The 10th Grade Advanced AET Application: How It Differs and How to Leverage Your Test Scores

Most families who research ACL admissions are focused on the standard 8th-grade pathway: the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment, the Writing Assessment, and the academic record evaluated through a blind admissions process. But there is another route into the Academies of Loudoun that most families never hear about — and it uses completely different criteria.

Advanced AET is a separate admissions pathway designed exclusively for current 10th graders. It does not use the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment. Instead, it evaluates applicants based on PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores, a writing prompt, an interest statement, and the student's choice of AET pathway. If your child is currently in 10th grade and interested in engineering or IT, this is the pathway you need to understand.

What Is Advanced AET?

Advanced AET is described by LCPS as "an abridged version of the Engineering or IT curriculum." It is a 2-year program that begins in a student's junior year, as opposed to the standard AET program which is a 4-year program beginning in 9th grade.

The program condenses the core AET curriculum into two years, allowing students who did not apply to — or were not admitted to — ACL in 8th grade to still access the Academy of Engineering and Technology experience. Students who are admitted to Advanced AET will attend classes at the Academies of Loudoun campus alongside students in the standard 4-year program.

This is an important distinction: Advanced AET is not a lesser version of AET. It is a compressed version. Students complete the same types of coursework and have access to the same facilities and instructors. The difference is the timeline and the entry point, not the quality of the program.

Who Is Eligible

Advanced AET has specific eligibility requirements that must be met before a student can apply. These are not recommendations — they are hard prerequisites:

The Math Analysis requirement is the one that catches most families off guard. Math Analysis is typically taken after Algebra II, which means a student on a standard math track may not reach it by the end of 10th grade. Students interested in Advanced AET need to plan their math sequence early — ideally by the start of 9th grade — to ensure they are on track to complete Math Analysis by the spring of sophomore year.

The grade requirement is straightforward but absolute: a final grade of C or above in every course, not just math and science courses. A single D in any class during 9th grade or the first semester of 10th grade disqualifies the student. This makes consistent academic performance across all subjects important for eligibility.

The Evaluation Factors

Once a student meets the eligibility requirements, their application is evaluated on four factors:

1. PSAT (NMSQT) Score

The PSAT score is a required component of the Advanced AET application. Most 10th graders take the PSAT/NMSQT in October of their sophomore year, so this score should already be available by the time the winter application cycle opens. If a student has taken the SAT or ACT, those scores may substitute for the PSAT.

Unlike the STEM Thinking Skills Assessment used for standard admissions, the PSAT is a well-known, widely administered test. Many students have already been preparing for it as part of their college readiness planning. If your child has been studying for the PSAT or SAT, that preparation does double duty — it serves both their college application timeline and their Advanced AET application.

2. Writing Prompt Score

Advanced AET includes a writing prompt as part of the evaluation. While the specific format may differ from the standard ACL Writing Assessment, the underlying skills being evaluated are similar: analytical thinking, reasoning, and the ability to engage thoughtfully with a scenario or question.

3. Interest Statement Score

The interest statement is a component unique to Advanced AET. It gives students the opportunity to articulate their interest in the AET program and explain why they want to pursue engineering or IT at the Academies of Loudoun. This is not a generic personal essay — it should be specific to the student's interest in the AET pathway they are choosing.

4. AET Pathway Choice

Students must indicate which AET pathway they are applying to. The pathway choice is part of the evaluation, which means students should research the available pathways and be able to articulate why a specific pathway aligns with their interests and goals.

The Key Difference: No STEM Thinking Skills Assessment

This is the most significant structural difference between Advanced AET and standard AOS/AET admissions. The STEM Thinking Skills Assessment — the 33-question, 50-minute, no-calculator test scored 260-300 — is not used for Advanced AET applicants.

Instead, the standardized test component is the PSAT (or SAT/ACT). This is a fundamentally different kind of test. The PSAT measures reading comprehension, writing and language skills, and math content knowledge. It does not measure the five STEM thinking domains (Out-of-the-Box Algebra, Spatial-Relational Thinking, Tech Logic, Scientific Thinking, and STEM Overall) that the STEM test evaluates.

For students who excel on standardized tests like the PSAT or SAT but might not have performed as strongly on the specialized STEM thinking assessment, Advanced AET offers an alternative path that plays to their strengths.

The Winter Admissions Cycle

Advanced AET does not follow the same timeline as standard ACL admissions. While the standard AOS and AET applications take place during the Fall Admissions Cycle, Advanced AET uses the Winter Admissions Cycle.

The specific dates vary from year to year, so families should check the LCPS Academies website for the current year's timeline. However, the general pattern is that the application window opens in the winter of the student's 10th-grade year, with decisions communicated in time for students to plan their junior-year schedule.

Because the timeline is different from the standard admissions process, it is possible for a student to have applied (and been rejected or waitlisted) for standard AET as an 8th grader, and then apply again for Advanced AET as a 10th grader. These are treated as separate application processes.

How to Prepare for Advanced AET

Preparation for Advanced AET looks different from standard ACL admissions prep. Here is what matters:

Maximize your PSAT/SAT score. Since this is the standardized test component, investing in PSAT or SAT preparation directly benefits your application. If your child has not yet taken the PSAT, plan for them to take it in October of 10th grade. If they have a strong SAT or ACT score, that can substitute.

Plan your math sequence early. The Math Analysis requirement means your child needs to be on an accelerated math track. If they are currently in 9th grade and planning to apply for Advanced AET as a 10th grader, map out the math course sequence now to confirm they will complete Math Analysis by the end of sophomore year.

Maintain consistent grades. A single grade below C in any course during 9th grade or the first semester of 10th grade will disqualify the application. This is not a "mostly good grades" requirement — it is an every-class requirement.

Research AET pathways. The interest statement and pathway choice are evaluation factors. Students who can articulate a genuine, specific interest in their chosen pathway will have a stronger application than those who write a generic statement about liking technology.

Practice scenario-based writing. While the writing prompt format may differ from the standard ACL writing assessment, strong analytical writing skills benefit any writing evaluation. Practice engaging deeply with prompts rather than writing surface-level responses.

Is Advanced AET Right for Your Student?

Advanced AET is worth considering if your child meets all of the following criteria:

• They are currently in 10th grade (or planning ahead from 9th grade)
• They have a genuine interest in engineering or IT
• They are on track to complete Math Analysis by the end of sophomore year
• They maintain consistent grades (C or above in every course)
• They have a strong PSAT, SAT, or ACT score — or are willing to prepare for one

Advanced AET is particularly relevant for students who did not apply to ACL in 8th grade — perhaps because the family moved to Loudoun County after the application deadline, because the student was not interested in STEM at the time, or because the family was not aware of the Academies. It is also relevant for students who applied in 8th grade but were not admitted, as it provides a second opportunity through a different evaluation process.

The program is not for every student. It is compressed into two years, which means a heavier course load during junior and senior year. Students who thrive in intensive, fast-paced academic environments will adapt well. Students who need more time to absorb material may find the pace challenging.

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