TJ admission test - what to expect?

[Anonymous]

Although I have a pretty much good understanding on what the students will be asked to write about (one math/science essay plus 4 smaller essays about their past experiences related to the portrait of a graduate), I am missing some smaller details which are not yet clear to me. Hopefully someone with experience from the previous TJ admission tests can help.

1. Since the test is timed, will the students see a clock somewhere to see how much time they have left? Is the clock on the screen or on the wall? Are they allowed to have a small desk digital clock with them?
2. Is the time going to be allotted separately for each test (like 40 mins for the STEM essay + 15 minutes for each portrait essay) or is it going to be available as a big chunk of time where the student can allocate as desired and complete the tests in any order?
3. Is the computer prompt plain-text style or can have MS Word-style formatting with tools like autocorrect etc? (I assume the first)
4. Is there a text box per essay or one big text box to fit everything? In the first case, can the student save the work and change the answer later? (assuming there is time left)
5. When the time expires, does the computer accept the current state of the text as is and stops receiving any input or should the student be proactive and submit just before the time expires? (otherwise there is the risk of not submitting anything?)

These details are small but I believe knowing these beforehand help relieve some of the stress for the students.
Thank you

[Anonymous]

Interested in answers and also curious for essays if structured so kids cannot write anything after max word count or do the kids seriously have to select all and do a word count on their own for each question, which seems silly.

[Anonymous]

Also, should kids keep saving the responses all along to not loose work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Although I have a pretty much good understanding on what the students will be asked to write about (one math/science essay plus 4 smaller essays about their past experiences related to the portrait of a graduate), I am missing some smaller details which are not yet clear to me. Hopefully someone with experience from the previous TJ admission tests can help.

1. Since the test is timed, will the students see a clock somewhere to see how much time they have left? Is the clock on the screen or on the wall? Are they allowed to have a small desk digital clock with them?
2. Is the time going to be allotted separately for each test (like 40 mins for the STEM essay + 15 minutes for each portrait essay) or is it going to be available as a big chunk of time where the student can allocate as desired and complete the tests in any order?
3. Is the computer prompt plain-text style or can have MS Word-style formatting with tools like autocorrect etc? (I assume the first)
4. Is there a text box per essay or one big text box to fit everything? In the first case, can the student save the work and change the answer later? (assuming there is time left)
5. When the time expires, does the computer accept the current state of the text as is and stops receiving any input or should the student be proactive and submit just before the time expires? (otherwise there is the risk of not submitting anything?)

These details are small but I believe knowing these beforehand help relieve some of the stress for the students.
Thank you

To OP, did you by chance ask this of your MS and if so, any answers?

[Anonymous]

A couple of comments. I'm not positive about the answers, but pretty sure about them to offer.

I would suggest your student wear a watch--not an apple watch, just an old fashioned watch. You can't guarantee the wall clock in the high school classroom where they take the test is in any working order, and there's no way they are going to let your kid put a desk digital clock on the desk.

I believe the SPS questions (4) are given as a set. So time needs to be managed between those 4. And then there's a stop and the math/science problem is a stand-alone. I don't think you can uses portrait question time for the math/science question.

Some of the other questions are on the video that TJ filmed to answer admissions questions. I believe your question about the text box, and the plain text, might be on there.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple of comments. I'm not positive about the answers, but pretty sure about them to offer.

I would suggest your student wear a watch--not an apple watch, just an old fashioned watch. You can't guarantee the wall clock in the high school classroom where they take the test is in any working order, and there's no way they are going to let your kid put a desk digital clock on the desk.

I believe the SPS questions (4) are given as a set. So time needs to be managed between those 4. And then there's a stop and the math/science problem is a stand-alone. I don't think you can uses portrait question time for the math/science question.

Some of the other questions are on the video that TJ filmed to answer admissions questions. I believe your question about the text box, and the plain text, might be on there.

Good luck.

Do you have link for the TJ filmed answer? Also, read FCPS students use their own computers so assume they can just look at clock on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of comments. I'm not positive about the answers, but pretty sure about them to offer.

I would suggest your student wear a watch--not an apple watch, just an old fashioned watch. You can't guarantee the wall clock in the high school classroom where they take the test is in any working order, and there's no way they are going to let your kid put a desk digital clock on the desk.

I believe the SPS questions (4) are given as a set. So time needs to be managed between those 4. And then there's a stop and the math/science problem is a stand-alone. I don't think you can uses portrait question time for the math/science question.

Some of the other questions are on the video that TJ filmed to answer admissions questions. I believe your question about the text box, and the plain text, might be on there.

Good luck.

Do you have link for the TJ filmed answer? Also, read FCPS students use their own computers so assume they can just look at clock on that.

If they are using their own (I assume FCPS-issued?) computers, what prevents them from cheating? (like using AI?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of comments. I'm not positive about the answers, but pretty sure about them to offer.

I would suggest your student wear a watch--not an apple watch, just an old fashioned watch. You can't guarantee the wall clock in the high school classroom where they take the test is in any working order, and there's no way they are going to let your kid put a desk digital clock on the desk.

I believe the SPS questions (4) are given as a set. So time needs to be managed between those 4. And then there's a stop and the math/science problem is a stand-alone. I don't think you can uses portrait question time for the math/science question.

Some of the other questions are on the video that TJ filmed to answer admissions questions. I believe your question about the text box, and the plain text, might be on there.

Good luck.

Do you have link for the TJ filmed answer? Also, read FCPS students use their own computers so assume they can just look at clock on that.

If they are using their own (I assume FCPS-issued?) computers, what prevents them from cheating? (like using AI?)

1. The proctors are watching closely.
2. Your child signs an integrity statement .

[Anonymous]

The email we got said that kids could not bring a watch of any kind. I assume the rooms will have clocks.

THis is from the email:

DO NOT bring cell phone, watch (any type), calculator, backpack or bag, other electronic devices, food or drink (unless allowed due to accommodation).

[Anonymous]

Do not bring a watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The email we got said that kids could not bring a watch of any kind. I assume the rooms will have clocks.

THis is from the email:

DO NOT bring cell phone, watch (any type), calculator, backpack or bag, other electronic devices, food or drink (unless allowed due to accommodation).

Their laptop shows the clock, which is enough, and the proctors probably keep reminding them of the remaining time.