A Parent’s Guide to the TJ Admissions Timed Writing Test
By ELAINA MERCATORIS, Founder, Principia Education
It’s difficult to study for a question you don’t know. Yet, that’s exactly the challenge thousands of local eighth graders will face on January 24th when Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology holds its annual admissions exam—asking students to write on the spot to showcase their personal character and problem-solving skills.
About the Test
The exam includes two parts: the Student Portrait Sheet and the Problem-Solving Essay.
For the Student Portrait Sheet, students will be asked to write four short responses to personal questions to demonstrate their Portrait of a Graduate attributes and 21st-century skills.
For the Problem-Solving Essay, students solve a math and/or science problem, then write a longer response detailing their solution process. Students will not know the questions ahead of time, and the exam will be timed.
For the problem-solving essay, it’s a common misconception that students always have to know the correct answer to the problem—we’ve seen many students get accepted who did not solve the problem perfectly. What’s most important instead is the clarity of their critical thinking process and real-world applications.
Tips for Getting Started at Home
For the Student Portrait Sheet:
- Brainstorm together about how your student meets FCPS’s five Portrait of a Graduate attributes using the helpful questions provided online (Google and you’ll find them!): Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical & Global Citizen, Creative & Critical Thinker, Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual.
- Practice writing about their experiences using imagery and specific details.
For the Problem-Solving Essay:
- Practice writing what we call clarity exercises. Your student can take a word problem from school homework, write in paragraph form the steps to solve the problem, and see if someone else can read and understand the process.
- For further skill building, practice with more challenging math questions like those from AMC 8 (widely available online).
Expert Support
Families seeking more structured guidance can turn to Principia Education’s TJ Prep program. For nearly a decade, we’ve helped students strengthen their clarity, confidence, and problem-solving skills—whether in small groups or one-on-one sessions, in person or online.
Our continually updated curriculum reflects the latest admissions trends and emphasizes what TJ admissions officers are truly looking for: clear thinkers and curious minds.
Check out our in-person small group classes and private 1:1 tutoring options on our website: www.principiaeducation.com/tj-prep.
