Thomas Jefferson Test

[Anonymous]

donalan wrote:My son has been in AAP since 3rd and has always tested in the top 98% percentile on nationally standardized tests. He made it to the final cut to TJ this year but did not get in. His test scores were disproportionately low for him at 70% on the final (2nd round) of testing for TJ. To be so far off on the testing - to go from 98% to 70% suggests to me test preparation by other students specific to the entrance exam is a factor. My son is at the maximum level of math and other courses in 8th grade (AAP in all classes and Honors Geometry). I cannot figure why he would drop a couple full standard deviations when his ranking among the same students is high outside of the actual admissions test.

It is widely known that there are a variety of 'test preparation services' that use banks of previous years questions and successful answers to 'prepare' students. These are professionally taught test prep courses by instructors with years experience in the specific TJ admissions test and admissions process. It is not uncommon for students to spend multiple years preparing for the TJ Admission test.

Being very very smart is not nearly enough to be admitted to TJ. If hundreds of the 1,280 finalists have been studying and preparing the TJ test outside of school with the benefit of previous years questions and successful answers it is unlikely someone not so trained will excel on the test. Bottom like if you think your child would enjoy TJ and is already very smart, start a couple years in advance sending them to a course that uses a vast database of previous years admission exam questions and answers.

The test prep courses offer a 90% acceptance rate whereas the general acceptance rate is about 10%. Being very smart is not what getting into TJ is about - its very smart kids being trained to pass.

I am not sure what you are talking about. They only score 1st round for math and verbal test. What do you mean by scoring 70% on 2nd round. Also, not all kids are prepped and prepping does not guarantee admission. My DD's friend prepped since 5th grade and did not get in but my DD who did no prep got in. If I had to do it again, I would have prepped my DD for learning good study habit because DD would’ve been better prepared for workload at TJ. Of course, I had no idea DD wanted to go to TJ until 8th grade. I don't know where you are getting this information about TJ prepping.