TJ admissions change from Merit to Essay impact to Asian American Students

[Anonymous]

· Before 1700, algebra was absent from the curriculum of children's schools, early colleges and seminaries.

· In 1786, algebra was first mentioned in Harvard University's curriculum, but it was probably taught there as early as 1726.

· By 1820, Harvard required algebra for admission. Columbia, Yale and Princeton followed suit in 1821, 1846

and 1848, respectively.

· In 1827, Massachusetts passed a law requiring algebra to be taught in the high school of any town with at least 500 families.
...
...
And then the Asian Americans students started chewing up algebra faster than PB&J sandwiches.

. In 1990s, growing population of US Asian students started enrolling in Algebra 1 in 6th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A generation ago almost all the top math students took Algebra I in 8th grade and ended up in Calculus BC senior year. They are doing fine now in stem careers.

A generation ago, the 99th percentile kids didn't have access to Algebra before 8th grade. Now, in FCPS, the 90th-99th percentile kids take Algebra in 7th or earlier. The issue isn't the amount of math that kids have learned before entering TJ. The issue is that a ton of kids who are sub-90th percentile are being admitted to TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A generation ago almost all the top math students took Algebra I in 8th grade and ended up in Calculus BC senior year. They are doing fine now in stem careers.

Not sure how you define "a generation ago" exactly, but fwiw I took Algebra I in 7th along with about 10 of my peers (out of a class of 300) which was a typical annual cohort, they didn't make us wait until 8th. Most of my peers at that school did take AB in 11th and then BC in 12th because it was all the school offered. I happened to transfer to another district in 11th (for unrelated reasons) which offered BC in 11th, then had an arrangement to enroll in MV Calc at a local college senior year. This was back in the 80's. And yes, doing fine in a stem career now, but they defnitely had a pretty consistent "Algebra in 7th" pipeline with consistent enrollment of the top math students each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

This trope has been discredited. Repeating it will not make it the truth.

Most recently

“Harvard has joined MIT, Brown University, Caltech, Dartmouth, and Yale in requiring standardized test scores in the admissions process, after initially going test optional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard University announced Thursday, April 11, 2024 that it is reinstituting standardized tests as a requirement for admission beginning with the class of 2029, joining other colleges that are again mandating admissions testing for those hoping to enter the schools.
Harvard again requiring standardized test scores for those seeking admission
‘Affirmative action for the rich’: Readers want an end to legacy admissions
In a statement, Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, said standardized tests help colleges find talent from across socioeconomic levels and provide valuable information about an applicant’s potential success in college.“

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

This trope has been discredited. Repeating it will not make it the truth.

Most recently

“Harvard has joined MIT, Brown University, Caltech, Dartmouth, and Yale in requiring standardized test scores in the admissions process, after initially going test optional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard University announced Thursday, April 11, 2024 that it is reinstituting standardized tests as a requirement for admission beginning with the class of 2029, joining other colleges that are again mandating admissions testing for those hoping to enter the schools.
Harvard again requiring standardized test scores for those seeking admission
‘Affirmative action for the rich’: Readers want an end to legacy admissions
In a statement, Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, said standardized tests help colleges find talent from across socioeconomic levels and provide valuable information about an applicant’s potential success in college.“

Without basic test evaluation, Harvard likely found itself having to facilitate remedial math and english classes, for the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

The new process has done a better job at leveling the playing field since it ended the test buying which was rampant before the change. The other great thing that happened is the kids coming into TJ now seem kind and the place is less toxic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A generation ago almost all the top math students took Algebra I in 8th grade and ended up in Calculus BC senior year. They are doing fine now in stem careers.

Not sure how you define "a generation ago" exactly, but fwiw I took Algebra I in 7th along with about 10 of my peers (out of a class of 300) which was a typical annual cohort, they didn't make us wait until 8th. Most of my peers at that school did take AB in 11th and then BC in 12th because it was all the school offered. I happened to transfer to another district in 11th (for unrelated reasons) which offered BC in 11th, then had an arrangement to enroll in MV Calc at a local college senior year. This was back in the 80's. And yes, doing fine in a stem career now, but they defnitely had a pretty consistent "Algebra in 7th" pipeline with consistent enrollment of the top math students each year.

Where was this? In my affluent town in NJ that sent a substantial number of kids to T20 schools, the earliest you could take Algebra 1. BC was the highest math and not all of the T20 kids took that, even STEM kids.

[Anonymous]

^ the earliest was 8th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

This trope has been discredited. Repeating it will not make it the truth.

Most recently

“Harvard has joined MIT, Brown University, Caltech, Dartmouth, and Yale in requiring standardized test scores in the admissions process, after initially going test optional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard University announced Thursday, April 11, 2024 that it is reinstituting standardized tests as a requirement for admission beginning with the class of 2029, joining other colleges that are again mandating admissions testing for those hoping to enter the schools.
Harvard again requiring standardized test scores for those seeking admission
‘Affirmative action for the rich’: Readers want an end to legacy admissions
In a statement, Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, said standardized tests help colleges find talent from across socioeconomic levels and provide valuable information about an applicant’s potential success in college.“

Without basic test evaluation, Harvard likely found itself having to facilitate remedial math and english classes, for the first time.

if it did, then that would be similar to TJ which eliminated entrance test, and now offers remedial help to algebra 1 students right from the start with TJ Math 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

This trope has been discredited. Repeating it will not make it the truth.

Most recently

“Harvard has joined MIT, Brown University, Caltech, Dartmouth, and Yale in requiring standardized test scores in the admissions process, after initially going test optional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard University announced Thursday, April 11, 2024 that it is reinstituting standardized tests as a requirement for admission beginning with the class of 2029, joining other colleges that are again mandating admissions testing for those hoping to enter the schools.
Harvard again requiring standardized test scores for those seeking admission
‘Affirmative action for the rich’: Readers want an end to legacy admissions
In a statement, Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, said standardized tests help colleges find talent from across socioeconomic levels and provide valuable information about an applicant’s potential success in college.“

Not clear from your post what “trope” you believe to be untrue. Your quotes don’t appear to relate to the last post you reference above so it is not clear what you are attempting to say.

Requiring an essay test for TJ admissions is an excellent idea because being able to communicate clearly is important in the STEM fields. It’s great to “know the math,” but students need to be able to write and speak clearly to communicate their ideas to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

This trope has been discredited. Repeating it will not make it the truth.

Most recently

“Harvard has joined MIT, Brown University, Caltech, Dartmouth, and Yale in requiring standardized test scores in the admissions process, after initially going test optional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard University announced Thursday, April 11, 2024 that it is reinstituting standardized tests as a requirement for admission beginning with the class of 2029, joining other colleges that are again mandating admissions testing for those hoping to enter the schools.
Harvard again requiring standardized test scores for those seeking admission
‘Affirmative action for the rich’: Readers want an end to legacy admissions
In a statement, Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, said standardized tests help colleges find talent from across socioeconomic levels and provide valuable information about an applicant’s potential success in college.“

Not clear from your post what “trope” you believe to be untrue. Your quotes don’t appear to relate to the last post you reference above so it is not clear what you are attempting to say.

Requiring an essay test for TJ admissions is an excellent idea because being able to communicate clearly is important in the STEM fields. It’s great to “know the math,” but students need to be able to write and speak clearly to communicate their ideas to others.

They're one of the deniers who want to return to the old system where wealthy families could buy access to the test to guarantee admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wasn't aware that so many were being denied.

That happens every year, regardless of admission process.

Asian students were still accepted at a higher rate than almost all other groups, aside from Hispanic students.

ACCEPTANCE RATE
Asian 19%
Black 14%
Hispanic 21%
White 17%
Multiracial/Other* 13%
OVERALL 18%

It appears FCPS is ensuring TJ maintains its academic standing by admitting Asian students into top half and filling the bottom half to fulfill diversity objective?

I notice this talking point keeps being brought up and repeated in these TJ threads. It sounds very muck like the kind of point an advocacy group would pass around to its members and suggest they bring up in any discussion about the subject. In the spirit of, “if you say something enough times, people will believe it’s true.”

Sorry, there’s no evidence to back up this one and repeating it over and over just makes the speakers sound like they can’t think for themselves.

Similarly, on this forum there are a minion group member, who keeps hallucinating test buying whopper, and hopes at least someone out there would believe it, but may very well be a marketing strategy to draw attention towards a particular enrichment business.

I suspect you were writing quickly here and didn’t have time to proofread, so your post is difficult to read, but my guess is that you’re actually talking about test prep companies that charge parents a lot of money to drill their kids to take tests. Kids born into families without a lot of money can’t access expensive programs like this, so they are at a disadvantage that is out of their control. Bright kids don’t have any say in the income level of the families they happen to be born into.

In addition, some of these test prep companies ask their students to report on test questions after they have taken the test, even though the students must sign a statement saying that they will not discuss test questions with anyone. I have heard reports of this occurring from teachers and students at TJ, so definitely not any kind of whopper.

We need to have a level playing field for kids applying to TJ. FCPS is making a strong effort to allow applicants to all have a fair shot at a place at TJ and that is a positive move for our county and its residents.

This trope has been discredited. Repeating it will not make it the truth.

Most recently

“Harvard has joined MIT, Brown University, Caltech, Dartmouth, and Yale in requiring standardized test scores in the admissions process, after initially going test optional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harvard University announced Thursday, April 11, 2024 that it is reinstituting standardized tests as a requirement for admission beginning with the class of 2029, joining other colleges that are again mandating admissions testing for those hoping to enter the schools.
Harvard again requiring standardized test scores for those seeking admission
‘Affirmative action for the rich’: Readers want an end to legacy admissions
In a statement, Hopi Hoekstra, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard, said standardized tests help colleges find talent from across socioeconomic levels and provide valuable information about an applicant’s potential success in college.“

Not clear from your post what “trope” you believe to be untrue. Your quotes don’t appear to relate to the last post you reference above so it is not clear what you are attempting to say.

Requiring an essay test for TJ admissions is an excellent idea because being able to communicate clearly is important in the STEM fields. It’s great to “know the math,” but students need to be able to write and speak clearly to communicate their ideas to others.

They're one of the deniers who want to return to the old system where wealthy families could buy access to the test to guarantee admission.

How does one buy access to test?

[Anonymous]

Were test materials publicly available to study from previously? The public schools should have offered free test prep to anyone who wanted it. That would have evened the playing field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were test materials publicly available to study from previously? The public schools should have offered free test prep to anyone who wanted it. That would have evened the playing field.

The objective of that portion was to measure “natural ability to think critically”. So seeing very similar questions in advance skews results.