Thinking and Engagement Assessment (T&E Test)

What is the Thinking and Engagement Assessment (T&E Test)?

The Thinking and Engagement Assessment is an admissions test given by a group of NYC private schools to kindergarten applicants. Children ages 4 – 5 will take this virtual test during the 2020-2021 academic year.

The current need for virtual testing led to this test’s creation. Two early childhood experts were responsible for the test content.

What is the format of the Thinking and Engagement Assessment?

Applicants will take this assessment via Zoom due to COVID-19. It takes up to 45-minutes to administer.

What skills will the T&E Test assess?

Skills tested by the Thinking and Engagement assessment include:

• Expressive and receptive language
• Verbal and nonverbal reasoning
• Traceability
• Problem-solving
• Developmental areas (Likely skills in math, early reading, and literacy)

What Types of Questions are on the Thinking & Engagement Test?

Click here for T&E sample questions.

How is the T&E Test administered?

Applicants will need a computer or tablet that can use the Zoom application. The assessor will be an early childhood professional trained to administer this test.

Your child should be sitting at a table, wearing headphones, to help them focus on the screen. Their hands should be free. The assessor will guide your child through a variety of questions and activities. All test items aim to be age-appropriate and child friendly.

An adult must be present during the assessment. The adult is there to provide technological support as needed. They should not be writing or using an electronic device during the test. They must sit behind and to the side of the child so that the assessor can see them throughout the test. Any adult present must refrain from recording or helping answer questions. Sharing content after the test is also prohibited. A parent or guardian must sign consent for following these rules.

Why is Thinking & Engagement Assessment given online instead of in-person?

A group of private school directors decided that the 2020-2021 admissions season needed a stop-gap solution . This process offers several benefits for the current situation.

It allows the student and family to forgo having to take many different assessments. This avoids the obvious health risk with having to visit several schools.

Admissions Committees can also review many applicants when in-person observation is unavailable.

Does this mean that schools will not invite children for in-person visits? Will Admissions Directors not observe students in pre-schools as they have before?

The T&E will likely take the place of both group visits and school observations of students. Schools have not announced this yet. We suggest that you contact each school to learn their specific requirements.

How can I prepare my child for the Thinking and Engagement Assessment?

TestingMom.com covers all types of questions given on the T&E assessment. We have over 1,500 practice questions to build skills in language, nonverbal reasoning, problem-solving, and more. Having your child build familiarity and confidence with questions is vital for success.

We also offer over 30+ learning programs from renowned educational publishers. Your child can use these programs to learn to read, do math, practice early literacy skills, and more. The developmental area of the T&E assessment will likely cover these subjects.

Which Schools are participating in the Thinking & Engagement Assessment?

Schools using the T&E Test include:

• The Allen-Stevenson School
• The Berkeley Carroll School
• The Birch Wathen Lenox School
• The Brearley School
• The Browning School
• The Buckley School
• The Calhoun School
• The Cathedral School of St. John the Divine
• The Chapin School
• Collegiate School
• Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School
• Convent of the Sacred Heart
• The Dalton School
• The IDEAL School of Manhattan
• Little Red (Elisabeth Morrow)
• Marymount School of New York
• The Nightingale-Bamford School
• The Packer Collegiate Institute
• Rodeph Sholom School
• Saint Ann’s School
• The Spence School
• Speyer School
• St. Luke’s School
• St. Bernard’s School
• St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s School
• Trevor Day School
• Trinity School

Will I receive a copy of my child’s Thinking & Engagement Assessment results?

No. You will select participating schools and other organizations to receive your child’s results.

How do I sign up for the Thinking & Engagement Assessment?

You will receive scheduling instructions for the test after submitting a school application. You will only register your child to take the test once even if you apply to more than one school. If you have any questions, there is a Project Coordinator you will be able to talk with. You should also discuss any potential issues with the Project Coordinator.

Is there a fee to take the Thinking & Engagement Assessment?

Yes. The fee is $250. Applying for financial aid and having a total household income of less than $150,000 may waive the fee.

When will students take the T&E Test?

Appointments are available 7 days a week between September 8 – December 18.

Tell us about your experiences

3 Responses

mhimmelsbach@lions.molloy.edu

I can’t access the practice free questions anymore

TestingMom.com

Our 100 Free Questions are a great sampling from many of the tests we support. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to access the 100 Free Practice Questions (No purchase necessary):

Go to https://www.testingmom.com and log in using your email address and password.
Once you are logged in, click the “100 FREE QUESTIONS” button on the left-hand side of the page
Once redirected, you will see a large, blue box that reads “FREE QUESTIONS.” Click the orange button that reads “UNLOCK NOW.”

We look forward to having you onboard with us!

Best regards,

Marcus

jrp1766@gmail.com

Hi, I’m using testingmom.com and like it so much. My little niece loves this site, too.
I heard that this year TNE test is a little different from last year. could you tell me what is the difference? It will be really helpful. Thank you.

See if TestingMom.com supports your child’s test by your school district. If you don't see your child's school district listed, check with us! We have practice for other tests as well.