Baccalaureate School Admissions Test for Baccalaureate School for Global Education

The Baccalaureate High School of Queens (BSGE) is only about ten years old, but it’s quickly become one of the top high schools in New York City. It is one of only a few high schools in the city that offers an International Baccalaureate diploma instead of the typical Regents diploma. Students receive an International Baccalaureate diploma for completing advanced coursework and doing well on the IB exams, which unlike Advanced Placement exams are accepted around the world.

In addition to passing these exams, students take college-level courses and produce a senior project, usually a long essay on a topic of the student’s choice. Although several private high schools in NYC offer an IB diploma, the Baccalaureate High School of Queens is one of only two public high schools in NYC that offers the International Baccalaureate diploma (the other is the Brooklyn Latin School, for which students must take the Specialized High School Admissions Test or SHSAT). Since receiving an IB diploma helps put students on a path to great colleges, many parents might want to talk to their kids about taking the school’s admissions test in sixth grade.

Baccalaureate School Admissions Test| How Do Students Get Admitted to the School?

In 2018, the admission process changed. Prior to the 2018-19 school year admission process, any sixth grade student who wanted to join the seventh grade could sign up to take the Baccalaureate admissions test. Now, for 2018-2019 applicants, the school will screen students. If selected, students will need to take a BSGE-administered test and participate in a group interview.

The timed exam is targeted to students in sixth grade, and it includes several different sections that test ELA and mathematics skills. The English sections include an essay/written response section (similar to the ones kids might see on the Hunter test or Anderson test). The math questions include advanced question (including algebra and geometry), but the focus is on challenging children by giving problems that take thought to solve, not just testing to see which students know formulas the best.

In addition to scoring well on the exam, students will also have a group interview with five or six other candidates to test teamwork skills and general fit. The school used to offer a second admissions test for ninth grade placement, but due to high demand only offers an exam for seventh grade entry. For more information about the admissions process, check out the school’s website.

Selection Process

Sixth grade students will be selected based on their 5th grade report cards, attendance, and NY state exam scores. (Students are also asked to submit some in-class assignments (science, math, ELA), but as far as we understand the process, there does not seem to be points assigned for these elements).

Report Card Grades:

90-100 or 4/4 = 30 points

80-89 or 3/4 = 20 points

70-79 or 2/4 = 10 points

Attendance

0-5 = 10 points

6-10 = 8 points

11-15= 4 points

16-20 = 2 points

20+ = 0 points

State Test Scores: Students are sorted into 3 groups, and a certain percentage of each are invited to take the test (call BSGE for more details on this process):

Students who have a minimum combined score of 8 on ELA and State tests.

Students who have a minimum combined score of 7 on ELA and State tests.

Students who have a minimum combined score of 5.5 on ELA and State tests.

Students will be invited to take the BSGE exam/participate in the group interview based on these factors. For more specific information on admissions procedures and selection criteria, please be in touch with the BSGE school directly.

Baccalaureate School Admissions Test| How to Study for the Baccalaureate Admissions Test

While the school does not suggest particular ways to study for the exam, there are plenty of things that interested students can do in order to prepare. Building up a strong vocabulary is important for the English sections, as well as learning to read a text closely, answer questions about it, and compare two passages to see which conveys information in a better way.

Thinking critically is the most important skill that the exam tests, so there will be plenty of brainteaser-style problems or questions that require students to draw diagrams in order to reach the right answer. The exam is similar to the Hunter test in terms of content, particularly for math questions, and because there are few practice exams available, taking sample Hunter tests can be a good way to prepare.

Sample Hunter tests will be useful for getting practice with the tricky math problems that will show up on the exam, because these math questions aren’t as straightforward as what students might see on the ERBs or the ISEE.

Getting ahead or brushing up on basic principles of algebra can also benefit students, because some of the problems will require one-variable equations.

How and When do I Register for the Test? Where and When do I Take the Test? 

The invitation to take the test and interview at BSGE will take place in late January 2019 or early February 2019 at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education, at 34-12 36th Avenue, Astoria, NY, 11106.

Private Tutoring and Test Prep for the Baccalaureate School Admissions Test

Standardized tests are high-stakes in NYC, and you probably have questions about how to best help your child prepare for the NY State ELA and Math tests, as well as the BSGE admissions test. You may have asked yourself whether your child would benefit from a private test prep tutor.

Origins Tutoring, a NYC test prep and tutoring company specializing in customized, one-to-one test prep tutoring, can help address these concerns, and guide and support your family through the sometimes stressful standardized test preparation process. Our test prep tutoring approach is simple: each student will receive the undivided attention and the expertise of a dedicated, experienced tutor who places a premium on delivering the highest quality test preparation tutoring in the most effective and time-efficient manner possible.

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Additional resources

IB Middle School Sample test 

IB Practice questions.