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Virginia School Entrance Exam Prep Guides

We publish 24 in-depth prep guides covering 15 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Virginia, including Academies of Loudoun — Academy of Science (AOS) & Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET), Academies of Loudoun (AOS/AET), Franklin Military Academy, Governor's Career and Technical Education Academy for STEM at Richmond Technical Center (Governor's STEM Academy at RTC), Henrico County Specialty Centers — Center for Engineering at Highland Springs High School, Henrico County Specialty Centers — Center for Medical Sciences (Todd Allen Phillips Center) at Mills E. Godwin High School, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program at Princess Anne High School, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies, and 7 more — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.

How to Prepare for the ISEE at Norfolk Collegiate School: 2026–2027 Complete Guide
Norfolk Collegiate School
October 18, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for the ISEE at Norfolk Collegiate School: 2026–2027 Complete Guide

If your child is applying to Norfolk Collegiate School, the ISEE is the first major hurdle — and most families don't know there are two on-campus test dates in fall 2026. This guide covers exactly what the ISEE tests, what stanine scores are competitive for Norfolk Collegiate admissions, and how to prepare for both the scored sections and the unscored essay that the admissions committee personally reads.

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How to Prepare for Open High School's In-Person Writing Assignment (2027 Admissions Guide)
Open High School
October 19, 2026 9 min read

How to Prepare for Open High School's In-Person Writing Assignment (2027 Admissions Guide)

Open High School's in-person writing assignment is the most unpredictable part of the RPS admissions process — no published prompts, no retakes, and a double-blind scoring system most families don't know exists. This guide explains exactly how the assignment works, what evaluators look for, and how Richmond 8th graders can prepare before the December deadline.

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How to Prepare for the RCHS Creativity & General Academic Ability Test (2027 Admissions Guide)
Richmond Community High School (RCHS)
October 21, 2026 10 min read

How to Prepare for the RCHS Creativity & General Academic Ability Test (2027 Admissions Guide)

Richmond Community High School's admissions process includes a unique Creativity and General Academic Ability test most families have never seen explained anywhere. This guide decodes what those assessments measure, how scoring works across all three selection phases, and exactly how your child can prepare starting in 7th grade.

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TJHSST Waitlist: What to Do If You Don't Get In First Round (2026 Update)
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
September 25, 2026 7 min read

TJHSST Waitlist: What to Do If You Don't Get In First Round (2026 Update)

Getting a TJHSST waitpool notification after April 30 is not the end of the road. This post explains exactly how the waitpool works, what sophomore transfer looks like, and how to use the time between now and the next application cycle to build the essay writing skills TJ reviewers are looking for.

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TJHSST Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) 2026: A Prompt-by-Prompt Strategy Using the Portrait of a Graduate Framework
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
September 24, 2026 10 min read

TJHSST Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) 2026: A Prompt-by-Prompt Strategy Using the Portrait of a Graduate Framework

The TJHSST Student Portrait Sheet tips you find on most prep sites stop at 'be specific' — and that leaves your child unprepared for what TJ evaluators actually read for. This guide maps each of the five FCPS Portrait of a Graduate attributes to concrete story-selection strategies, character limits, and timed writing practice that mirrors the real January exam.

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TJHSST Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) Guide: What Admissions Officers Really Look For in 2026
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
September 22, 2026 9 min read

TJHSST Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) Guide: What Admissions Officers Really Look For in 2026

The TJHSST Student Portrait Sheet is the most misunderstood part of Thomas Jefferson's admissions process — and the part where qualified students lose their spot. This guide breaks down the Portrait of a Graduate framework in plain language, shows what strong responses look like, and explains exactly how admissions officers evaluate your child's writing.

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TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay (PSE) 2026 Prep Guide: How to Write a Winning Response
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
September 21, 2026 11 min read

TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay (PSE) 2026 Prep Guide: How to Write a Winning Response

TJ replaced its standardized test with a 90-minute all-essay exam that tests STEM reasoning and timed writing under real pressure. This guide breaks down the TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay by science domain, explains what evaluators actually score, and shows your 8th grader exactly how to prepare before January 2026.

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TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay (PSE) Practice: 5 Free Writing Prompts + Scoring Rubric 2026
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
September 18, 2026 10 min read

TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay (PSE) Practice: 5 Free Writing Prompts + Scoring Rubric 2026

Free TJHSST problem-solving essay practice is almost impossible to find — most resources either charge $50+ or stop at telling you the test exists. I've seen students with 3.9 GPAs miss admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology because they treated the Problem-Solving Essay (PSE) like a math worksheet instead of a reasoning demonstration. Your child's GPA gets them to the starting line. The PSE is where 550 seats get decided. This post gives you five actual practice prompts, a self-scoring rubric, and a preparation plan you can start using today — at no cost.

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Is Your 7th Grader Ready for TJHSST? Early Preparation Timeline 2026-2027
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
September 14, 2026 9 min read

Is Your 7th Grader Ready for TJHSST? Early Preparation Timeline 2026-2027

Most families start TJHSST prep in 8th grade — by then, two of the most critical admissions factors are already locked in. This post shows 7th grade families exactly what to do now, from GPA strategy to Problem-Solving Essay readiness, so your child enters the application window with every advantage in place.

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Private School TJHSST Admissions: What You Need to Know About Unallocated Seats
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
August 11, 2026 8 min read

Private School TJHSST Admissions: What You Need to Know About Unallocated Seats

Private school students can apply to TJHSST — but only for roughly 200-250 unallocated seats, with no feeder-school safety net. This post explains exactly how the two-tier seat system works, what the Student Portrait Sheet and Problem-Solving Essay require, and how to prepare your child to compete seriously for Thomas Jefferson's most competitive seats.

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TJHSST Admissions 2026-2027 Calendar: Every Important Date for Class of 2031
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST)
May 24, 2026 8 min read

TJHSST Admissions 2026-2027 Calendar: Every Important Date for Class of 2031

The TJHSST admissions calendar for 2026-2027 moves fast — and missing one deadline ends your child's shot at Thomas Jefferson HSST. This post maps every key date for the Class of 2031 application cycle, explains what the Student Portrait Sheet and Problem-Solving Essay actually test, and tells you exactly what to do before each deadline.

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How to Write the TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay (PSE): A Step-by-Step Guide for 8th Graders (2026–2027)
tjhsst-problem-solving-essay-pse-guide
July 31, 2026 10 min read

How to Write the TJHSST Problem-Solving Essay (PSE): A Step-by-Step Guide for 8th Graders (2026–2027)

TheTJHSST Problem-Solving Essayis the part of Thomas Jefferson HSST admissions that trips up the most prepared students every year. I've seen kids with 3.9 GPAs and genuine math talent walk out of the January exam feeling shaky — not because the problem was too hard, but because no one told them how to turn their thinking into a scored, written response. Your child has 30 minutes and 3,700 characters to show analytical reasoning, logical communication, and step-by-step STEM problem-solving. This guide shows exactly how to do that.

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