Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got accepted, geometry in 8th, no experience factor, solved the math/science question correctly.

Do they tell you solved correctly? How do kids know how did on it?

It was not a very hard problem. Probably a breeze for those in math counts club at my DD’s school. For reference my DD did not get into the math counts club at her school due to competition.
AMC 8 score 16. So top 25%.
She did not have enough time to complete it. As per her because she had to explain and essay about the problem.
The sob story essays are a big part of being selected.

DD has been selected. Geometry HN
No experience factors. 4 gpa in math and science. South Asian.

My best wishes to all kids worked hard and sure are very talented and didn’t get in.
Also best of luck to those who got in.
I am not a fan of the new process. It’s not transparent.

DS is in.

He agreed with your DD that this year’s problem was not ultimately difficult.

However, he also said the wording was very confusing, and he could see how many kids could have gotten tripped up by the confusing wording.

That should not happen. It would be less likely to happen if there were more than just one question.

You are complaining that the easy math test was too hard and PP ran out of time and didn't finish? Sounds like it was the right amount of difficulty.

That’s not what I said. DS is in, so it’s irrelevant.

What I said was a hard question (or several hard questions) would be fine.

A poorly-worded or unnecessarily confusing question is not fine, especially if TJ asks only a single question.

Was the question poorly worded, or was it worded in such a way that it required close reading and good analytical skills to understand the problem?

I can see a child who has average reading comprehensions skills finding it difficult to figure out what is being asked, but that is the type of student who could have find the demands of doing well at TJ to be stressful. Maybe TJ just has a very good weed out question here.

The math question was very straightforward and there was nothing confusing about it. This I heard from DS and 3 of his friends. All got in.

Anyone with basic algebra skills should be able to get the correct answer. If your kid failed to solve it correctly then seriously reconsider if TJ is a good fit for them, as they may have got in based on the essays.

I have an elder kid at TJ and believe me, the coursework is VERY rigorous and the kids are expected to put in a lot of effort to get a decent grade. They have to use analytical and thinking skills to really understand the material. Nothing is spoon-fed. It prepares them well for college but if they are faltering at a very basic math problem then TJ may not be the right fit for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got accepted, geometry in 8th, no experience factor, solved the math/science question correctly.

Do they tell you solved correctly? How do kids know how did on it?

It was not a very hard problem. Probably a breeze for those in math counts club at my DD’s school. For reference my DD did not get into the math counts club at her school due to competition.
AMC 8 score 16. So top 25%.
She did not have enough time to complete it. As per her because she had to explain and essay about the problem.
The sob story essays are a big part of being selected.

DD has been selected. Geometry HN
No experience factors. 4 gpa in math and science. South Asian.

My best wishes to all kids worked hard and sure are very talented and didn’t get in.
Also best of luck to those who got in.
I am not a fan of the new process. It’s not transparent.

DS is in.

He agreed with your DD that this year’s problem was not ultimately difficult.

However, he also said the wording was very confusing, and he could see how many kids could have gotten tripped up by the confusing wording.

That should not happen. It would be less likely to happen if there were more than just one question.

You are complaining that the easy math test was too hard and PP ran out of time and didn't finish? Sounds like it was the right amount of difficulty.

That’s not what I said. DS is in, so it’s irrelevant.

What I said was a hard question (or several hard questions) would be fine.

A poorly-worded or unnecessarily confusing question is not fine, especially if TJ asks only a single question.

Was the question poorly worded, or was it worded in such a way that it required close reading and good analytical skills to understand the problem?

I can see a child who has average reading comprehensions skills finding it difficult to figure out what is being asked, but that is the type of student who could have find the demands of doing well at TJ to be stressful. Maybe TJ just has a very good weed out question here.

Anonymous wrote:DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

Try sophomore admission at TJ if DC does not get in this year

Anonymous wrote:What schools are kids taking Algebra II and Precalculus? Our school doesn't offer these and the kids who got in are very good students but not brilliant.

Looking at the SOL results, about 200 kids take Algebra 2 in FCPS, most at the big Centers, Longfellow, Rocky Run, and Carson.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools are kids taking Algebra II and Precalculus? Our school doesn't offer these and the kids who got in are very good students but not brilliant.

Possibly LoCo. They accelerate a lot more than Fairfax does although they have recently been reducing the very large numbers of students taking Algebra in 6th to a slightly smaller large number.

Maybe at some schools it is large. At our mid level school it wasn’t a thing.

Anonymous wrote:DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

Your kid is a great example of why teacher recc’s need reinstated. That said they would make a strong froshmore candidate with the math that far ahead.

Anonymous wrote:What schools are kids taking Algebra II and Precalculus? Our school doesn't offer these and the kids who got in are very good students but not brilliant.

Possibly LoCo. They accelerate a lot more than Fairfax does although they have recently been reducing the very large numbers of students taking Algebra in 6th to a slightly smaller large number.

Anonymous wrote:What schools are kids taking Algebra II and Precalculus? Our school doesn't offer these and the kids who got in are very good students but not brilliant.

cynical and judgemental! how so?

What schools are kids taking Algebra II and Precalculus? Our school doesn't offer these and the kids who got in are very good students but not brilliant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got accepted, geometry in 8th, no experience factor, solved the math/science question correctly.

Do they tell you solved correctly? How do kids know how did on it?

It was not a very hard problem. Probably a breeze for those in math counts club at my DD’s school. For reference my DD did not get into the math counts club at her school due to competition.
AMC 8 score 16. So top 25%.
She did not have enough time to complete it. As per her because she had to explain and essay about the problem.
The sob story essays are a big part of being selected.

DD has been selected. Geometry HN
No experience factors. 4 gpa in math and science. South Asian.

My best wishes to all kids worked hard and sure are very talented and didn’t get in.
Also best of luck to those who got in.
I am not a fan of the new process. It’s not transparent.

DS is in.

He agreed with your DD that this year’s problem was not ultimately difficult.

However, he also said the wording was very confusing, and he could see how many kids could have gotten tripped up by the confusing wording.

That should not happen. It would be less likely to happen if there were more than just one question.

You are complaining that the easy math test was too hard and PP ran out of time and didn't finish? Sounds like it was the right amount of difficulty.

More like a time management thing. Caught up in explaining as you go. Remember it’s an essay.

The IAAT is a time management test, as is the Cogat for grades 3 and up.

Your DD was not as fast as all the other kids who were able to fully answer the question in the allotted time. Lucky for her that her other answers were good enough.

Yes she is lucky. Speed was never her thing. Never went to any math or any kind of enrichment classes outside of school till now. So speed is an issue for now as far tests are concerned. She prepared for the essays though. She did say she was able do well on the essays.

DC waitlisted. 4.0. AP Pre-Calculus. Won gold, silver, bronze in different competitions. Volunteered a lot with the community (because DC wanted to do so, not bc of TJ. DC will continue doing so no matter what).

DC’s friends, DC, us and everyone knew DC were shocked with the result.

DC is resilient though. DC started discussing a new plan at base HS with us.

DD says last year Math was easier than this year’s question.

Wording on this year’s made it lil more confusing than last year’s question. According to her - once you get thru that then it is a straightforward answer.

DD messed her essays. Waitlisted

Asian, 4.00 GPA, pre-calculus

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS Accepted. GPA 4.2 Asian , Geometry in 8th grade.

Got Math question incorrect but had very detailed explanation of his reasoing to his incorrect math answer.

SPS Essays were really good as per DS.

TJ admission only uses unweighted GPA for core course, so you probably meant 4.0 here.

You are right. My apologies

Anonymous wrote:DS Accepted. GPA 4.2 Asian , Geometry in 8th grade.

Got Math question incorrect but had very detailed explanation of his reasoing to his incorrect math answer.

SPS Essays were really good as per DS.

TJ admission only uses unweighted GPA for core course, so you probably meant 4.0 here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS got accepted, geometry in 8th, no experience factor, solved the math/science question correctly.

Do they tell you solved correctly? How do kids know how did on it?

It was not a very hard problem. Probably a breeze for those in math counts club at my DD’s school. For reference my DD did not get into the math counts club at her school due to competition.
AMC 8 score 16. So top 25%.
She did not have enough time to complete it. As per her because she had to explain and essay about the problem.
The sob story essays are a big part of being selected.

DD has been selected. Geometry HN
No experience factors. 4 gpa in math and science. South Asian.

My best wishes to all kids worked hard and sure are very talented and didn’t get in.
Also best of luck to those who got in.
I am not a fan of the new process. It’s not transparent.

DS is in.

He agreed with your DD that this year’s problem was not ultimately difficult.

However, he also said the wording was very confusing, and he could see how many kids could have gotten tripped up by the confusing wording.

That should not happen. It would be less likely to happen if there were more than just one question.

You are complaining that the easy math test was too hard and PP ran out of time and didn't finish? Sounds like it was the right amount of difficulty.

That’s not what I said. DS is in, so it’s irrelevant.

What I said was a hard question (or several hard questions) would be fine.

A poorly-worded or unnecessarily confusing question is not fine, especially if TJ asks only a single question.