed to improve intelligence


Some people believe that the more they use technology, the smarter they will become. Then, there are those who feel that gadgets like spellcheckers and video games do not do much for their intelligence.

However, as more people purchase smartphones and devices like the Apple iPad, more companies are releasing mobile applications that are designed to boost the brain power of individuals who use these gadgets. Mesa Legend recently highlighted a few of the games that are designed to appeal to anybody who is looking to keep their mind sharp and have fun at the same time.

For example, Brain Fit is an iPad game that is designed to engage a user's mind, according to the news source. The program provides visual stimulation through the use of bright colors.

Past research has shown connections between technology and cerebral benefits. For example, according to the results of a University of California, Los Angeles study, searching on the internet may be able to provide a form of exercise for the brain, Computerworld reported.

Individuals who use technology several times a day and are curious to see what impact it has had on their intelligence may want to take an IQ test.

 

Hiring on the rise for college graduates

Tuesday, May 31, 2011 by FunEd News
More students are wondering about their options

As graduation ceremonies appear to be kicking off left and right, many students approaching the podium are wondering what their chances of finding a job in this economy are like.

However, recent surveys have suggested that the hiring of college graduates is on the upswing. According to the Sacramento Bee, more than four in 10 seniors have already received job offers, representing a 3 percentage point increase from last year.

Still, it is important that those without job offers establish a clear plan as to how they will attract potential hiring managers. A way to do this is by taking a career aptitude test in order to determine where one's strengths lie.

Although most college graduates have an idea of what field they want to enter into, a career aptitude test can help them pinpoint the exact profession, as these exams weigh one's characteristics such as leadership, sympathy, assertiveness and other qualities in order to make a correct fit.

Career aptitude tests can have people considering a job opportunity that they may not have otherwise thought of in the past.

Study suggests domestic violence could have negative effect on child IQ

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 by FunEd News
 Children who had not witnessed any violence in the household had higher IQs on average

Domestic violence is unfortunately an everyday occurrence across the country, but not many people understand the ramifications it has on witnesses. Research suggests that the experience could ultimately affect a child's IQ score.

According to findings published in the journal Development and Psychopathology, extreme stress during childhood could affect an individual's neurocognitive development. Domestic violence would be one of those instances.

The report found that children who were exposed to domestic violence in their households had an average of 8 points lower on their IQ scores compared to children who had not witnessed any such scenes growing up.

The study was done in response to the lack of research that was able to tie together dramatic events such as domestic violence and how it could affect a child in the long run.

Researchers point out that child exposure to domestic violence is somewhat common in America. The study reports that more than 40 percent of all domestic abuse cases are witnessed by children under 12 years old. This results in more than 10 million children exposed to violence each year.

Summer is a great time to practice...

Monday, June 7, 2010 by Larry Crampton

We are asked all the time, "What is the best time of the year to purchase practice materials and when should I start practicing?".  Most tend to wait until the last minute to purchase the materials, but one of the best times is actually during the summer months.

Bright Education offers practice test accounts for the standardized exams such as the ITBS / Iowa Testing, TerraNova, SAT-10, and many others.  Our most popular package is the one year account and so if you purchase that during the summer, you will get the most use out of the account for your upcoming grade level. 

Students also tend to lose some of the knowledge that they have accumulated in the past year, so practicing in the summertime can also give students that edge and keep their minds sharp well into the next school year.  Our materials are good to use as a review of the previous year's materials as well as a way to get ahead for the next year and challenge more advanced students.

For more information on our practice tests, including pricing for our affordable year-long packages, please visit our pricing and ordering page:
https://brighted.funeducation.com/Order

Free Kids Assessment

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 by Larry Crampton

Hey, Kids!

Ever want to know how much smarter you are than 5th graders?  You can take the free kids assessment test, "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" and find out!

This free quiz has 15 questions that were given to actual Fifth Grade students.  Once you finish the test, your results are compared with how well those Fifth Grade students did so you can see if you did better than them.

The 5th Grader Quiz also includes a free analysis of how well you did.

Take the Test Now!  >>

What is the Florida FCAT?

Saturday, March 27, 2010 by Larry Crampton

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, more commonly known as the FCAT, is a series of exams given to students of specific grade levels over the course of their public school career.  As Florida's public schools are guided by detailed “Sunshine State Standards” and benchmarks in all core realms of academia, the FCAT serves to critically measure students' retention and comprehension of the mandatory curriculum. 

For example, students are assessed depending on grade level on information from topics such as:

·         Grades 3 through 10 – FCAT evaluates reading skills and abilities

·         Grades 5, 8, and 10 – FCAT evaluates reading, mathematics, and science skills and abilities

·         Additionally, grades 4, 8, and 10 evaluate key content material in addition to writing skills

In more closely examining the FCAT, the assessment focuses on “Sunshine State Standards,” which have gradually been established to represent the key material that Florida residents believe their children must understand at each specific grade level. 

For example, the FCAT reading assessments evaluate the construction of meaning from informational and literary texts, while the FCAT mathematics assessments evaluate students' comprehension of the sense, concepts, and operations of numbers, while the math tests continue to gradually evaluate students' measurement, geometry, spatial sense, algebraic, and data analysis skills. 

Practice for the Florida FCAT

We offer comprehensive practice materials to fully prepare for the FCAT testing.  These include online practice tests and printable workbooks.

Begin Practicing Now  >

About the TerraNova Testing

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 by Larry Crampton

The TerraNova is a nationally-administered standardized assessment test similar to the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) and the SAT-10 (Stanford Achievement Test, Version 10).  The overall purpose of the TerraNova is to provide achievement scores that are valid for most types of educational decision-making.  This gives teachers, parents, and tutors a better understanding of a student's educational strengths and weaknesses which can then be used to help differentiate the student's studies.

The TerraNova test includes questions in each of the 4 main subject areas: Reading / Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Science / History.  Scores in each of these subject areas are then compared as a percentile with other students in the same grade around the nation.  These percentile scores can be useful in judging overall performance of a student irrespective to difficulty level of the questions themselves.  For example, a 90% on a very easy test may not be that good of a score and only put a student at the 50th percentile, but a 90% on a difficult test may be good enough for a 98th percentile meaning that the student scored the same or better than 98% of his or her colleagues.

Since the scores on a test like the TerraNova can be instrumental in shaping a child's education it is very important for students to do well.  That is why we have created extensive practice materials through our www.BrightEducation.com website.

Learn about TerraNova Practice Testing >


What is the ITBS?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Larry Crampton
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or more commonly know as the "Iowa Test" or "ITBS Test" is a nationally administered assessment for children in grades kindergarten through eigth grade.  The test itself is divided into different levels which are roughly equated to a specific corresponding grade level.

Level 6 = Grade K-1

    The purpose of this test is to assess the extent to which the child is cognitively prepared to begin work in the academic aspects of the first grade curriculum.  It also includes a literacy assessment.

Level 7 = Grade 1
Level 8 = Grade 2


    The purpose of these tests are to provide information about a student's progress in a curriculum that expands in breadth and depth with each additional grade level.  All primary subjects are included in this test including Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Science.

Level 9 = Grade 3
Level 10 = Grade 4
Level 11 = Grade 5
Level 12 = Grade 6
Level 13 = Grade 7
Level 14 = Grade 8


   These assessments are meant to determine a student's level in each subject and content standard in efforts to help teachers improve individual instruction in those areas.

We offer comprehensive practice materials for all ITBS test levels for grades 1-8.

Why SAT-10?

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by Larry Crampton
Many schools throughout the nation use the Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition for their standardized assessment testing.  Tests such as these can be great tools to help pinpoint weaknesses as well as assess strengths.  Since the actual test can be used for placement and evaluation purposes, it is essential that students do well and are well prepared.  That is where our materials come into play.  Our SAT-10 practice tests can help students prepare and feel more comfortable and confident when taking the actual administered exam.

So, what is the purpose of the SAT-10 testing and how is it used?

Teachers use the assessments for multiple purposes.  These include (1) guiding their teaching curriculum to achieve higher success in the classroom, (2) measuring student performance on standards potentially for placement purposes, (3) identifying students at risk of being held back, and (4) giving parents an understanding of where their child stands.

When are the tests typically given?

The Stanford testing is typically given twice a year, but this can vary by school or district.  The most common assessment period is in March and April with some tests given as early as February and others as late as May and June.  This is the "end-of-year" testing designed to test the knowledge in the current grade level. 

Many schools also give "beginning-of-the-year" testing around October.  This early testing allows the teachers to compare scores with the previous end-of-year testing and assess where a student stands.  This can be an important baseline to gauge improvement throughout the year.

Practice for the Exams!

For additional information on the SAT-10 testing specifically and for test prep options, please visit our SAT-10 information page:
brighted.funeducation.com/Prepare/StateTests

How Does IQ Testing Integrate with Standardized Testing?

Saturday, January 16, 2010 by Larry Crampton
Most children in elementary school and middle school must take a standardized exam such as the ITBS or SAT-10 exam at least once a year.  This is true for both public schools and private ones, but many private schools actually go beyond the factual testing of the State Standards and also test for intelligence and personality, sometimes as part of admission criteria.

The Kids ISIQ IQ Test is a great test for young kids that works in conjunction with our practice tests for the standardized exams.  Taking both tests together will give a parent a greater overall picture of how well her child is performing in the classroom along with identifying the intellectual capabilities of her child. 

Parents and teachers can then analyze which areas the student is most capable in comparing intelligence and academic aptitude.  For example, if a child has high scores on the Arithmetic section of the Kids ISIQ, but struggles in the Math section of the standardized practice tests, a parent can draw conclusions that perhaps the student has the potential to develop more in math and simply needs additional study.  Likewise, if his intelligence score is low for Arithmetic, perhaps the student is actually performing to his full potential even if his math scores are merely average.

For more information on intelligence and standardized testing, please follow the links below:

Kids ISIQ Intelligence Testing >

State Standardized Practice Tests >

Ultimate Sales Challenge

Friday, June 5, 2009 by Larry Crampton

Ultimate Sales Challenge

We are pleased to announce the launch of our Ultimate Sales Challenge.  This free 59-question quiz tests your knowledge in the field of sales and cold calling.  How well do you think you would do against "The Perfect Salesperson"?

Why should you take the Challenge?

  • Establish a baseline of your knowledge of selling
  • Identify areas of weakness and strengths
  • Receive suggestions to improve your performance in your weakest area
  • Evaluate the progress of your sales training
  • See how you compare to the perfect salesperson in over ten key areas

 >  Take the Ultimate Sales Challenge Today!

Product Feature - Are You Smarter Than 5th Graders? Quiz

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 by Larry Crampton
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?  Free Quiz

Ever wonder how much knowledge from your elementary school years you have actually retained?   Most of us remember only a small percentage of the facts that were taught to us throughout our elementary school career.  How would you compare today with 5th graders?

We have developed a free quiz that enables you to compare your results to those of actual 5th graders.

Take the Quiz Now!  >

------------------------------------------------------------
About this blog series:
This series of blogs highlights our various tests, one at a time.  Please visit our website and our blogs often for the latest exciting information about certified testing.

Product Feature - Are You Smarter than a 1st Grader?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 by Larry Crampton


Ever wonder if you could still take and score well on an elementary school test?  Now you can find out for sure with our free quiz, "Are You Smarter than a 1st Grader?".

This 1st Grader test is similar to our popular "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?" quiz.  It contains 15 real-life questions actually taken by real 1st grade students.  Compare your results and score with that of actual 1st graders and find out if you really are smarter than a 1st grader!

Take the 1st Grader Quiz Now  >


------------------------------------------------------------
About this blog series:
This is the second installment in my series of blogs highlighting our various tests, one at a time.  Please visit our website and our blogs often for the latest exciting information about certified testing.

Free Online IQ Test

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 by Larry Crampton
Have you ever wanted to find out what your real IQ score is?

Here at FunEducation.com, we offer an IQ test for free that is PhD-certified and quite accurate.  Many other websites offer a short 10 question quiz and claim to be able to come up with a score based on those couple answers, but there is really no way that short of a quiz can be accurate.  Some of those sites don't even give you a real score, just generalities.  What we offer is different.  We have a PhD-Certified 43-question quiz that tests your cognitive performance in several key areas including word analysis and spatial reasoning.

Our Premium IQ Test is a free test, so find out your IQ score today!

Does Television Help Babies Learn?

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 by Larry Crampton
Parents are usually faced with many challenging decisions when it comes to their child's education.  These tough decisions start at a very early age for their children especially since most researchers agree that the first five years of a child's life are the most important for growth and development.  One of the biggest decisions might just be about something as simple as whether or not to expose your child to television programming at an early age. 

How does TV affect babies younger than 2 years old?  Does educational programming actually increase a child's IQ score?  Does it diminish a child's intelligence quotient?  Have no affect whatsoever?

WebMD published an interesting study indicating that watching television at a very early age has no significant effect on a baby's growth. 

Want to know your child's IQ score?  Take our Kids IQ Test and find out now.   We offer a PhD-certified exam that is highly accurate for children ages 6-16.