Anonymous wrote:What specific Barron books would you suggest as prep for TJ exam?

Barrons Specialized High School Admissions Test

Mytjprep is good too.

If you just want a book, I would suggest the test book for the entrance exam for Stuyvesant High School in NY -- I think it is by Barron's. The test is very similar to the one given for TJ.

I just want to add another summer camp that offers TJ prep courses I found.
studyalongcamp.com They offer a couple of classes in Fairfax.

I hope it helps.

MyTJprep is good. But its also true that you can do the same by working through a book of tests, and focusing one the questions you got wrong.

Anonymous wrote:Some good TJ Test Prep classes are Fairfax Collegiate (Summer Course), Best Academy in Springfield VA, and TJ Diversity course (for Eighth graders taking the test)

After looking at the Best Academy website, do they offer classes to native English speakers, or is that not really their focus?

What specific Barron books would you suggest as prep for TJ exam?

I suppose you could look at the second round weightings and decide that you should focus mostly on the test rather than keeping your grades up. But that completely ignores the sliding scale that is used to determine who gets into the second round in the first place. IMO, their is an overemphasis on prepping for the TJ test. The test is actually very very simple and any competent 8th grader will not have a problem with the substance. The only issue really is the length and format of the test. It's hard to concentrate for that length of time, particularly if you have never done it before. Since the subtance of the test is not hard, kids should just take old practice exams and take them under exam conditions so that they can get used to it. Save your $600 (or more)!

Anyway, math grades are important for the first round. From the TJ website:

How is the Semifinalist Pool calculated?
First, the GPA (determined by the database) and test scores must fall within the sliding scale used to determine possible pool eligibility. The current sliding scale is as follows:

GPA Test Score

? 3.0 ? 75

? 3.33 ? 70

? 3.67 ? 65


The scale balances GPA and test score. A higher GPA can balance a lower test score than a lower GPA would allow. If your GPA is at least 3.0 but is lower than a 3.33, you would need to have a test score of 75 or higher under the sliding scale. If your GPA is at least 3.33 but lower than 3.67, you would need a test score of 70 or higher under the sliding scale. If your GPA is at least 3.67, you would need a test score of 65 or higher under the sliding scale.
If you have a GPA lower than a 3.0, you cannot qualify for the pool regardless of your test score. GPA is actual GPA. We do not round up. If you have a test score lower than 65, you cannot qualify for the pool regardless of your GPA. Second, if your GPA and total test score fall within the sliding scale, you ALSO must have a math test score of 30 or higher to qualify as a semifinalist.

If your math score is below 30, you cannot qualify for the semifinalist pool regardless of your GPA and total test score.

How is your GPA calculated?
GPA is calculated using 7th grade final marks (report card grades) in math, science, English, and social studies AND 1st Quarter 8th grade marks (report card grades) in math, science, English, and social studies. Foreign language also is considered in this calculation if the foreign language is being taken for a full high school credit. We do not look at any other marks.

GPA is calculated using Fairfax County Public Schools grading scale. Please be aware that when GPA is calculated, 7th grade marks carry a full credit (for the full year) and 1st Quarter 8th grade marks carry a quarter credit (.25 for the quarter of the year).

We do not weight courses when GPA is calculated.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the math section counts. Here is what is considered in the second round (taken from the TJ website):

All semifinalists are evaluated for admission based on consideration of the following parts of the final application packet (weighting for each included in parentheses):

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

So looks like you should put more effort into math/tj prep for math than doing well on your 7th and 8th grade math courses - per the TJ website. So why all the defensiveness and indignance from posters about prep courses? Is the Math portion of the entrance test a general IQ test that you can't prepare for? or is it a math test?

Yes, the math section counts. Here is what is considered in the second round (taken from the TJ website):

All semifinalists are evaluated for admission based on consideration of the following parts of the final application packet (weighting for each included in parentheses):

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

Anonymous wrote:Save your money and just have your child do some old tests from the fcps website, as well as practice tests from a book like Barron's. The content of the test is easy, so it's just a matter of getting your child used to the length and format of the exam. More than half the kids make it to the second stage and honestly, any kid with a decent GPA will get there, given the sliding scale. My son took the test last year and only knew 2 kids that didn't make it to the second stage, out of the nearly 100 kids from his middle school that took the test.

My son didn't bother with test prep and just did what I suggest above and was accepted into this year's freshman class.

in addition to using the test to select the kids into the second stage pool, does the score on the test matter for decision-making after that point - i.e. for final acceptance?

Young Scholars Circle offers very individualized instruction. The instructors are very capable and they have a high success rate.

Save your money and just have your child do some old tests from the fcps website, as well as practice tests from a book like Barron's. The content of the test is easy, so it's just a matter of getting your child used to the length and format of the exam. More than half the kids make it to the second stage and honestly, any kid with a decent GPA will get there, given the sliding scale. My son took the test last year and only knew 2 kids that didn't make it to the second stage, out of the nearly 100 kids from his middle school that took the test.

My son didn't bother with test prep and just did what I suggest above and was accepted into this year's freshman class.

Some good TJ Test Prep classes are Fairfax Collegiate (Summer Course), Best Academy in Springfield VA, and TJ Diversity course (for Eighth graders taking the test)

Check out www.dalbytestprep.com
They have spring classes for 7th graders and summer and fall classes for 8th graders. It's a very flexible program.

Can anyone recommend good prep courses for the TJ test? I have a seventh grader in a private school who has expressed interest in applying to TJ but who has never taken any type of standardized test. I would especially like to know about good programs available over the summer.