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The BASIS Independent Silicon Valley entrance exam includes a 30-minute timed writing section — and no one publishes practice prompts for it. Here are 5 targeted essay prompts your child can use to prepare, plus what BASIS admissions actually looks for in a student's written response.
Your child's spring MCAP scores directly determine their BCPSS Composite Score for Baltimore Polytechnic Institute admissions — and most families don't find that out until it's too late. This post shows exactly how the composite formula works, what MCAP percentile your child needs to be competitive, and what STEM critical thinking practice can do to move the needle before the January deadline.
The BHSEC Queens humanities writing assessment counts for 30% of your child's total admissions score — equal to math and the interview. This guide explains what the writing prompt asks, how it's scored, and five targeted essay strategies that give your child a real edge on test day.
Most Boston-area 8th graders preparing for the HSPT spend their time drilling vocabulary and math facts — and completely overlook the Quantitative Skills section, the one that tests pure reasoning. This guide covers everything Arlington Catholic High School applicants need to know about HSPT quantitative skills practice, Archdiocese of Boston test rules, and how STEM Critical Thinking practice tests close the gap.
Baltimore City College uses your child's spring MCAP ELA and Math percentile scores — alongside GPA — to calculate the composite that determines admission. With nearly 2,900 applicants competing for 425 seats and an average admitted composite around 721, every MCAP percentile point matters. This guide explains exactly how the BCC composite works and how targeted MCAP practice test prep can raise your child's score before the April-May exam.
The Academies of Loudoun admissions process includes a specialized STEM Thinking Skills Test created by Insight Assessment—and most families don't know what it actually measures. This post breaks down the 250–300 scoring scale, the five skill areas tested, and exactly how to prepare your child for both the STEM and Writing Assessments before the late-October deadline.
Your daughter's shot at Western High School — Baltimore's most prestigious all-girls public high school — may come down to two MCAP scores she took in 7th grade. This post explains exactly how the MCAP ELA practice test connects to the Baltimore City composite score formula, what the 610 minimum threshold really means, and how to build the writing and critical thinking skills that move that number up.
The Westlake High School Math & Science Magnet entrance exam tests English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing in a single sitting — and every applicant who hits a composite score of 8.00 or higher gets in. This guide covers the full exam format, the November 15–January 15 application window, the composite scoring model, and a week-by-week prep plan for 8th graders in the Atlanta area.
The ISEE essay is unscored by ERB — but University of Chicago Laboratory Schools reads every word. This guide gives 8th graders and their parents concrete ISEE Upper Level essay writing strategies built around what Lab's admissions committee actually values: structured argument and intellectual maturity.
The School at Marygrove requires a persuasive 750-word Student-Authored Essay scored by two independent reviewers — and almost no prep resources tell Detroit families how to prepare for it. This post covers exactly what the DPSCD writing sample requires, how it fits into your child's composite application score, and how timed essay practice gives 8th graders a real advantage before the application window closes.