Montgomery County Middle School Magnet Testing

[Anonymous]

The bad 6th grade science teacher at Eastern did not teach science before last year so if you have older children they would not have had this teacher.

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question - what is the magnet test like? Like the CogAT? Are there ways to prepare (other than good night's rest)?

[Anonymous]

It's not like the CoGat and it's harder to prepare for. Look at the booklet and you can find things to practice to prepare that resemble the various test sections.

[Anonymous]

For middle school it's more like the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test). It's HGC (elementary school) that uses the CoGAT in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

My advice: If your kid is testing, go ahead and test for both humanities and math/science magnet even if he/she only really wants to go to one.

My child tested for just one, even though they were academically better suited for the other, because she didn't think any friends were going.

Child barely missed the cut on the tested school and now has missed out on the chance to attend the other. It turns out that several friends are going to that school, and my child would have been happy to go.

You can always decide not to go, but nice to have the option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dc is about to start at Eastern. We are concerned about the math education, but figured the benefits of the magnet program outweigh any deficits in math (and dh is an engineer so can tutor on math and science at home).

As with every school -- it's not that the curriculum is different from school to school, but teacher ability certainly varies. If the math teachers at Eastern are not great (and I have no way to judge yet) that would be concerning but not surprising.

No. Same math at Eastern that you would get anywhere. Same range of math teachers - some ok, some so-so. None that I would complain about. You need to make sure your child is slotted into the right 6th grade math (IM) to get to algebra and geometry.

My children went to Eastern's humanities magnet and one went to the Blair Math magnet afterwards. It's no worse than anywhere else. It won't make or break your math 'career'. Just don't use a calculator!

I've never heard of someone complaining that Eastern had a lack of diversity, but there is always a first!

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but did you do anything to keep up your child's interest in math and science to get into Blair magnet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dc is about to start at Eastern. We are concerned about the math education, but figured the benefits of the magnet program outweigh any deficits in math (and dh is an engineer so can tutor on math and science at home).

As with every school -- it's not that the curriculum is different from school to school, but teacher ability certainly varies. If the math teachers at Eastern are not great (and I have no way to judge yet) that would be concerning but not surprising.

No. Same math at Eastern that you would get anywhere. Same range of math teachers - some ok, some so-so. None that I would complain about. You need to make sure your child is slotted into the right 6th grade math (IM) to get to algebra and geometry.

My children went to Eastern's humanities magnet and one went to the Blair Math magnet afterwards. It's no worse than anywhere else. It won't make or break your math 'career'. Just don't use a calculator!

I've never heard of someone complaining that Eastern had a lack of diversity, but there is always a first!

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but did you do anything to keep up your child's interest in math and science to get into Blair magnet?

I did not. He did always have an interest but he never did 'extra' work or anything. We didn't offer him additional opportunities either -- but I don't think he would have done any. I had a hard enough time getting him to do his homework and not read a book in class. I did reinforce the need to not use a calculator. If he asked where one was for his homework, I would ask why (if I was there). Other kids would use them for tests and he would not. I just told him he wouldn't have a calculator on the big tests and he needed to learn the concepts without shortcutting with the calculator. I also told him the story of making it through my engineering degree with only a simple $14 texas instrument solar calculator from Rite Aid. And his grandfather making it through the same engineering program with a slide rule. When he was in 8th grade doing long division by hand in geometry, I realized it had gone too far. I told him the calculator was fine.

For my daughter there now, I just asked that she go as far as possible without using the calculator. To see how simple she could make the problem without using it. They usually can simplify things pretty far and learn the actual math better.

I did have him practice for the Blair magnet test with sample math GRE problems in Sept-Oct 8th grade. You can get a book of sample tests on amazon. They have the same format of choosing which column is greater (or you can't tell or they are equal...those types).

I still have two students at Eastern so we will see if the same idea works for them. If they want to apply. Blair's program may work for one of them and not the other. I like 'regular' Blair just fine.

I hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice: If your kid is testing, go ahead and test for both humanities and math/science magnet even if he/she only really wants to go to one.

My child tested for just one, even though they were academically better suited for the other, because she didn't think any friends were going.

Child barely missed the cut on the tested school and now has missed out on the chance to attend the other. It turns out that several friends are going to that school, and my child would have been happy to go.

You can always decide not to go, but nice to have the option.

This, actually, is a very good advice. There's no downside to doing this.

[Anonymous]

I think someone upthread said that the two tests are on the same day, so I can definitely see a downside in exhaustion/boredom. Does anyone know which test is given first? For instance, if child is really more interested in/likely to get into the Humanities, but the test is given second, I think there's a real downside to also taking the math/science test.
I think it's weird they give them both on the same day -- that seems to disadvantage kids who are strong in both areas by making it an endurance contest for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think someone upthread said that the two tests are on the same day, so I can definitely see a downside in exhaustion/boredom. Does anyone know which test is given first? For instance, if child is really more interested in/likely to get into the Humanities, but the test is given second, I think there's a real downside to also taking the math/science test.
I think it's weird they give them both on the same day -- that seems to disadvantage kids who are strong in both areas by making it an endurance contest for them.

There are no two tests - one single test, you just check the box you are applying to. At least that's the way it was when my kids applied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think someone upthread said that the two tests are on the same day, so I can definitely see a downside in exhaustion/boredom. Does anyone know which test is given first? For instance, if child is really more interested in/likely to get into the Humanities, but the test is given second, I think there's a real downside to also taking the math/science test.
I think it's weird they give them both on the same day -- that seems to disadvantage kids who are strong in both areas by making it an endurance contest for them.

Only one test. You go earlier if you apply to both since you have to take all sections of the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice: If your kid is testing, go ahead and test for both humanities and math/science magnet even if he/she only really wants to go to one.

My child tested for just one, even though they were academically better suited for the other, because she didn't think any friends were going.

Child barely missed the cut on the tested school and now has missed out on the chance to attend the other. It turns out that several friends are going to that school, and my child would have been happy to go.

You can always decide not to go, but nice to have the option.

More advice: Don't test based on your friends' plans, supposed or real.

[Anonymous]

It is good advice to apply to both magnets. On the testing day (at Clemente anyways) time is same regardless of programs applied for. They do break the kids up into 3 groups: Math only/Humanities only/both. Not sure the test ordering if kid applies to both but they make the kids just doing one wait around until everyone is finished.

As for the test itself, only difference there is an essay component to the humanities test. Also if just apply to humanities then don't have to do the math test.

On the application there are one or two extra essays on the application for humanities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is good advice to apply to both magnets. On the testing day (at Clemente anyways) time is same regardless of programs applied for. They do break the kids up into 3 groups: Math only/Humanities only/both. Not sure the test ordering if kid applies to both but they make the kids just doing one wait around until everyone is finished.

As for the test itself, only difference there is an essay component to the humanities test. Also if just apply to humanities then don't have to do the math test.

On the application there are one or two extra essays on the application for humanities.

Correct.
However if you are only interested in one, apply to one.
I had 2 kids applied to one. One of the kids wanted to apply to both. I said no, since you are not really plan to go there.
Both kids were totally exhausted after test. Said that one extra section would be too much for them. Both got accepted.
Unless your child can test for LONG time, do not do. Channel your child's energy to the best fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dc is about to start at Eastern. We are concerned about the math education, but figured the benefits of the magnet program outweigh any deficits in math (and dh is an engineer so can tutor on math and science at home).

As with every school -- it's not that the curriculum is different from school to school, but teacher ability certainly varies. If the math teachers at Eastern are not great (and I have no way to judge yet) that would be concerning but not surprising.

No. Same math at Eastern that you would get anywhere. Same range of math teachers - some ok, some so-so. None that I would complain about. You need to make sure your child is slotted into the right 6th grade math (IM) to get to algebra and geometry.

My children went to Eastern's humanities magnet and one went to the Blair Math magnet afterwards. It's no worse than anywhere else. It won't make or break your math 'career'. Just don't use a calculator!

I've never heard of someone complaining that Eastern had a lack of diversity, but there is always a first!

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but did you do anything to keep up your child's interest in math and science to get into Blair magnet?

I did not. He did always have an interest but he never did 'extra' work or anything. We didn't offer him additional opportunities either -- but I don't think he would have done any. I had a hard enough time getting him to do his homework and not read a book in class. I did reinforce the need to not use a calculator. If he asked where one was for his homework, I would ask why (if I was there). Other kids would use them for tests and he would not. I just told him he wouldn't have a calculator on the big tests and he needed to learn the concepts without shortcutting with the calculator. I also told him the story of making it through my engineering degree with only a simple $14 texas instrument solar calculator from Rite Aid. And his grandfather making it through the same engineering program with a slide rule. When he was in 8th grade doing long division by hand in geometry, I realized it had gone too far. I told him the calculator was fine.

For my daughter there now, I just asked that she go as far as possible without using the calculator. To see how simple she could make the problem without using it. They usually can simplify things pretty far and learn the actual math better.

I did have him practice for the Blair magnet test with sample math GRE problems in Sept-Oct 8th grade. You can get a book of sample tests on amazon. They have the same format of choosing which column is greater (or you can't tell or they are equal...those types).

I still have two students at Eastern so we will see if the same idea works for them. If they want to apply. Blair's program may work for one of them and not the other. I like 'regular' Blair just fine.

I hope that helps.

Yes, this is great, thank you for taking the time.