This year's TJ SPS questions?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what they were. Or other years? I'd just love a basic sense of what they ask.

[Anonymous]

OP here,

I thought this was helpful, in case anyone else is wondering what the questions might be like.

https://youngscholarscircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Question-Types-TJ-Writing-Workshop.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

I thought this was helpful, in case anyone else is wondering what the questions might be like.

https://youngscholarscircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Question-Types-TJ-Writing-Workshop.pdf

Thank you, OP!

[Anonymous]

It was something like 'Explain why you should be admitted to TJ, when you are looking around trying to get a sneak peek at our tests?'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was something like 'Explain why you should be admitted to TJ, when you are looking around trying to get a sneak peek at our tests?'

Is there any test, AT ALL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

I thought this was helpful, in case anyone else is wondering what the questions might be like.

https://youngscholarscircle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Question-Types-TJ-Writing-Workshop.pdf

Thank you OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was something like 'Explain why you should be admitted to TJ, when you are looking around trying to get a sneak peek at our tests?'

Is there any test, AT ALL?

They got rid of it because people were buying the answers.

[Anonymous]

OP here,

I understand that what came before was problematic but I don’t understand how this isn’t at least equally problematic from an equity perspective.

I feel like the SPS questions, if they are like the ones listed here are going to be really easy to coachable, and the kid who doesn’t have an adult (parent or paid) who can sit with them and organize their thinking a little bit is going to be at a huge disadvantage. Plus it seems like having paid activities to write about would be a huge advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

I understand that what came before was problematic but I don’t understand how this isn’t at least equally problematic from an equity perspective.

I feel like the SPS questions, if they are like the ones listed here are going to be really easy to coachable, and the kid who doesn’t have an adult (parent or paid) who can sit with them and organize their thinking a little bit is going to be at a huge disadvantage. Plus it seems like having paid activities to write about would be a huge advantage.

You make some good points but perhaps that's offset by other special experiences like FARMS or ESOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

I understand that what came before was problematic but I don’t understand how this isn’t at least equally problematic from an equity perspective.

I feel like the SPS questions, if they are like the ones listed here are going to be really easy to coachable, and the kid who doesn’t have an adult (parent or paid) who can sit with them and organize their thinking a little bit is going to be at a huge disadvantage. Plus it seems like having paid activities to write about would be a huge advantage.

You make some good points but perhaps that's offset by other special experiences like FARMS or ESOL.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying that the old system was biased, so they made an even more biased new system, and then added the experience points to make up for some of the advantage that kids from more highly resourced families have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here,

I understand that what came before was problematic but I don’t understand how this isn’t at least equally problematic from an equity perspective.

I feel like the SPS questions, if they are like the ones listed here are going to be really easy to coachable, and the kid who doesn’t have an adult (parent or paid) who can sit with them and organize their thinking a little bit is going to be at a huge disadvantage. Plus it seems like having paid activities to write about would be a huge advantage.

You make some good points but perhaps that's offset by other special experiences like FARMS or ESOL.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying that the old system was biased, so they made an even more biased new system, and then added the experience points to make up for some of the advantage that kids from more highly resourced families have?

Oh no, that's not what I'm saying. The new system is far from perfect but still a significant improvement over the old system. At least now all residents get a shot at these programs not just those who can afford expensive outside enrichment.

[Anonymous]

Students and their parents sign a statement saying that they will keep the essays confidential.

Integrity still matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students and their parents sign a statement saying that they will keep the essays confidential.

Integrity still matters.

Tell that to Curie Learning Centers. They’ve made millions off of their former students breaking that statement over the years, as confirmed by former TJ and Curie students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Students and their parents sign a statement saying that they will keep the essays confidential.

Integrity still matters.

Interesting. The problem solving essay was up on youtube within days of the actual test, so it didn't occur to me that there was such a statement.

That makes it worse not better. First of all, the test prep programs clearly aren't following that rule if they are posting questions online.

Secondly, as I said, it's something that seems pretty easy to coach for, but you can only coach if you know what the questions are like. From the TJ website, I literally did not have a clue. So, if no one published past questions, kids from neighborhoods and families with other TJ kids would have a clue, and those of us without those connections (in my case, because we're coming from out of the area, but my guess is that higher numbers of ESOL kids and FARMS kids would also find themselves without those connections) would be coming in at a huge disadvantage. If the purpose is to improve equity then one way to do it would be to publish the past questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Students and their parents sign a statement saying that they will keep the essays confidential.

Integrity still matters.

Interesting. The problem solving essay was up on youtube within days of the actual test,

There was a makeup date a week later. Was this only if the original one was canceled, or could students attend this if they missed the first one?