TJ Essay And SIS Postponed? from this Sat?

[Anonymous]

In 2009, all the students had to retake the first round test when some of the students had a defective test booklet

[Anonymous]

My daughter didn't have any issues, but her best friend did--SIS disappeared and deleted lines from her essay. The only fair way to settle this is to re-test everyone with a new set of questions. I just hope they give us a new date soon.

[Anonymous]

New article about TJ situation in the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/computer-glitches-plague-jefferson-highs-entrance-exam/2014/01/27/e980e0f2-8787-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New article about TJ situation in the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/computer-glitches-plague-jefferson-highs-entrance-exam/2014/01/27/e980e0f2-8787-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

Thanks for posting this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New article about TJ situation in the Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/computer-glitches-plague-jefferson-highs-entrance-exam/2014/01/27/e980e0f2-8787-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

I noticed in the comments that someone asked who built and runs the system that was being used. Anyone know anything about that?

[Anonymous]

Update from TJ Admission office regarding Sat. technical issues. Sounds to me that its open offer to anyone who would like to retake test

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-school-system-offers-solutions-for-tj-testing-problems/2014/01/28/04cb9106-883f-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html

[Anonymous]

Another update from Wednesday
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-school-system-offers-solutions-for-tj-testing-problems/2014/01/28/04cb9106-883f-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html?tid=auto_complete

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another update from Wednesday
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/fairfax-school-system-offers-solutions-for-tj-testing-problems/2014/01/28/04cb9106-883f-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html?tid=auto_complete

Thanks for the link. I see many comments suggesting that the SIS and essays simply be dropped from consideration. I don't see that as a great solution. How then would the admissions committee find out about the applicants' outside activities and assess their writing ability? FCPS could fill TJ a couple times over with math whizzes, so it makes sense to require the kids to not only have high math ability, but to also have the ability to write coherently and well. If part of the mission of TJ is to develop leaders in STEM careers, students need to be able to express themselves in writing and to also be involved in activities in which they learn to work with others. The SIS and the essay allow the committee to take these factors into consideration.

[Anonymous]

received this today from TJ admissions - just a part of the email

We had hoped that semi-finalists could have reviewed their work, but it was determined the only way to ensure fairness to all students is to re-administer the SIS and essay. Knowing this is a burden on semi-finalists and their parents/guardians, the SIS and essay can be completed at home between February 6 and February 11, 2014. The SIS/essay will be available via a fillable PDF form on February 6, 2014 at 4:00PM. This format should reduce the chances of technical issues.

[Anonymous]

The email does not say whether the test will be timed. I'm sad they are giving up on the proctored essays -- I think it would help them evaluate the student as opposed to the parents. But, I also understand the scheduling challenges. Too bad they can't have the test given in schools and over the same time frame, even just by a teacher or guidance counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The email does not say whether the test will be timed. I'm sad they are giving up on the proctored essays -- I think it would help them evaluate the student as opposed to the parents. But, I also understand the scheduling challenges. Too bad they can't have the test given in schools and over the same time frame, even just by a teacher or guidance counselor.

If they are asking all kids to rewrite the SIS and Essay - why do it at home where a select few privileged will probably get all the professional help they need and not sure how valid the testing is. Couldn't they just have the test at a testing location? Not sure what the logic is?

[Anonymous]

Wow, the whole reason they changed to a proctored process was concerns that the SIS reflect only the child's work, and now, not only the SIS but also the essay, which used to be written at the time of the test in December, will be done at home? Lots of kids will still hand in their own work, but there is always that subset of parents that cannot resist being involved and making "suggestions." My child is already at TJ, so we are not involved in the process this year, but I would be very concerned about these two parts of the application being completed at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The email does not say whether the test will be timed. I'm sad they are giving up on the proctored essays -- I think it would help them evaluate the student as opposed to the parents. But, I also understand the scheduling challenges. Too bad they can't have the test given in schools and over the same time frame, even just by a teacher or guidance counselor.

If they are asking all kids to rewrite the SIS and Essay - why do it at home where a select few privileged will probably get all the professional help they need and not sure how valid the testing is. Couldn't they just have the test at a testing location? Not sure what the logic is?

I hope that the weighting on the essay/SIS goes way down.

[Anonymous]

"I hope that the weighting on the essay/SIS goes way down."

Essays (Average of two) (25%)
Student Information Sheet (20%)
Teacher Recommendations (Average of two) (20%)
Math portion of the Admissions Test (20%)
7th and 8th grade Math and Science Grade Point Average (15%)


Agree completely

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
"I hope that the weighting on the essay/SIS goes way down."

Essays (Average of two) (25%)
Student Information Sheet (20%)
Teacher Recommendations (Average of two) (20%)
Math portion of the Admissions Test (20%)
7th and 8th grade Math and Science Grade Point Average (15%)


Agree completely

I agree - they should reduce the weighting to account for the disruption (students had to take) and potential misuse of a non controlled setting.