Jason SmithHow to Prepare for Bergen County Academies Test
If you live in Lyndhurst, NJ (Bergen County or nearby areas), and your child approaches the 8th grade, we would like you to consider applying to Bergen County Academies. This is one of the most prestigious tuition-free public magnet high schools in the US, after all. So, this article is for you and your child. We will explain how to prepare for Bergen County Academies test, and what the entire admission process involves.
At Ivy Test Prep, we support every child who wants to receive the best education with tailored BCA test prep and guidance. Also, we recommend our BCA TEST PREP book containing over 880 test questions and 10 complete practice exam versions.
Why Do So Many Students Choose Bergen County Academies?
Recent data indicates that 15% of all applicants get accepted in the Bergen County Academies. This means that the competition is very high. As a result, those who prepare for the Bergen County Academies test ahead of time have more chances of success. But why is this high school so popular?
For several years, BCA is recognized as one of the best public high schools in the United States. In 2021, ranking and review site Niche (specializing in educational institutions) ranked BCA first in its top of the best high school. Here are other recognitions that Bergen County Academies hold:
• 23rd place in The Washington Post top of the best-performing high schools in the US
• National Blue Ribbon School – the award program of the US Department of Education for exemplary public and non-public school
• Member of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools
• Model School in the Arts – recognition granted by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Thus, through careful BCA test prep, your child will have the chance to study at one of the best high schools you can find across the US. This will open many avenues of possibilities for them, in the most varied fields of science and liberal arts.
The Current Structure of the Bergen County Academies
Before your child starts to prepare for Bergen County Academies test, you must help them choose their academies of choice. As we will explain in the section dedicated to the admission process, your child will have to declare a first and second choice of academy.
At the present, the Bergen County Academies consist of seven academic and professional divisions.
1. The Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology
This was the first academy founded by John Grieco, back in 1992. The key subjects students will learn here are:
• Physics
• Biology
• Chemistry.
Apart from the regular classes, many students focus on personal research projects, which sometimes represent the start of their future career.
2. The Academy for Medical Science Technology
Founded in 1997, this is a great choice for future healthcare professionals. With adequate BCA test prep, successful students will learn about:
• Epidemiology
• Pharmacology
• Anatomy
• Bioethics
• Neuroscience
• Biotechnologies.
This academy is a springboard for various careers in the medical field – from saving lives in hospitals to research to discover new drugs and vaccines. As a side note, one of the alumni of Bergen County Academies is Sachin H. Jain (class of 1988), the former Chief Medical Information Officer of Merck and founder of CareMore.
3. The Academy for Engineering and Design Technology
The modern world may be run by managers and financiers, but it is being built by engineers. We take pride in helping future engineers and designers with BCA test prep. Once they get accepted into this academy, founded in 1997, they will get to learn about the latest fields of research and development:
• Computer science
• Biomedical engineering
• Product development
• Architecture.
4. The Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
If music, theater or filmmaking is your child’s calling, they can fulfill it after they prepare for Bergen County Academies test and get accepted in this academy. Founded in 1998, its course of study focuses on visual arts, music and theatre.
5. The Academy for Culinary Arts and Hospitality Administration
Celebrity chef or 5-star hotel manager? If your child shows a passion for this type of career, the academy founded in 1998 is the right place to start studying. As part of the curriculum, students will receive the certification from the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Also, students are encouraged to participate in various competitions, such as:
• BCA annual Chocolate Competition
• SkillsUSA Leadership Conferences
• ProStart Hospitality Management.
6. The Academy for Business and Finance
We can help your child with BCA test prep to get admitted in this academy, if they have an entrepreneurial mind. Founded in 2002, the Academy for Business and Finance teaches students the basis of:
• Economics
• Marketing
• Finance
• Management
• Business law
• Management information systems
• Entrepreneurship
• Business ethics.
As a special perk of being enrolled here, students get access to the Bloomberg financed Financial Markets Lab, where they can conduct economic research and analysis.
7. The Academy for Technology and Computer Science
Also founded in 2002, this is the right academy for any future IT specialist. If your child is passionate about robotics, computer programming or software development, they should prepare for Bergen County Academies test and study in one of the best high schools in the US.
The Admission Process in the Bergen County Academies
So, how can your child study in any of these seven academies? The BCA admission process has five steps:
• Writing a 400-word essay (optionally, an additional 100 words on accolades and school activities)
• Obtaining a letter of recommendation from: 8th grade math teacher, 7th or 8th grade English teacher and 7th or 8th grade science teacher
• Submitting middle school transcript and standardized test scores
• Declaring the first and second choice of academy
• Passing the admission exam.
Why You Need to Prepare for Bergen County Academies Test?
Now, let us focus on the importance of BCA test prep. The exam takes place in January and it consists of two parts:
• A literary essay
• A math test.
Applicants have 45 minutes to write a 5-paragraph essay on a short prompt and 60 minutes to answer 40 math questions. These questions are more advanced than what is generally taught in grade school.
The reasons for this difficulty are quite obvious. The Bergen County Academies receive far more admission applications than they can accept. Also, they provide education at a high level, so they are looking for students who show clear aptitudes and inclination for science and humanities.
Also, Bergen County Academies are looking for more than just academic knowledge. They want to select students with creative problem-solving skills, able to think outside the box and with the potential to become true innovators and pioneers in their chosen line of study. With proper BCA test prep, we can unlock your child’s creative thinking and give them a great chance to be among the chosen few of all the applicants.
How We Can Help with BCA Test Prep
Ivy Test Prep believes that talented and education driven students must receive all the support they need to get admitted into the best schools. And, in New Jersey, you cannot find anything better than Bergen County Academies.
Over the years, our tutoring and BCA test prep guidance helped many students achieve their goal of learning at one of the academies. In many instances, we started working with students who only got 10 correct answers on the test and they ended up passing the BCA exam with flying colors.
Method, Passion and Dedication: Our Secret to Help Your Child Prepare for Bergen County Academies Test
We always recommend students to start early with their BCA test prep. The level of math required in the exam is far above the type of math problems and questions they are accustomed to.
Ivy Test Prep tutors will offer:
• One on one tutoring
• Test prep sessions
• Coaching for the admission interview.
Let us talk about each of these in detail.
Tutoring for Success in BCA Exam
Our tutors are knowledgeable, experienced and patient. They have a passion for teaching and helping children understand math concepts. At Ivy Test Prep, we take everything into account in order to offer your child the best and most comfortable conditions for learning.
Thus, the tutor can meet with the student at your home or in public libraries. The goal is to reduce the commute and find a quiet environment where the student can focus on learning. From experience, we know that creating the right conditions has a tremendous impact on a child’s ability to understand new concepts and retain them for the long term.
BCA Test Prep Sessions
We know that each student is different. Some are fast learners. Others need more practice. But all of them have the drive to learn and the determination to succeed. And this is what Ivy Test Prep stands for: offering the opportunity to become the best.
We create effective test prep sessions, which have proven their success. 7 out of 10 students who choose Ivy Test Prep get accepted into one of the Bergen County Academies. Each program offers free documents to study, as well as a tailored study plan and consultation with the tutor.
Beyond BCA Test Prep: Counseling for the Admission Interview
The interview is an important step in the admission process. The evaluators want to assess a student’s personality and ability to fit in the new academic environment. And we know that many brilliant students fail this step because they become emotional and apprehensive.
This is the first of many interviews your child will have. We believe that starting this early is a very good idea. It helps build self-confidence and an honest self-assessment of abilities and skills. We also help with coaching sessions that encourage your child to become confident in talking with ease and persuasion. Our guidance has transformed many students from timid wallflowers into articulate speakers before the evaluation commission.
Our Book Helps Your Child Prepare for Bergen County Academies Test
As a supplement to our tutoring and test prep sessions, we recommend the book “High School Entrance Exams Math Workbook: 808 Questions and 10 Practice Exams”. The book will give your child an idea of the kind of math required for passing the BCA test.
Most of our students took one of the practice exams before starting the tutoring plan with us. The best of them managed to get about one fourth of all answers right. It is important to know both your strengths and your weaknesses, and this book will help your child have an honest self-evaluation.
As they advance on the path to prepare for Bergen County Academies test, they can re-take practice exams and note the improvement they make. We encourage this, because it helps students gain confidence and it shows you, as a parent, that you made the right choice for your child’s future.
When is the Bergen County Academies Admission test take place?
Bergen County Academies test date: first Saturday and the first Sunday of January unless the test dates fall on January 1st or 2nd. For example, this year (2024) the test date will be on January 6th and 7th, 2024.
We Are Here to Help Your Child with the Best BCA Test Prep Program
Ivy Test Prep has one mission: to help students succeed, get the best test grades and get accepted in their high school or college of choice. We offer a wide range of tutoring programs for Magnet Schools, including tailored plans to prepare for Bergen County Academies test.
What sets us apart from other tutoring programs? We start with the best asset we have – our tutors. They are passionate about teaching and able to adapt their tutoring style to each student. And they are also coaches, standing by the students until they reach their goals.
Secondly, we create tailored plans suitable to all teaching needs and budgets. We are flexible in the choice of locations for the one-on-one session, reducing the commute and the overall cost.
Last but not least, our tutoring method is tested and proven, with 70% of the students we help with BCA test prep being accepted in one of the academies. We encourage you to contact us and let us help you choose the best tutoring program for your child!
