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Kate Dalby

About Kate Dalby

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So far Kate Dalby has created 30 blog entries.

The New ACT Essay

by Natalie Villacorta

Starting September 2015, the ACT will have a new optional writing test. The essay is still a demonstration of a student’s ability to make an argument, but the prompt has been revised to resemble more closely real-world argumentation.

Previously, the prompts all focused on school issues, such as whether students should be required to wear uniforms or maintain a “C” average in order to obtain a driver’s license. Now, the prompts will relate to a broader set of contemporary issues, such as whether something is lost when intelligent machines replace humans. (more…)

2016-05-13T02:38:38-04:00

Katie Fawcett on Common TJ Essay Errors

  1. Essay instructor Mrs. Katie Fawcett makes the following recommendations for and observations of students’ essays.  These comments refer to practice essays and Student Information Sheet (SIS) responses written by students wanting to gain admissions to  Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology (TJ).  Most of these comments can be applied to any essay situation such as college applications.  She say major problems are:

(more…)

2017-04-07T19:30:58-04:00

Online Results Are Equally Good!

Dear Mrs. Dalby

Our son leaves for the college of his choice in six months. Your SAT-prep and general guidance on college admissions helped him make it to the Ivy League.

When I first called you in the spring of Coy’s sophomore year, we weren’t sure how SAT-prep with you might work out. You had come highly recommended, but we live a few hours’ drive away from the D.C. area. I was relieved that you agreed to take Coy as online student, even though you had only just started with that delivery method. (more…)

2017-04-07T19:30:58-04:00

How to Prepare on Your Own for the TJ Test

Roughly, there are four hurdles to tackle to get into TJ.

  1. The multiple-choice TJ exam given in December
  2. Teacher recommendations/Science and math course work/grades .
  3. The Student Information Sheet (SIS)
  4. The timed essay written on the same day as the SIS in January.

Consult TJ admissions for a clear idea of the weighting of these components. Read  TJ’s website thoroughly.  See what courses are offered and what clubs exist.

(more…)

2017-04-07T19:30:58-04:00

Class of 2019 TJ Results

Class of 2019 TJ Test Prep Results

Here are the 2nd cut results for Kate Dalby’s fall 2014 TJ prep classes.

This past fall 2014, Ms. Dalby taught four TJ admissions prep classes.   Altogether 25 students prepared and sat for the TJHSST admissions test in early December.  She had three students in the Tuesday evening class, six in the Saturday 11am class, eight in the 2pm class, and eight in the 5pm class.  Twenty-four of the class students passed the first cut (one student did not respond to status requests).

Of those 24 students who made the first cut, 58% made the 2nd cut or were wait listed.

20 have reported their status.  Of those 20,

  • 11 were granted admission,
  • 3 were wait listed (at least two were granted admissions in the summer), and
  • 6 were turned down.

Below is a chart of beginning diagnostic test scores,  and actual scores the day of the test (as reported by parent or student).  I will also post any relevant comments from students about the course or the testing/admissions process.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST – accepted ACTUAL TEST SCORES –  accepted
47M44V 46M49V
39M 41V 37M46V
45M27V 43M45V
41M39V 43M49V
44M34V 44M38V
41M41V 46M47V
38M46V 46M48V
49M38V 49M48V
48M42V 50M47V
47M44V 48M49V
45M42V

 AVERAGE  Before = 83.3

AVERAGE After = 90.8
DIAGNOSTIC TEST -wait listed ACTUAL -wait listed
31M30V 39M41V
40M45V 45M44V
44M44V 44M43V
 AVERAGE Before = 78   AVERAGE After = 86.7
DIAGNOSTIC TEST – refused admission ACTUAL – refused admission
40M24V 38M24V
28M29V 37M37V
43M41V 39M47V
41M44V 47M48V
31M33V 33M40V
  AVERAGE Before = 70.8   AVERAGE After = 78
29M20V not included in statistics na

Here is one parent’s comment:

Did I tell you — when we saw

[ ]’s results, he said “I am glad I took that class!”?

And I appreciate the “gloves off” feedback that you all gave him on his practice Personal Statement and essays. I think he really needed to hear that some attention to capitalization and spelling do make a big difference in readability.

 

2019-03-26T20:50:51-04:00