2025-26 TJHSST Admission Prep:
SPS & PSE Focus

Train with Purpose. Apply with Confidence.

Admission to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) is a high-stakes, high-reward challenge that requires more than academic excellence—it demands introspective clarity, creative reasoning, and structured expression. At CAAP Academy, we specialize in preparing students for the Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) and the Problem-Solving Essay (PSE)—the two core writing components of the TJHSST admission process.

Our targeted two-term prep sequence helps students uncover their personal stories and sharpen their problem-solving minds so they can articulate their potential with purpose, confidence, and authenticity.

Course Terms

View 2025-26 Full Year Calendar

Term 1: Aug 18 – Nov 13 (10 Sessions)
Term 2: Nov 14 – Feb 6 (10 Sessions)
Term 3: Feb 7 – Apr 13 (8 Sessions)
Term 4: Apr 14 – Jun 15 (8 Sessions)

*Session Duration - 2 hours

TJ Prep Term 1 or 2 - $995/term

*Each TJ Prep course includes two simulation tests, along with one-on-one evaluations and strategic coaching sessions, in addition to the course sessions.

TJ Prep 1:
Discovery of Self (SPS) and
Problem Comprehension (PSE)

Laying the Foundation: From Reflection to Understanding

In this course, students begin by exploring the core purpose of the SPS—a personal narrative designed to reveal values, growth, and character. We help students reflect on past experiences and visualize meaningful events from school, community, and family life that demonstrate resilience, curiosity, and collaboration.

For the PSE, students build the mindset needed to approach math and science-based scenarios. They learn how to dissect complex word problems, identify hidden variables, and extract relevant knowledge to guide their reasoning.

Key Objectives:

Understand the SPS rubric and structure
Practice memory mapping and life-event recollection
Begin drafting short responses from real SPS prompts
Analyze sample PSE problems across STEM themes
Practice scientific reasoning and multi-step problem comprehension

Term 1

TJ Prep 1: Discovery of Self (SPS) and Problem Comprehension (PSE)

Aug 18 – Nov 13

TJ Prep 2:
Expression of Self (SPS) and
Creative Approach (PSE)

Polishing the Story. Advancing the Mind.

This second course moves from discovery to expression. Students learn how to shape their past experiences into compelling responses that show how they think, feel, and grow. They’re coached to write with personal voice, intentional structure, and emotional clarity.

Meanwhile, the PSE curriculum emphasizes multiple approaches to a problem. Students explore alternative perspectives, justify solutions with logic and data, and communicate their reasoning through well-structured writing—often the hardest part of the PSE.