TJ admissions test tips?

[Anonymous]

Any tips for completing the TJ admissions test, especially the Student Portrait Sheet? We're not in FCPS so unfamiliar with the goals they ask. It kind of sounds like they're supposed to tie in their achievements to the skills, but I don't know. Would also love to hear some success stories.

[Anonymous]

Yes.. my son tied in his interest/experience in python and programming to aspects of POG such as team work, communication etc (eg u need to have good communication skills to be able to work in a team of diverse people, from all over the world..)

but I think my son got in, since his interest was genuine and somewhere that shows up in the application.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Portrait Of a Graduate attributes

Communicator
Collaborator
Ethical & Global Citizen
Creative & Critical Thinker
Goal-Directed & Resilient Individual

https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/portrait-graduate

[Anonymous]

DC is a freshman at TJ. Below are some suggestions based from our experience last year.

1. Have a good night's sleep - This is very important as the exam starts early next day. This is needed to rest your body and brain.
2. Have a hearty breakfast - I do not think food/drinks are allowed in the test center.
3. Plan to reach your test center at least 15 minutes early - Usually they would mention this in the email. No point going too early as the doors won't open and you have to wait.
4. The exam has two parts, Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) and Problem Solving Essay (PSE). There is no gap between the two. You can either start SPS first or PSE first. DC did SPS first but DC's friend (who also got in) did PSE first. So I would think let your kid decide what they want to do first.
5. SPS has different prompts. TBH, it is very difficult to pinpoint exact winning strategies for this as it is a relatively subjective review. I would think talking about STEM achievements would help. DC talked about both STEM achievements and some extracurriculars (other than STEM) that DC is interested in.
6. PSE would be either math or science based. No rocket-science level knowledge is needed, good understanding of middle school level math and science concepts would suffice. The critical part is understanding of the question and logical interpretation.

Hope this helps. Good luck to all kids taking TJ exam tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a freshman at TJ. Below are some suggestions based from our experience last year.

1. Have a good night's sleep - This is very important as the exam starts early next day. This is needed to rest your body and brain.
2. Have a hearty breakfast - I do not think food/drinks are allowed in the test center.
3. Plan to reach your test center at least 15 minutes early - Usually they would mention this in the email. No point going too early as the doors won't open and you have to wait.
4. The exam has two parts, Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) and Problem Solving Essay (PSE). There is no gap between the two. You can either start SPS first or PSE first. DC did SPS first but DC's friend (who also got in) did PSE first. So I would think let your kid decide what they want to do first.
5. SPS has different prompts. TBH, it is very difficult to pinpoint exact winning strategies for this as it is a relatively subjective review. I would think talking about STEM achievements would help. DC talked about both STEM achievements and some extracurriculars (other than STEM) that DC is interested in.
6. PSE would be either math or science based. No rocket-science level knowledge is needed, good understanding of middle school level math and science concepts would suffice. The critical part is understanding of the question and logical interpretation.

Hope this helps. Good luck to all kids taking TJ exam tomorrow!

Thank you! That was helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is a freshman at TJ. Below are some suggestions based from our experience last year.

1. Have a good night's sleep - This is very important as the exam starts early next day. This is needed to rest your body and brain.
2. Have a hearty breakfast - I do not think food/drinks are allowed in the test center.
3. Plan to reach your test center at least 15 minutes early - Usually they would mention this in the email. No point going too early as the doors won't open and you have to wait.
4. The exam has two parts, Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) and Problem Solving Essay (PSE). There is no gap between the two. You can either start SPS first or PSE first. DC did SPS first but DC's friend (who also got in) did PSE first. So I would think let your kid decide what they want to do first.
5. SPS has different prompts. TBH, it is very difficult to pinpoint exact winning strategies for this as it is a relatively subjective review. I would think talking about STEM achievements would help. DC talked about both STEM achievements and some extracurriculars (other than STEM) that DC is interested in.
6. PSE would be either math or science based. No rocket-science level knowledge is needed, good understanding of middle school level math and science concepts would suffice. The critical part is understanding of the question and logical interpretation.

Hope this helps. Good luck to all kids taking TJ exam tomorrow!

Opps. Missed the porridge tip!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a freshman at TJ. Below are some suggestions based from our experience last year.

1. Have a good night's sleep - This is very important as the exam starts early next day. This is needed to rest your body and brain.
2. Have a hearty breakfast - I do not think food/drinks are allowed in the test center.
3. Plan to reach your test center at least 15 minutes early - Usually they would mention this in the email. No point going too early as the doors won't open and you have to wait.
4. The exam has two parts, Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) and Problem Solving Essay (PSE). There is no gap between the two. You can either start SPS first or PSE first. DC did SPS first but DC's friend (who also got in) did PSE first. So I would think let your kid decide what they want to do first.
5. SPS has different prompts. TBH, it is very difficult to pinpoint exact winning strategies for this as it is a relatively subjective review. I would think talking about STEM achievements would help. DC talked about both STEM achievements and some extracurriculars (other than STEM) that DC is interested in.
6. PSE would be either math or science based. No rocket-science level knowledge is needed, good understanding of middle school level math and science concepts would suffice. The critical part is understanding of the question and logical interpretation.

Hope this helps. Good luck to all kids taking TJ exam tomorrow!

Opps. Missed the porridge tip!

Porridge tip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is a freshman at TJ. Below are some suggestions based from our experience last year.

1. Have a good night's sleep - This is very important as the exam starts early next day. This is needed to rest your body and brain.
2. Have a hearty breakfast - I do not think food/drinks are allowed in the test center.
3. Plan to reach your test center at least 15 minutes early - Usually they would mention this in the email. No point going too early as the doors won't open and you have to wait.
4. The exam has two parts, Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) and Problem Solving Essay (PSE). There is no gap between the two. You can either start SPS first or PSE first. DC did SPS first but DC's friend (who also got in) did PSE first. So I would think let your kid decide what they want to do first.
5. SPS has different prompts. TBH, it is very difficult to pinpoint exact winning strategies for this as it is a relatively subjective review. I would think talking about STEM achievements would help. DC talked about both STEM achievements and some extracurriculars (other than STEM) that DC is interested in.
6. PSE would be either math or science based. No rocket-science level knowledge is needed, good understanding of middle school level math and science concepts would suffice. The critical part is understanding of the question and logical interpretation.

Hope this helps. Good luck to all kids taking TJ exam tomorrow!

Opps. Missed the porridge tip!

Jealousy? Envy? Feel better.

[Anonymous]

seriously.. get good sleep and a breakfast are the # 1, 2 tips????

So American ( and useless)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:seriously.. get good sleep and a breakfast are the # 1, 2 tips????

So American ( and useless)

LOL DD Had her best friend’s birthday party the previous night and stayed up late watching a movie. Well, she got in and is a Freshman at TJ.

DD’s tip is to monitor time. There’s a timer on the screen that shows you how much time you have remaining. She also suggests to first quickly scan through all SPS prompts and PSE to get an idea and do the easiest one last. She loves cooking and she tied it to one of the prompts in SPS, she says it doesn’t hurt to mention non-STEM activities.

GL to all kids taking the exam this morning.

[Anonymous]

Where can we can get prompts to prepare essays for next year admissions? Besides Curie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where can we can get prompts to prepare essays for next year admissions? Besides Curie.

Curie is the best. But since you want choice:

https://www.google.com/search?q=TJ+test+prep