TJ Today -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So do we think the new test helped them select the right students? Seeing students with the low math scores being admitted is really surprising to me.

I have a child who seemed like an outstanding candidate with high scores who did not get in last year and a younger child who might apply for 3 years from now. Just wondering if the TJ admissions office has made changes for the better or if it’s still the same crapshoot.

Its not all about Math. My DD has 98/99 in all subjects in 7th and 8th grade. Getting a score in 80's in Quant Q should make her ineligible for TJ? What is crap shoot about a child working hard in school? I have seen parents help or send them to tutors but she managed on her own. No prep in any shape or form.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do we think the new test helped them select the right students? Seeing students with the low math scores being admitted is really surprising to me.

I have a child who seemed like an outstanding candidate with high scores who did not get in last year and a younger child who might apply for 3 years from now. Just wondering if the TJ admissions office has made changes for the better or if it’s still the same crapshoot.

Its not all about Math. My DD has 98/99 in all subjects in 7th and 8th grade. Getting a score in 80's in Quant Q should make her ineligible for TJ? What is crap shoot about a child working hard in school? I have seen parents help or send them to tutors but she managed on her own. No prep in any shape or form.

My DD had high scores (including math) on the TJ test last year, and likewise ended with nothing below a 98 in 7th and 8th plus very strong ECs, awards and Recs but did not get in. Didn’t prep other than doing the sample test they gave. So you could see how I’m confused that the new test seems to be admitting students with lower math scores. I wish your child all the best there, I’m still puzzled why mine wasn’t selected. I hope the process is moving towards bring more fair.

[Anonymous]

To PP: I’m sorry about your DD- she seems like a very bright and hardworking individual. I think that this year more kids were taken off guard than last year, even if by a little.

[Anonymous]

12:35, I hope your daughter has been happy where she went for 9th.

It seems as though something happened with her application because of recommendations and/or the SIS.

Also this year’s test scores were reported as compared to other TJ applicants; they were not nationally normed. I don’t know how it was last year. Two years ago, my child was given a raw score, not a percentile, so it seems to vary year by year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do we think the new test helped them select the right students? Seeing students with the low math scores being admitted is really surprising to me.

I have a child who seemed like an outstanding candidate with high scores who did not get in last year and a younger child who might apply for 3 years from now. Just wondering if the TJ admissions office has made changes for the better or if it’s still the same crapshoot.

Its not all about Math. My DD has 98/99 in all subjects in 7th and 8th grade. Getting a score in 80's in Quant Q should make her ineligible for TJ? What is crap shoot about a child working hard in school? I have seen parents help or send them to tutors but she managed on her own. No prep in any shape or form.

My DD had high scores (including math) on the TJ test last year, and likewise ended with nothing below a 98 in 7th and 8th plus very strong ECs, awards and Recs but did not get in. Didn’t prep other than doing the sample test they gave. So you could see how I’m confused that the new test seems to be admitting students with lower math scores. I wish your child all the best there, I’m still puzzled why mine wasn’t selected. I hope the process is moving towards bring more fair.

Both of our kids were in the AAP pool in 2nd grade, and both of them were rejected - while they kept accepting children whose scores weren't high enough to be in the pool - based upon the parents' referrals. For the older child, we let it go, but for the younger one who is smart, super self-motivated and hardworking, we went through the parent referral stage, and she got in. She's always been a straight A student so far, signed up for all of the after-school clubs she could, and we've never checked or helped her with homework - even in kindergarten.

She loves math and is very good at it - normally at 100% or higher in Algebra 1 and 2. Yet, I realized that for TJ she'll be competing against the kids who have been preparing for several years and signed her up for a couple of prep courses to learn the test taking strategies. Last summer, she took a one week essay prep summer camp, and in October-November she took a 6 week TJ prep class. Even if it increased her chances by 1 or 2%, I was willing to pay for that. She is one of those accepted this year.

[Anonymous]

Seems like some people don't understand that it's not just about test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some people don't understand that it's not just about test scores.

+1

[Anonymous]

^^^While certainly not all of the decision, I think most can agree the test scores play a big role!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do we think the new test helped them select the right students? Seeing students with the low math scores being admitted is really surprising to me.

I have a child who seemed like an outstanding candidate with high scores who did not get in last year and a younger child who might apply for 3 years from now. Just wondering if the TJ admissions office has made changes for the better or if it’s still the same crapshoot.

Its not all about Math. My DD has 98/99 in all subjects in 7th and 8th grade. Getting a score in 80's in Quant Q should make her ineligible for TJ? What is crap shoot about a child working hard in school? I have seen parents help or send them to tutors but she managed on her own. No prep in any shape or form.

My DD had high scores (including math) on the TJ test last year, and likewise ended with nothing below a 98 in 7th and 8th plus very strong ECs, awards and Recs but did not get in. Didn’t prep other than doing the sample test they gave. So you could see how I’m confused that the new test seems to be admitting students with lower math scores. I wish your child all the best there, I’m still puzzled why mine wasn’t selected. I hope the process is moving towards bring more fair.

Both of our kids were in the AAP pool in 2nd grade, and both of them were rejected - while they kept accepting children whose scores weren't high enough to be in the pool - based upon the parents' referrals. For the older child, we let it go, but for the younger one who is smart, super self-motivated and hardworking, we went through the parent referral stage, and she got in. She's always been a straight A student so far, signed up for all of the after-school clubs she could, and we've never checked or helped her with homework - even in kindergarten.

She loves math and is very good at it - normally at 100% or higher in Algebra 1 and 2. Yet, I realized that for TJ she'll be competing against the kids who have been preparing for several years and signed her up for a couple of prep courses to learn the test taking strategies. Last summer, she took a one week essay prep summer camp, and in October-November she took a 6 week TJ prep class. Even if it increased her chances by 1 or 2%, I was willing to pay for that. She is one of those accepted this year.

Can you recommend a good test prep class?

[Anonymous]

^^ For the essay class, we randomly found it here:

https://fairfaxcollegiate.com/subjects/test%20prep

It was relatively inexpensive, very close to home, timing was convenient, and I thought it will not hurt. My DD said it was helpful. For the whole test prep class, I did more research and signed her up with Kate Dalby. Kate was so nice and spoke over the phone with me for at least 40 minutes telling about her program, before we signed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ For the essay class, we randomly found it here:

https://fairfaxcollegiate.com/subjects/test%20prep

It was relatively inexpensive, very close to home, timing was convenient, and I thought it will not hurt. My DD said it was helpful. For the whole test prep class, I did more research and signed her up with Kate Dalby. Kate was so nice and spoke over the phone with me for at least 40 minutes telling about her program, before we signed up.

Mind sharing what Kate Dalby's classes cost? Also the location of her classes?

Did you do it over the summer or during the school year right before the test?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

Why do you think this would change the outcome in terms of student ratio?

[Anonymous]

I wish they could just change the test every year to get a sense of non-prepped ability. I am curious to see if this incoming class will seem different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be interesting if they changed to a system of looking only at grades, teacher recommendations, work samples, and interviews and just completely cut out the testing. The selection would then be based more on the child's work over time, rather than one or two days of testing.

The SIS essay is essentially an interview.

So they already have what you are suggesting... plus the testing... which is math + reading + science.
This gives TJ admins a way to baseline assess all the kids using the same metrics. Otherwise, you depend on various schools from 3 different school systems.... some teachers are harder/easier graders.

What is the problem with having a portion of the assessment being test based?