What exactly is a Proctored Writing Sample and why do Luxembourg students need it for US private school admissions?

Think of a Proctored Writing Sample as a “live performance” for your child’s writing skills. It’s a 30-minute writing test that happens online (usually through Zoom) where a proctor watches your child write an essay in real-time with no help from parents, no spell-check, no do-overs. It’s become the new normal at many top American private schools, especially those competitive Peninsula schools in California that Luxembourg families often target.

Here’s why it matters so much: while your child’s application essays can be polished and perfected over weeks, this test shows admissions officers how they actually think and write when put on the spot. For Luxembourg kids, this can actually work in their favor! Growing up switching between French, German, and English has already trained their brains to be flexible communicators. But here’s the catch—American academic writing has its own rhythm and style, and doing it under time pressure is a completely different beast than the thoughtful, research-heavy writing they’re used to in Luxembourg schools. That’s why getting familiar with the format ahead of time isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for showing these schools what your child is really capable of.