Middle School Magnet Test

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what kind of test it is? (For Takoma Park and Clemente)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what kind of test it is? (For Takoma Park and Clemente)

Please lookup the application brochure, which gives sample of the tests.

The test has 3 parts for kids applying to MSCS and 4 parts for Humanities: Math (quantitative comparision), Reading (Comprehension), Raven and Writing (Essay, for Humanities only).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what kind of test it is? (For Takoma Park and Clemente)

There is a test prep booklet they give you when you apply. this is also available online either at the mcps website or perhaps even at the Takoma Park website. You can't really prepare for the test so I would not worry too much ahead of time, but the test prep booklet shows you sample questions so your child knows what to expect. That is all my child did and dc was accepted. The application is very involved so it can be stressful if you devote too much time to anyone part - the form and essays took dc nearly an entire day to complete. You do know the test is ten months away, right?!?

[Anonymous]

I agree that you can't prepare for the test (even with the sample tests/booklets they have online). Either the student knows his/her stuff and gets how to answer the questions or doesn't. That's mainly how they determine who gets in and who doesn't (there is limited space in all the programs).

That being said, my DS still hasn't received a letter regarding whether or not he got into the Takoma Park Magnet program, some of his classmates got the letters on Saturday.

[Anonymous]

From the looks of things the student has over 10 months to prepare for the exam. Steady and consistent preparation will certainly help and may actually also improve the students performance and grades in his regular classes. A wise student would start preparing now rather than the night before. That's my advise. The rest who feel preparation is wrong, cheating and meaningless are just fools.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. I know several kids who studied hard to get in the magnet got in. It takes a lot of efforts and resources though.

[Anonymous]

DD got in Clemente computer science program. There are preparation that you CAN do.
1. Raven test, do more raven questions exercise will slightly increase the point but not too much. It is rather a long term training of their spatial conception which start playing music instrument at an early age (4 or 5 yo) will greatly increase the ability.
2. Reading comprehension, read read and read, min. 2 or 3 grade above grade level.
3. Math test, again, min. of 2 grade above grade level. Answers have to be fast and correct. No time to re-check.
4. Writing, be creative with contents. This year's question was What can community do (something like that) I believe many many students answered picking up trash, recycling... These kind of answers do not stand out to the selection committee. Of course, the essay has to be well constructed, and grammatically correct.

Hope it helps.

[Anonymous]

DD got in Clemente computer science program. There are preparation that you CAN do.
1. Raven test, do more raven questions exercise will slightly increase the point but not too much. It is rather a long term training of their spatial conception which start playing music instrument at an early age (4 or 5 yo) will greatly increase the ability.
2. Reading comprehension, read read and read, min. 2 or 3 grade above grade level.
3. Math test, again, min. of 2 grade above grade level. Answers have to be fast and correct. No time to re-check.
4. Writing, be creative with contents. This year's question was What can community do (something like that) I believe many many students answered picking up trash, recycling... These kind of answers do not stand out to the selection committee. Of course, the essay has to be well constructed, and grammatically correct.

Hope it helps.

Good lord. This is cheating and immoral. I'm shocked you are allowed to parent children. Don't you know prep is not allowed and we don't prep our children. I wish the schools would screen out all the cheaters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DD got in Clemente computer science program. There are preparation that you CAN do.
1. Raven test, do more raven questions exercise will slightly increase the point but not too much. It is rather a long term training of their spatial conception which start playing music instrument at an early age (4 or 5 yo) will greatly increase the ability.
2. Reading comprehension, read read and read, min. 2 or 3 grade above grade level.
3. Math test, again, min. of 2 grade above grade level. Answers have to be fast and correct. No time to re-check.
4. Writing, be creative with contents. This year's question was What can community do (something like that) I believe many many students answered picking up trash, recycling... These kind of answers do not stand out to the selection committee. Of course, the essay has to be well constructed, and grammatically correct.

Hope it helps.

Good lord. This is cheating and immoral. I'm shocked you are allowed to parent children. Don't you know prep is not allowed and we don't prep our children. I wish the schools would screen out all the cheaters.

Wow, that was over the top. I didn't prep my CHILD for the HGC, but I might for MS. I want the best odds I can get.

[Anonymous]

Wow, that was over the top. I didn't prep my CHILD for the HGC, but I might for MS. I want the best odds I can get.

My, my, my. In a fit of ethical panic. You didn't cheat at the HGC level but you are considering cheating for MS because the ends justifies the means? All children who prep for their studies and tests deserve expulsion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DD got in Clemente computer science program. There are preparation that you CAN do.
1. Raven test, do more raven questions exercise will slightly increase the point but not too much. It is rather a long term training of their spatial conception which start playing music instrument at an early age (4 or 5 yo) will greatly increase the ability.
2. Reading comprehension, read read and read, min. 2 or 3 grade above grade level.
3. Math test, again, min. of 2 grade above grade level. Answers have to be fast and correct. No time to re-check.
4. Writing, be creative with contents. This year's question was What can community do (something like that) I believe many many students answered picking up trash, recycling... These kind of answers do not stand out to the selection committee. Of course, the essay has to be well constructed, and grammatically correct.

Hope it helps.

Good lord. This is cheating and immoral. I'm shocked you are allowed to parent children. Don't you know prep is not allowed and we don't prep our children. I wish the schools would screen out all the cheaters.

Tell me you are joking.

We prepare our kids for all test, so what is so different about this test? Do not all HS kid prepare for SAT? There is nothing inherently wrong in preparing your kids and its not cheating to get your kids ready for the kind of questions they will get in this test. Of course no one can predict the concepts that you do not have already acquired by the time of the test, but the techniques are as important as content. If MOCO did have enough seats for everyone I would buy into the theory of some righteous parents that smart/intelligent kids should not be prepped. Until then, I suggest every parents to prepare their kids for the test.

[Anonymous]

Tell me you are joking.

We prepare our kids for all test, so what is so different about this test? Do not all HS kid prepare for SAT? There is nothing inherently wrong in preparing your kids and its not cheating to get your kids ready for the kind of questions they will get in this test. Of course no one can predict the concepts that you do not have already acquired by the time of the test, but the techniques are as important as content. If MOCO did have enough seats for everyone I would buy into the theory of some righteous parents that smart/intelligent kids should not be prepped. Until then, I suggest every parents to prepare their kids for the test.

Of course, smart and intelligent children require no preparation. In fact, they require no schooling. They were born smart and intelligent ... at least in the D.C. area. Anyone who preps and advocates a life long habit of preparation is a cheating fraud.

[Anonymous]

+1

Why do smart and intelligent kids need prep anyway? Preparation is not warranted for WPSSI 99.9 %. These kids are brilliant according to the parents here. How dare mere average teachers attempt to teach them anything, require homework or worksheets, and "prep" or prepare them for anything academic or intellectual? That's heinous and blasphemy. No wonder 40 to 50 percent of the population here make the homor roll and 10 to 20 percent have straight As. The students and children are simply breathtakingly brilliant. Prepping should result in mandatory expulsion from County schools. Simply hand out the summa cum laude certificates in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

There should be two diplomas handed out to children:

Summa cum laude (non est paratus)

and Summa cum laude avec prep

This should make the nuts and squirrels elated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wow, that was over the top. I didn't prep my CHILD for the HGC, but I might for MS. I want the best odds I can get.

My, my, my. In a fit of ethical panic. You didn't cheat at the HGC level but you are considering cheating for MS because the ends justifies the means? All children who prep for their studies and tests deserve expulsion.

Ethical panic? Nope. Just trying to do the best thing for my child.