TJ math essay example prompts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a freshman at TJ this year.

We did not pay anything for test prep as it is not necessary.

We simply had him do a basic search on YouTube to see what type of questions FCPS asks.

IIRC, he watched just one video, and it was a free Kate Dalby video such as this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kUdLnLljdAs


As for last year’s single question, my son reported while it was easy to solve, it was poorly worded. And he could see how it confused many test-takers.

We personally know one very bright child who was in his AAP class, who unfortunately ran out of time on last year’s test.

Do not buy in to the lie you have to purchase anything for admission to TJ; there are more than a dozen free videos if you simply look.

Also: please don’t push your kid into going. Let it be their choice.

I agree with most of the test prep advice but I think you can still guide your 13 year old children.

There are a lot of kids that will be bored to death at their base high school. These are the kids that should go to TJ.
If your kid got 98 or 99th percentile on the iowa test; got advanced pass on all (or nearly all) their SOLs; getting within 20 points of the max scores of 1142 and 1297 on their math inventory for 7th and 8th; grades; above an 1121 and 186 in reading lexile for 7th and 8th grade reading inventory respectively; hitting mostly 98th to 99th percentile on the iready, Cogat and NNAT in the 98th or 99th percentile, then you really should be encouraging your child to apply and attend if accepted. It's not the end of the world if they don't but they will be challenged at TJ in a way they will not be challenged at their base school.

Run with the swift.
Steel sharpens steel.

We believe these things when it comes to sports but suddenly lose faith in the concept when it comes to academics.

I am the PP.

We agree.

The key to TJ, IMHO, is: does your child want to be there?

I have both: my eldest was opposed to going to TJ. They were wait-listed, then requested to be removed from the wait list, and we agreed. TJ is not for everyone, and we respected our child’s choice. That child is simply crushing it at the base school, and stands a good shot at UVA or another Ivy.

My second wanted TJ. They are doing extremely well there. It here is the key:

- it is your child’s choice.

Please do not force your child into TJ if they do not want to go. The base schools in FCPS are excellent. Don’t ruin your child’s HS experience if they are not 100% committed to TJ.

I agree you shouldn't force your kid to go to TJ but I don't think we entirely agree.

My kid was 13 when he took the test. He didn't want to take the test. I bugged him.

He was 14 when he got in, he didn't want to go. I cajoled him to give it a try. I showed him stats about how many kids returned to base school to convince him that returning to base school was a real option.

He wasn't 100% committed. he wasn't 50% committed. He had one foot out the door when he walked in. He fking loves it there.

Your 13/14 year old does not always know what's good for them.