Welcome to the BEAM Blog!
AMC 8 Results
As you may recall, students took the AMC 8 contest back in November, and we wanted to report on how they did!
The AMC 8 is a 25 question contest, and it's quite challenging. This year, 108,295 students nationwide took the contest. The median (middle) student scored 9 -- just over a third of the questions answered correctly! To score in the top 25% percentile, students had to score at least 12. Only 90 students across the world got a perfect score.
Of the 11 BEAM students who took the contest, seven scored above 9 questions correct, putting them above the nationwide average. Good work, everyone! We are particularly impressed by Agata, whose score of 20 puts her the top 5% nationwide, and one question away from making the honor roll. BEAM is sure this a sign of future success yet to come.
Winter Party 2016
Each year, we invite all BEAM alumni and staff back together for a winter party of board games, pizza, music, and time together. It's so nice to have our BEAM family back in the same place, spending time together.
This year, as a fun extra treat, we also set up a photo booth for alumni and staff. Check out all the portraits we captured!
From all the BEAM staff, we wish you a happy holiday season and a happy new year!
Center for Talented Youth Admissions Results
On Saturday, December 3, 35 BEAM students took the admissions test for Center for Talented Youth (CTY). CTY offers students three-week summer programs in math, science, English, and humanities, provided they score well either the math or verbal section of an admissions exam (the SCAT).
This week, we found out that an unprecedented 29 students passed the test, qualifying to take either math or verbal courses, or both! Next summer, they could take courses ranging from Discrete Math to Astronomy to Philosophy. CTY's summer programs normally cost about $4000, but their exemplary financial aid means that the median BEAM students pays only $100 to attend.
Congratulations to Crystal, Xavier, Ari, Gustavo, Stephanie, Luis, Dakota, Leny, Grace and 20 other students who have opened a door to the next opportunity! We are so proud of you all.
Getting on track for 8th grade: High School Information Session
This Saturday, 45 8th graders and their families joined BEAM to hear about high schools, how to apply, and also to hear the perspectives of BEAM students now in high school. At the end of the event, students went home with personalized recommendations for which high schools to apply to as well as a calendar of next steps.
Missed the event? Here's some information and advice from our high school BEAM students.
“BEAM suggested that I apply to NEST+m because I was studying for the SHSAT and the exams are similar. I ended up not getting into any specialized schools, but I did get into NEST+m. I have just finished two weeks there and I like it. Everyone is friendly. You can go up to an 11th grader and ask a question and they will help you.”
“I first studied for the SHSAT during my summer at BEAM. I ended up being accepted into Bronx Science and Bard High School Early College and chose Bronx Science. There was some culture shock when I first arrived, but it’s absolutely the right school for me. ”
“BEAM exposed me to high schools I had never heard of. I went to visit Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) with BEAM. In the end, I got into both Brooklyn Tech and BHSEC. BEAM helped me make a decision and I went with BHSEC, which is the best choice I ever made.”
“I went to the Citywide High School Fair with BEAM. They taught me how to shake hands and introduce myself. While there, I talked with the Assistant Principal of the Academy for Software Engineering (AFSE). I really liked her and the school, so I went to an Open House to learn more. I ended up ranking it first and got in. I like the school because of its community environment.”
You can read more about each of their high schools on InsideSchools:
8th graders? Interested in attending one of these schools?
- Next step for Academy for Software Engineering: sign up for their mailing list; then, attend an Open House
- Next step for Bard High School Early College: come to the essay writing workshop on October 1; then, take the admissions assessment with us on October 25
- Next step for Bronx Science: keep studying for the SHSAT and ask BEAM for help with that
- Next step for NEST+m: sign up for the entrance exam; we recommend the October 29 date, as it's exactly one week after the SHSAT
BEAM is here to help with high school! Please reach out if you have any questions.
High School Placements, a first draft
This month, BEAM students found out where they will be attending high school. We are pleased to announce that, so far, 35% of our 8th graders will be attending highly selective high schools and 51% will be attending selective high schools. We say "so far" because a number of students, due to extenuating circumstances and the logistics of the process, are still awaiting a high school placement and we hope those numbers will go up as students are settled.
BEAM will have students attending:
Bard High School Early College (10)
Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics (6)
Brooklyn Technical High School (5)
The Beacon School (4)
NEST+m (3)
Academy for Software Engineering (3)
Bronx High School for Science (2)
University Heights High School (2)
High School of Math, Science, and Engineering at City College
LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies
Manhattan Village Academy
Pace High School
Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics
Hostos-Lincoln Academy of Science
Congratulations are also in order to three 9th graders who are transferring to even stronger high schools. In the fall, Amanda will be attending Brooklyn Tech, Eric will be attending Manhattan Center, and Mayra will be attending University Heights.
We are so proud of them all!
MATHCOUNTS 2016
February was MATHCOUNTS month all over the country. BEAM sponsored teams at interested partner schools, making sure that students could participate without worrying about the cost of sending a team. In all, we paid for teams to attend the competitions in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan.
We want to draw particular attention to 8th grader Kaya Moore who received an honorable mention at the Bronx MATHCOUNTS tournament. Last week, Kaya found out that he will be attending the Bronx High School of Science next year. Nice work, Kaya!
AMC 8 Results
As you may recall, students took the AMC 8 contest back in November, and we wanted to report on how they did!
The AMC 8 is a 25 question contest, and it's quite challenging. This year, 149,277 students nationwide took the contest. The median (middle) student scored 8 -- less than a third of the questions answered correctly! To score in the top 25% percentile, students had to score at least 11. Only 90 students across the world got a perfect score.
Of the 12 students who took the contest, 9 scored above 8 questions correct, putting them above the nationwide average. Good work, everyone! We are particularly impressed by Ahmed, whose score of 13 puts him the top quartile nationwide. BEAM is sure this a sign of future success yet to come.
Winter Party
With all of our important academic events, it's great to also make time for BEAM students to come together and just hang out! Every December and June, BEAM hosts a party for students in grades 8-12 to get together with their friends, eat, and play games.
It was wonderful to see old friends and new get together! Enjoy some photos of students and staff having a great time together:
Saturday Office Hours
Every Thursday and one weekend a month, BEAM hosts "Office Hours". Just as in college, students can bring anything they're working on and receive help or advice from staff and volunteers.
Here's a list of things we worked on this weekend at Office Hours:
- Ayinde helped students prepare to take the SCAT next weekend, the first step to attending summer programs at the Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
- Amy helped Jahleel with Algebra 1
- Lynn helped Veronica with 8th grade math homework
- Ryan helped DeVaune with Geometry
- Dan led the monthly Math Team meeting, with the 8th graders preparing for MATHCOUNTS
Students also had time to take a break and eat a snack with friends.
By the time BEAM students get to college, they will be in the habit of seeking out help as needed!
BEAM Students Participate in the AMC 8
BEAM students take the AMC 8 and Ezelle uses her summer knowledge to solve her favorite problem.
On Tuesday, November 18, BEAM students (and thousands of 8th graders across the country) participated in the AMC 8. Taken by the strongest 8th grade mathematicians nationwide, the AMC 8 is both challenging and fun.
The AMC 8 is 25 multiple-choice questions, administered over 40 minutes. When the contest ended, students got to request solutions to the problems they didn't understand, making sure that the day was a learning opportunity as well! Most of the solutions were presented by Lynn, our Director of Programs, but Ezelle (an 8th grader) practically jumped out of her seat when it was time to discuss problem #18. Here's the problem she was so excited to solve:
Here's how Ezelle solved it:
- You know the top row has to grow 24 over 4 terms, so each number must be 6 more than the prior number. That gives you 1, 7, 13, 19, 25.
- You know the bottom row has to grow by 64 over 4 terms, so each number must be 16 more than the prior number. That gives you 17, 33, 49, 65, 81.
- Now, to get to X, you only have solve the middle column.
- You know the middle column has to grow from 13 to 49, which is 36 over 4 terms, so each number must be 9 more than the number above. That gives you 13, 22, 31, 40, 49.
- X is in the middle square of the middle column, so X must be 31.
When asked how she figured it out, Ezelle credited a favorite class from last summer, Cory's class titled "Integer Sequences", for teaching her how to think about sequences and series. Nice work, Ezelle! (And a hat tip to Cory, as well!)
Ezelle with her finished work.
You can find the full list of 2015 questions and solutions here. We promise more updates when we get students results back!
