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TJHSST (TJ) Test Preparation

Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology (TJHSST) , aka TJ, is the premier high school in Northern Virginia. If you have a student who wants to attend Thomas Jefferson, you probably know that applicants will have to take the TJHSST admissions test in December of the 8th grade.

Many bright students are unfamiliar with the test so Dalby is offering a class for eighth graders to help them prepare for the exam.

What is Dalby? Dalby Test Preparation is a locally owned Northern Virginia company specializing in academic tutoring and standardized test preparation. Since 1988 we have helped thousands of students prepare for the SAT, PSAT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT, HSPT, SSAT, and, of course, the TJHSST admissions test. Mr. and Mrs. Dalby are the instructors and they are proud their own son, Pallas, graduated from Thomas Jefferson.

Sent: Apr 4, 2009 11:23 AM

Dear Ms. Kate,

I just got my TJ letter and I got in!!! Thank you so much for all your work and helping me prepare for the test. I really appreciate all your work!!

Sincerely,

Saniya Suri

What makes Dalby special? We take time to know our students because each student matters to us. If a parent needs to talk to us we are available to discuss the student's needs. With over 20 years of experience preparing students for standardized tests, we have put together a program that has a high rate of success.

Class of 2012: 100% of our 2007 six-week TJ prep class students made the first cut for TJ; 75% were granted admissions.

Class of 2013: 89% of our 2008 students made the first cut -- 12/13 six-week class students, and 4/5 tutored students. On the second cut 7/16 students were granted admissions to TJ.

Class of 2014: For Extensive Details on the Class of 2014 Click Here

We design classes to be a reasonable length of time. Each of our TJHSST prep class sessions lasts two hours; in our experience anything longer is just too much for most eighth graders. We require students to take timed-practice drill sessions on-site after every instructional session - this is done on a different day. The amount of time that should be allotted to homework is one to three hours per class depending on the needs of the student. Office hours in the summer are 3:00 to 9:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and everyday but Friday in the fall. The student should plan on doing a minimum of six timed essays, but these will be done outside of the instructional sessions.

We group students by ability. Before the class all students will have to take a pre-test to make sure that they are at the right level. This pretest should be done as soon as possible so we can properly place the student and suggest remedial work as needed. We limit the size of the class; we will only take eight students. If there is sufficient demand we will open an additional session on another day.

This class is comprehensive: we will work on test taking strategies, verbal skills, essay writing, speed math techniques, and logic. We expect the student to do one to three hours or more of homework for each class. There will be a full on-site practice test the session before the last class. We will use the test available on-line from Thomas Jefferson. We ask that you do not preview the test. If you already have taken that test let us know when you sign up.

What are other things I can do to help prepare for TJHSST? Join the math team at school; mental math is the key for doing well on this test. Read more. Read anything you enjoy; it doesn't have to be a novel. Biographies, history, science fiction, and how-to books all help build vocabulary and reading skills. Do all your schoolwork to the best of your ability.

Don't do the minimum for the grade you want; do the maximum you are capable of. Take pride in a job well done (the grade you get should only be confirmation of your work.)

The cost of the comprehensive class is $590. Make-up for missed class (you may miss no more than two classes)is $60 per hour. Additional private tutoring is $100 per hour. Additional practice tests are $25 each. (class includes diagnostic and five practice tests). You may take the diagnostic test as soon as you sign up. On the basis of your test results Mrs. Dalby will make specific recommendations to enhance your performance.

Refund policy: because our classes are small we ask that you cancel no later than two weeks before the first class. The $100 deposit to hold the seat is non-refundable and there is a $90 surcharge if the diagnostic test has been administered. Payment in full is due two weeks before the first class and cancellation after that time results in a forfeit of full payment. There is a $l00 fee to transfer to a different class time.

Important note: 2009 was the first year we encountered behavior problems in one of our classes. This year, if a student acts out repeatedly he or she will be asked to leave class for the remainder of the day and the parent will be notified. Each new class session he will be given a chance to exhibit modified behavior with the understanding that if the behavior doesn't improved he will again be suspended from class. We are chagrined to even have to write this caveat but we know of no other recourse that doesn't cause the classmates to suffer.

SUMMER CLASS -THIS CLASS IS NOW FULL
Call to discuss other summer options.Pretest as soon as convenient by appointment.

Class #1 Wednesday, July 7th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Practice testing: Thursday, July 8th 4:00 to 6:30 pm or by appointment.

Class #2 Monday, July 12th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Practice testing: Tuesday, July 13th 4:00 to 6:30 pm or by appointment.

Class #3 Wednesday, July 14th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Practice testing: Thursday, July 15th 4:00 to 6:30 pm or by appointment.

Class #4 Monday, July 19th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Practice testing: Tuesday, July 20th 4:00 to 6:30 pm or by appointment.

Class #5 Wednesday, July 21st, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Practice testing: Thursday, July 22nd 4:00 to 6:30 pm or by appointment.

Class #6 Monday, July 26th, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

FALL CLASS - 11 am Saturday session (We have opened a 2nd class at the same time. Mr Dalby will teach one class and Mrs Dalby will teach the other.
Pretest as soon as convenient by appointment.

Class #1 Saturday, October 16th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Class #2 Saturday, October 23rd, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Class #3 Saturday, October 30th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Class #4 Saturday, November 6th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Class #5 Saturday, November 13th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Class #6 Saturday, November 20th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Weekly on-site timed practice testing is required; this will be done on Sundays from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm or by appointment.

FALL CLASS - 5 pm Saturday session New Session- posted May 15th.
Pretest as soon as convenient by appointment.

Class #1 Saturday, October 16th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Class #2 Saturday, October 23rd, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Class #3 Saturday, October 30th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Class #4 Saturday, November 6th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Class #5 Saturday, November 13th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Class #6 Saturday, November 20th, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Weekly on-site timed practice testing is required; this will be done on Sundays from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm or by appointment.

FALL CLASS - Wednesday session (2 SEATS LEFT)
Pretest as soon as convenient by appointment.

Class #1 Wednesday, October 20th, from 7:00 to 9 pm.

Class #2 Wednesday, October 27th, from 7:00 to 9 pm.

Class #3 Wednesday, November 3rd, from 7:00 to 9 pm.

Class #4 Wednesday, November 10th, from 7:00 to 9 pm.

Class #5 Wednesday, November 17th, from 7:00 to 9 pm.

Class #6 Wednesday, December 1st, from 7:00 to 9 pm.

Weekly on-site timed practice testing is required for all classes; this is to be done on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm or by appointment.
Notice there are no classes on Wednesday, November 24th, the week of Thanksgiving.

Other Programs of Interest to 8th Graders

Geometry Preview
Essay Class for 7th and 8th Graders
Reading Comprehension Drills
Speed Math Drills

Reserve your seat today. Register below.

Summer/Fall 2010 TJ Test Prep Class

Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.

Student's Last Name*
Student's Last Name*

Student's First Name*
Student's First Name*

Parent's full name*
Parent's full name*

I plan to take the class that meets *
I plan to take the class that meets *

	The summer afternoon class starting Wednesday, July 7th at 4pm.WAITLIST ONLY
	The fall Saturday class starting October 16th at 11am (a second class has opened)
	The fall Saturday class starting October 16th at 5pm.
	The fall Wednesday class starting October 20th at 7pm.

E-mail Address*
E-mail Address*

Street Address*
Street Address*

City*
City*

State/Prov*
State/Prov*

Zip/Postal Code*
Zip/Postal Code*

Home Phone*
Home Phone*

Business Phone*
Business Phone*

Fax

Student Cell Phone

Middle School*
Middle School*

GPA and Grade in School*
GPA and Grade in School*

fall 2010 math class (warning TJ requires students to have finished algebra I by the end of 8th grade)*
fall 2010 math class (warning TJ requires students to have finished algebra I by the end of 8th grade)*

	pre-algebra
	algebra I
	geometry
	algebra II
	other (explain in comment section)

Are you on the school's math team?

	Yes
	No

Have you taken the SAT?

	Yes
	No

If so, what were your scores?

I understand that I must take a diagnostic test before class #1

	Please email me to schedule the test
	Please call me to schedule the test

I understand I must pay a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold a seat and that payment in full is due two weeks before the first class. *
I understand I must pay a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold a seat and that payment in full is due two weeks before the first class. *

	I will mail a check
	I will make a credit card payment by phone
	I will stop by with payment: I will call first.

I heard about Dalby from

	the internet
	a friend
	my counselor/teacher
	the School Newspaper
	my sibling
	other (explain in comment section)

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