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TJ Prep

Introducing Mindprint Learning Assessments

We are exciting to announce that Inspiring Test Preparation is now offering Mindprint assessments to determine the best approach to preparing students for standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT.

WHAT IS MINDPRINT?  

Mindprint is a self-paced online cognitive assessment. It was developed by scientists at Penn Medicine with a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. It measures the ten cognitive skills most closely correlated to success in academics and on standardized tests. The Mindprint report  give tutors insights into the unique learning needs of each of their students and allows them to customize their instruction to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of student outcomes. A practice test will tell you what a student got wrong; Mindprint will tell why and what you can do about it.

Mindprint Test Prep Reports are specifically designed to support students and tutors who are prepping for the SAT and ACT. The reports will tell you whether a student has a cognitive affinity for one test over the other and by how much. They will project potential scoring ranges for each test and each section and provide a worksheet to help tutors identify the areas of greatest potential improvement. They also map suggested test prep and learning strategies to each individual student’s unique strengths.

SPECIAL OFFER

We are so persuaded that Mindprint will help us help you test more effectively, that we are, for a short time, offering the $199 assessment at a price of $145.

You will get Mindprint’s report and a private consultation with Kate Dalby to discuss the report and how we can help achieve better test results for your student.  There is no obligation for future services.  If you purchase a flex prep package, you will get a $145 rebate on that purchase.

To purchase an assessment,

click here. Enter student’s birth month & year in note to business.

You will receive a testing link within 24-48 hours.  Text Kate at 703-203-5796 if you don’t get a link.

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2023-01-31T14:21:21-05:00
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TJ Portrait of a Graduate Sheet 2022

Well, we are having another exciting year helping students gain entry into Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology.  There is no longer a math, reading, and science test that you have to pass to make first cut, but there are some hoops to jump through: a math question and several essay questions.

If you would like help preparing for the written essays for the TJ Portrait of a Graduate Sheet.  Cathy Colglazier and Kate Lewis are here to help.  To arrange instruction, call Mrs. Colglazier at 703-628-2348 and Mrs. Lewis at 571-344-2156.  Click “with Colglazier” or “with Lewis” to purchase a package of four hours of private instruction via zoom.
If you would like to prepare for the math question, we now have five free SIS math videos available on Inspiring Test Preparation’s Rumble.com channel.  Click the year you wish to access:
2016 2017  2018 2019 2020
If you think you are ready for a math test question, purchase this package which includes a prompt, the solution, and a 25-minute zoom meeting to discuss the student’s explanation. 
2021-11-26T16:16:05-05:00
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May You Live in Interesting Times: TJ’s Merit Lottery

“May you live in interesting times”: a blessing to some and a curse to others.  But there is no doubt, we are living in interesting times.  We are fortunate to live in a country with so many opportunities for people who take the initiative to prosper.  And while our country is reeling under the challenges of Covid-19, quarantine, protests, riots, and economic turmoil, some in our own community have the following response to these challenges.

Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent, Scott Brabrand, with the goal of increasing enrollment of underrepresented minorities at the elite Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology (TJ), proposes that admissions become a merit lottery.  A merit lottery would eliminate the three-hour long TJ admissions test, teacher recommendations, the $100 application fee, and would use a minimum student GPA of 3.5 as the sole measure of merit.  The lottery would allot seats by region and necessarily admit more students from areas of the county that have not be represented at TJ historically.  Some groups are delighted by this proposed change; others are outraged.  This proposal is likely to pass if for no other reason than it gets the county off the hook for testing 3000+ students during a pandemic.  It’s a great time for another experiment in education.

There will be a town hall regarding the proposed admissions policy changes on Wednesday, September 23, beginning at 7 p.m.  Families and community members can watch online, submit comments and questions or call into the town hall live at 1-800-231-6359

Additional details about the plan are available here.

Here are some links to other news stories and opinion pieces.

AP News: PTA clashes…

Washingtonian: Thomas Jefferson High School Could Switch to a “Merit Lottery”…

WTOP: [TJ] student speaks out against… 

fcps.edu: Superintendent Presents Recommendations…

Advocacy Group in Favor of Lottery

Advocacy Group Opposed to Lottery

If you would like to comment, visit our facebook page.
2020-09-20T11:42:06-04:00
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At Home TJ Math Drills

When clients call for advice to get into TJ, the first thing I do is have them take a one hour at-home math test to see how strong the student’s problem solving skills are.  My test is extremely predictive: a poor score means acceptance to TJ is nil unless the student takes action to improve basic math skills.

To address the deficit, we conduct math drills for 7th graders on Tuesday evenings during the spring and summer.  The students come in, sit for a timed 25 question test, and then we review the problems that gave them difficulty.  This is an excellent method for improving math test taking skills and over the years it has made a dramatic difference, in conjunction with our comprehensive TJ prep class and SIS workshop, in enhancing their admissions outcomes.

Unfortunately hurdles abound for parents trying to get to our drill classes.

> I can’t get there on a weekday evening.
> It is too far.
> There is too much traffic.
> I’m too busy.
> The drill class is at dinner time.
> She has sports conflicts.
> He has a test.
> He has after school activities.

Fortunately we are working on a solution.  We have started math drills at home project and have launched our first drill.

We have four drills scheduled so far.

Drill #1 average difficulty
Drill #2 higher difficulty – recommended if you did well on drill #1
Drill #3 average difficult – recommended if you did poorly on drill #1
Drill #4 higher difficulty – recommended if you did poorly on drill #2

We will continue making drills if there is a demand for the videos.

To find out more, click here.

2019-05-04T16:28:40-04:00
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