Appendix

Sample Timelines

Reference
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Appendix C: Sample Timelines

How to Use These Timelines

These timelines provide month-by-month action steps for ACL admissions preparation. Choose the one that matches where your student is right now. The earlier you start, the more gradually you can build skills --- but students who start later can absolutely still succeed with focused effort.

All timelines assume the standard Fall Track admissions cycle, where the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment and Writing Assessment are administered in October or November of 8th grade, with admissions decisions in early spring.

18-Month Timeline: Starting Late 6th Grade or Early 7th Grade

This is the most relaxed, sustainable approach. It gives your student time to build deep skills rather than cramming for a test.

Late 6th Grade / Summer Before 7th Grade (Months 1-3)

  • Confirm your student is on track for Algebra I by 8th grade. If not, talk to the math teacher and school counselor about acceleration options now --- this is a firm prerequisite for AOS and AET.

  • Begin a regular reading habit that includes science writing, nonfiction, and analytically demanding material. This builds the critical reasoning and scientific thinking skills the assessment measures.

  • Introduce logic puzzles and brain teasers casually --- not as "test prep" but as fun challenges. Apps like Brilliant.org, puzzle books, or family game nights with strategy games all work.

  • Start a low-key spatial reasoning practice: tangrams, origami, Rubik's cubes, building with LEGOs by design (following complex instructions), or playing spatial reasoning games.

7th Grade Fall Semester (Months 4-7)

  • Focus on excelling in 7th-grade math. The ACL admissions process considers math grades and enrollment, and strong 7th-grade performance sets the stage for Algebra I.

  • Begin working through Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) materials or similar problem-solving resources at an appropriate level. Even 15-20 minutes a few times a week builds mathematical reasoning.

  • Read one science or technology book per month. See Appendix A for recommendations.

  • Practice writing regularly. The Writing Assessment rewards clear, well-organized, evidence-based writing. Journal entries, opinion essays, short analytical pieces --- the format matters less than the habit.

  • If your student hasn't been exposed to basic coding or computational thinking, explore Scratch, Code.org, or similar platforms. This builds the Tech Logic domain.

7th Grade Spring Semester (Months 8-11)

  • Increase math practice intensity slightly. Work on problems that require multi-step reasoning, not just procedural computation.

  • Practice mental math deliberately. Set aside calculator use for routine arithmetic. The STEM test does not allow calculators.

  • Start exploring what AOS, AET, and MATA actually offer. Attend any LCPS information sessions or open houses for the Academies. Help your student understand which program fits their interests.

  • Practice timed problem-solving. Set a timer for 30 minutes and work through a set of challenging problems. This builds the pacing skill needed for the actual test.

Summer Before 8th Grade (Months 12-14)

  • If Algebra I is a summer course, prioritize it completely. Master the material --- don't just pass.

  • Dedicate focused time to spatial reasoning practice. This is the domain where students see the most improvement with deliberate practice, and summer is ideal for concentrated work.

  • Practice writing under timed conditions. Give your student a prompt, set a strict 45-minute timer (matching the actual Writing Assessment window), and have them produce a complete, well-organized response. The actual assessment uses a Multi-Part Scenario format (Parts A, B, C) typed on LCPS laptops, so practice typing rather than handwriting.

  • Review the five metrics of the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment (Overall critical reasoning, Out-of-the-Box Algebra, Spatial-Relational Thinking, Tech Logic, Scientific Thinking) and do targeted practice in any weak areas.

  • Attend any ACL admissions information sessions offered over the summer.

8th Grade Fall --- Before the Test (Months 15-18)

  • Intensify practice in all five STEM test domains. Focus on your weakest areas while maintaining strength in your strongest.

  • Do full-length timed practice sessions that simulate test conditions: no calculator, multiple choice, time pressure.

  • Practice the Writing Assessment format specifically. The assessment is a strict 45-minute window using Multi-Part Scenarios (Parts A, B, C), typed on LCPS laptops. Write responses to sample prompts under timed conditions and get feedback from a teacher, tutor, or strong writer. Remember: grammar, spelling, and syntax do not count --- focus on thinking quality across the five scoring dimensions (Questioning/Processing, Information Gathering/Analysis, Fluency/Originality, Presentation/Reasoning, Point of View/Perspective).

  • Ensure Algebra I enrollment is confirmed and your student is performing well.

  • Complete the LCPS GO application during the admissions window.

  • Stay healthy, sleep well, and manage stress. Test performance suffers when students are exhausted or anxious.

9-Month Timeline: Starting Summer Before 8th Grade

This is the most common starting point. You have less runway, but plenty of time to prepare well.

Summer Before 8th Grade (Months 1-3)

  • Month 1: Assess your student's current skill level across all five STEM test domains. Identify strengths and weaknesses. Confirm Algebra I enrollment for the fall.

  • Month 2: Begin daily practice. Rotate through the domains on a schedule: spatial reasoning on Monday, algebraic reasoning on Tuesday, tech logic on Wednesday, scientific thinking on Thursday, critical reasoning on Friday. Even 20-30 minutes per day adds up.

  • Month 3: Increase intensity. Work through challenging math problems (AoPS, AMC 8 past exams). Practice spatial reasoning with dedicated exercises (mental rotation, paper folding, 3D visualization). Write at least one timed essay per week.

8th Grade September (Month 4)

  • Practice under test-like conditions at least once per week: timed, no calculator, multiple choice.

  • Focus heavily on any domains that are still weak. Spatial reasoning and tech logic are the two domains where targeted practice yields the fastest improvement.

  • Review mental math skills: fractions, percentages, estimation, basic operations. If your student reaches for a calculator out of habit, break that habit now.

  • Begin working on writing skills specifically for the assessment. Practice organizing thoughts quickly, writing clear thesis statements, and supporting arguments with evidence.

8th Grade October (Month 5)

  • The STEM Thinking Skills Assessment is typically administered this month or next. Continue daily practice but begin tapering intensity in the final week to avoid burnout.

  • Do one or two final full-length timed practice sessions early in the month.

  • Review test-taking strategies: process of elimination, time management, when to skip and come back, how to handle unfamiliar question types.

  • Complete the LCPS GO application if you haven't already.

  • The night before the test: review briefly if it helps, but prioritize sleep and a good breakfast.

8th Grade November (Month 6)

  • If the Writing Assessment hasn't happened yet, continue writing practice.

  • After both assessments are complete, take a well-deserved break from test prep.

  • Focus on maintaining strong grades in 8th-grade courses, particularly math and science. These grades are part of the admissions evaluation.

8th Grade December through February (Months 7-9)

  • Grades continue to matter. Keep performing well in school.

  • Research which ACL program and track is the best fit if you haven't already decided.

  • If interested in Advanced AET as a backup option, note the timeline for that application (winter of 10th grade).

  • Wait for admissions decisions, which typically arrive in early spring.

3-Month Intensive Timeline: Starting Late Summer of 8th Grade

This timeline is tight but workable. Your student will need to be disciplined and focused.

Late August (Month 1)

  • Week 1: Take a diagnostic assessment. Work through sample problems in all five STEM domains and honestly evaluate where your student stands. Identify the two weakest domains --- those get the most attention.

  • Week 2: Establish a daily practice schedule of 45-60 minutes. Split time between weak domains (60% of practice time) and strong domains (40%).

  • Week 3: Begin mental math drills if your student is calculator-dependent. Practice fractions, percentages, and multi-step arithmetic without a calculator every day.

  • Week 4: Start timed practice. Work through problem sets with a timer to build pacing awareness. Begin writing practice --- one timed essay per week minimum.

September (Month 2)

  • Week 1: Focused spatial reasoning practice --- mental rotation, paper folding, 3D block counting, symmetry and transformation problems. This domain responds quickly to targeted practice.

  • Week 2: Tech logic and scientific thinking practice --- flowcharts, algorithm tracing, experimental design, variable identification, data interpretation.

  • Week 3: Full timed practice test simulation. Identify remaining weak spots and adjust focus.

  • Week 4: Critical reasoning and algebraic reasoning practice --- argument analysis, pattern recognition, multi-step problem solving. Continue writing practice.

  • Complete the LCPS GO application this month.

October (Month 3)

  • Week 1: Final full timed practice session. Review test-taking strategies: process of elimination, time management, handling difficult questions.

  • Week 2: Light review only. Focus on rest, nutrition, and managing test anxiety. Cramming at this point is counterproductive.

  • Test day: Arrive rested, fed, and calm. Trust the preparation.

  • After the test: Shift focus to the Writing Assessment if it hasn't been administered yet. Practice clear, organized, evidence-based writing under timed conditions.

High School Applicant Timeline: Advanced AET and MATA Winter Cycle

For students applying to Advanced AET (current 10th graders) or MATA, the timeline follows the winter admissions cycle.

September of Application Year

  • Confirm eligibility and review admissions requirements on the LCPS website.

  • For Advanced AET: register for the PSAT/NMSQT if you haven't already (typically administered in October). If you've already taken the PSAT, SAT, or ACT, confirm that your scores are on file or know how to submit them.

  • For MATA: identify which CTE pathway(s) you're interested in. Research what each pathway involves and what career certifications it can lead to.

October

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT (for Advanced AET applicants).

  • Begin preparing for the writing component of the application. Practice writing clear, organized responses under timed conditions.

  • Attend any LCPS information sessions or open houses for the Academies.

November

  • Review your academic transcript. Ensure your grades reflect your best work --- the admissions process considers your academic record.

  • Continue writing practice.

  • Talk to your guidance counselor about how ACL courses would fit into your remaining high school schedule.

December

  • The winter admissions window typically opens this month. Watch for announcements on the LCPS website and from your school counselor.

  • Complete and submit your application through LCPS GO as soon as the window opens. Don't wait until the last day.

January

  • Continue refining your application and preparing for any writing assessment.

  • If a writing assessment is scheduled (typically late February for Advanced AET), prepare accordingly.

  • Continue maintaining strong grades.

Early to Mid-February

  • Application deadline is typically early to mid-February (in a recent cycle, the deadline was February 10 at noon). Confirm your application is complete and submitted before the deadline.

Late February through March

  • Advanced AET Writing Assessment is typically administered in late February.

  • Wait for admissions decisions, which typically arrive in March.

  • Plan for both outcomes: what your schedule looks like if admitted, and what it looks like if not.

March through April

  • If offered a spot, accept within the deadline.

  • If admitted, begin coordinating with your home school counselor to adjust your course schedule for the following year.

  • If waitlisted or not admitted, review Module 8.2 or 8.3 for next steps.