Prep for HGC and MS magnet tests

[Anonymous]

Please let me know how the kids prepared for the MS magnet program. Does A plus or Dr. Li help? Any books that helped the preparation.

[Anonymous]

I bet a high percentage of responses will claim their kids didn’t prep. I proctor these tests. Most of the kids prep.

[Anonymous]

How do you know if they prep from proctoring? My kid did not prep. Someone told me a practice SAT is helpful. My kid would not actually take it though. None of her friends prepped and I don't think she wanted to either.

Honestly for most kids I think they will either be accepted or not. I guess a few kids might be just on the cusp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know if they prep from proctoring? My kid did not prep. Someone told me a practice SAT is helpful. My kid would not actually take it though. None of her friends prepped and I don't think she wanted to either.

Honestly for most kids I think they will either be accepted or not. I guess a few kids might be just on the cusp.

They talk about it. You’re with the students about 30 min before the test. During the two breaks in between sections, and about 30 min after. They aren’t supposed to discuss the test, but they do. They talk about what was like what they did in prep classes and what was unexpected.

[Anonymous]

Mine didn't do prep courses or workbooks for either, got into both. I showed her a sample test with about 20 problems for each test, so she could get a feel for what the expectations would be, but that was it.

[Anonymous]

I have had 3 kids go through MCPS magnet programs. HGC, MS Magnet and HS Magnet. They also went to A-Plus prep classes before the magnet exams, and they also went each year for academic camps with A-plus and Montgomery College. Infact, my children have always done intensive review classes for Math at Montgomery College each year at all grade levels. Since, no one knows what the tests will contain (MCPS identifies at least one test as COGAT now, I believe), the test prep centers were shooting in the dark when it came to test prep.

Most kids who came to the prep classes were similar to my children. They had a solid understanding of Math concepts and were at least a few grades above in Math, great speed and accuracy in solving Math problems and they were avid readers so they had great vocabulary. I enrolled my kids for prep classes because I wanted them to get used to sitting for the very lengthy exam and get an idea of time management. There was nothing that A -Plus ever taught that my kids said was familiar on the exam. On the other hand, my kids also claimed that the A-PLUS prep classes were much harder and covered more content than they saw on the exam. Since A-plus did not know what would come on the exam their curriculum was wide and deep.

Neither A-Plus not Dr. Li, will teach you content in their prep classes. They will go over content to refresh the memory of the student but they expect you to know the content. What they do best is make you practise a lot. Lots and lots of drill. As a result, I have only seen very capable students who take Dr. Li or Aplus get into the programs. Their admission rate is only around 33%. Also, if the same student gets into multiple programs, they will count it as multiple admissions.

Any student can use Khan Academy or a PSAT book and study for these tests. The problem is that many students and parents do not have the motivation and dedication to do it on their own. Being in an A-Plus or Dr. Li class forces you to sit for x number of hours and do the work. In my opinion, the value of Dr. Li and A-Plus is not for test prep at all. Their value is in the Academic Camps that they run through the year and in summer. That really helps to fill out any gaps in content knowledge. Depending on where you live, there are many companies that do a good job with Math curriculum. C2 and AOPS (Art of Problem Solving) as well as the Math Competition prep that are run by Catherine Asaro is pretty rigorous.

Determine what your kid needs. Tutoring or coaching? I think since the schools are doing such a piss-poor job, you need to give them enrichment and acceleration outside the school day. You could use a company that does that, or if you have the time and knowledge, you could teach them yourself.

[Anonymous]

My kids did test prep. They were always in the top percentile in every standardized tests that they ever took. Starting from TerraNova-2, Inview, Raven, magnet tests, MAPs, PARCC, HSA, PSAT, SAT, APs etc to begin with, but it was reassuring for us to have support for them just in case.

[Anonymous]

Our kid didn't prep and got into both humanities and math/science programs. At a CES school function we were asked flat out by another parent which programs we were using to prep for the MS magnets. Not if, but which ones. Their child didn't get into either program.

[Anonymous]

You should always prep your child. Not necessarily paid prep services (which is fine too). But any kinds of math problem solving/readings are helpful.

[Anonymous]

My kid got in to both Blair and RM with no prep. In her circle of friends there is one kid who prepped. Not so much just for the tests but did outside classes every year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kid didn't prep and got into both humanities and math/science programs. At a CES school function we were asked flat out by another parent which programs we were using to prep for the MS magnets. Not if, but which ones. Their child didn't get into either program.

Yup. Happens. Sometimes it is because of "quotas" that MCPS uses. Sometimes there are better candidates than the kid in CES. Sometimes other students had made greater strides on 4th and 5th, than the kid who was in the program and are more competitive.

Getting into a magnet program does not automatically mean that you are in the pipeline. Most people know that. The most important thing is that your student is an avid reader throughout their school life and read both fiction and non-fiction. They should be studying Math from a textbook and a proper curriculum, they should have a strong Math foundation (use Khan Academy) and they should be exposed to knowledge and opportunities outside of the classroom.

I am always impressed by how motivated and focussed high achieving students are in not only studies but also their extra-curricular activities. These students tend to do well in many things apart from studies. These students develop great work ethic and time management skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid got in to both Blair and RM with no prep. In her circle of friends there is one kid who prepped. Not so much just for the tests but did outside classes every year.

Was your child already in a magnet MS program or a W school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid got in to both Blair and RM with no prep. In her circle of friends there is one kid who prepped. Not so much just for the tests but did outside classes every year.

Was your child already in a magnet MS program or a W school?

My kid got into both magnets without prep. And without being at a magnet middle school. Don't make your kids prep. It sends them the wrong message. Have them spend their time doing things that are interesting to them. Art, music, time in nature, sports, creative projects (wood-working, machine-building, what have you.) All those things are also good for the brain, and helps develop your kid as a whole person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have had 3 kids go through MCPS magnet programs. HGC, MS Magnet and HS Magnet. They also went to A-Plus prep classes before the magnet exams, and they also went each year for academic camps with A-plus and Montgomery College. Infact, my children have always done intensive review classes for Math at Montgomery College each year at all grade levels. Since, no one knows what the tests will contain (MCPS identifies at least one test as COGAT now, I believe), the test prep centers were shooting in the dark when it came to test prep.

Most kids who came to the prep classes were similar to my children. They had a solid understanding of Math concepts and were at least a few grades above in Math, great speed and accuracy in solving Math problems and they were avid readers so they had great vocabulary. I enrolled my kids for prep classes because I wanted them to get used to sitting for the very lengthy exam and get an idea of time management. There was nothing that A -Plus ever taught that my kids said was familiar on the exam. On the other hand, my kids also claimed that the A-PLUS prep classes were much harder and covered more content than they saw on the exam. Since A-plus did not know what would come on the exam their curriculum was wide and deep.

Neither A-Plus not Dr. Li, will teach you content in their prep classes. They will go over content to refresh the memory of the student but they expect you to know the content. What they do best is make you practise a lot. Lots and lots of drill. As a result, I have only seen very capable students who take Dr. Li or Aplus get into the programs. Their admission rate is only around 33%. Also, if the same student gets into multiple programs, they will count it as multiple admissions.

Any student can use Khan Academy or a PSAT book and study for these tests. The problem is that many students and parents do not have the motivation and dedication to do it on their own. Being in an A-Plus or Dr. Li class forces you to sit for x number of hours and do the work. In my opinion, the value of Dr. Li and A-Plus is not for test prep at all. Their value is in the Academic Camps that they run through the year and in summer. That really helps to fill out any gaps in content knowledge. Depending on where you live, there are many companies that do a good job with Math curriculum. C2 and AOPS (Art of Problem Solving) as well as the Math Competition prep that are run by Catherine Asaro is pretty rigorous.

Determine what your kid needs. Tutoring or coaching? I think since the schools are doing such a piss-poor job, you need to give them enrichment and acceleration outside the school day. You could use a company that does that, or if you have the time and knowledge, you could teach them yourself.

Thank you so much for this.

I am not the OP, but my CES kid did not get into a Magnet MS program. I’d like her to go to a HS Magnet program because our zoned HS is terrible. We do supplement at home, but maybe I need to look into these camps. There are definite gaps in my kids’ knowledge and I agree that McPS does a piss poor job!

[Anonymous]

Please don’t stress over this, OP. The entrance exams evaluate IQ type capabilities, not knowledge, and even though preparation is helpful, it won’t make a child get in if he or she isn’t naturally intelligent to begin with.

So then it all comes down to time, willingness and money. Personally, I bought a booklet on Amazon because I didn’t think a class was worth it. One child got in, the mire quick-witted one, the other didn’t, because he’s a little slow. I don’t believe more intensive prep would have made any difference, but of course I have no means to test this!

I just want to say that it’s all a wash in the end, and people shouldn’t be so jealous/insecure about parents who invest in such classes...