One of the joys of homeschooling is the absence of tests. Yet, today I registered both of my kids in Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY) Talent Search. As part of this program, they can both look forward to taking the SCAT test which compares their verbal and math reasoning skills to that of students two grades above.
Why did I sign them up for the Talent Search? CTY provides an excellent list of benefits:
- Reveal or reaffirm academic abilities
- Provide statistical data about Talent Search participants’ test scores by grade
- Recognize your child for academic talent
- Provide access to CTY’s rewarding Family Academic Programs
- Give your child a chance to qualify for CTY’s Summer and Distance Education Programs
These are all good reasons to have your child participate in the Talent Search; but I would add two more: academic check up and ammunition.
First, the Talent Search test is a kind of academic check up. I already know or suspect that both of my kids are gifted learners. This has been confirmed through tests and experience with my older child, while my younger child appears to have similar abilities. What I don’t know is what impact our school choices (project based private school for one, homeschool for the other) will have on their ability to perform well on the standardized tests that determine academic opportunities. Testing this year, and in future years when required for the homeschooled child, will give us some insight about the efficacy of our schooling while giving them a chance to practice their test-taking skills.
Second, the Talent Search results provide a kind of ammunition when advocating for your child. School administrators and teachers are more likely to believe that a student is a gifted learner when there are test results backing up that assertion. Even with this kind of empirical evidence, there may be very little that a school district can do for your child. For now, we chose to remove our children from the public school because there wasn’t adequate programming for them at their grade levels. In the future, if things change, we may want to let them return to public school, and then these test results may help them get into desired programs.
If I thought that these tests would be stressful to these kids, none of these reasons would be worth any amount of emotional hardship. So far, neither kid has ever worried about a test. So, why not test for talent?
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i am taking the SCAT test in a couple of weeks and i have no clue on what to study. i do not live in the united states so i do not know exactly if my schools ciriculum is behind……
Well, you’re not supposed to study for the SCAT. It’s a test of your reasoning ability and it will cover material that is usually covered two grades ahead. Also, if you aren’t familiar with computerized standarized tests, there is the option to retake the test at another time.
Good luck!
im taking the scat in a month and looking for practice questions so i wont be stuck when i take the test
I am also taking SCAT in a few weeks. The John Hopkins CTY provided me with about 5 sample questions for each test. However, I’m wondering if those sample questions are pretty much the same or at least similar to what will be given on the real test. Also, do you have to score a perfect 100% to get into the CTY for JHU? Thanks!
The sample questions should give you a good idea of what to expect. And no, you only need to score above the level that the CTY program sets for each grade level.
I’m taking the scat in a few days and looking for practice questions, how….
THX,
I am taking the scat test in a few weeks and I want to learn a way that I can study the questions that will be asked in the scat test. It is very hard for me to find any websites where i can have free sample questions so could anyone help me out here!!!
well i was just looking at the comment livingbylearning 01.29.08 at 12:31 am
Well, you’re not supposed to study for the SCAT. It’s a test of your reasoning ability and it will cover material that is usually covered two grades ahead. Also, if you aren’t familiar with computerized standarized tests, there is the option to retake the test at another time. and now i am asking myself a question! Are you sure we are not supposed to study. I mean i have no idea what you do in 6th grade because i am only in 4th grade. but if u r saying so i guess i dunno
is anyone in 6th grade and cud u tell me what u usually learn? algebra?
cumon give me sum advice! i need it . any advice like the living like learning progeram itself. well since i am really bored my name is Anushka and i am in 4th grade. >>3 I love dancing on the dance floor and i completely love goin shopping. i like doin challengin math things like this some times.so how about u guys
I hav been coming here really often and u r prob really bored of my commentsa but i need a lot of websites
The best way to prepare for the SCAT is to read a lot and enjoy learning.
However, to get a sense of what 6th Grade Math looks like, you can look at New York State Math Assessment Tests (Grades 3-8):
http://spedr.com/7r6f
Also, here is a site where you can practice analogies:
http://spedr.com/htx0
THANX SO MUCH FOR THE WEBSITES!!!!! They are really helpful and i can reallly study now and have fun!!!!!!
well well so Sandra Foyt whateva ur name is how can i eva thank u!!! so um i think ur name is Kevin, now ur question is totally solved cause u can use the website4s she wrote. >>3
so i already took the SAT and i did CTY and i did somethin related to my sis Anushka. and so basically what u have 2 do is calm down but u have to do a little from each grade. so lets say u r a 4 grade then do some 4 grade math, 5th grade math, and 6th grade math. and just do a little but every day only Fri, Sat, and Sun. So that can be sum advice not any websites though. just use some sample books on the comp.
Hope that helps for the people wo need advice more than questions themselves.
I am planning to have both my daughters take the SCAT, as they have taken several other assessment tests similar to this.
I am look for some additional prep work for this.
Any ideas??
I’m taking the SCAT test in about an hour and a half. I studied a lot of PSAT questions, and I’m confident about my math skills, but I’m not sure if I will do good in the verbal section. I looked in the small packet that has a few of each question in each grade level, but it seems much easier than what my mom said it would be like. Please reply quickly, I need to know if I’m prepared for the right level, or much higher.
At the highest level, SCAT questions will test 5th grade students on 7th Grade material. PSAT tests are geared for high school students. You are probably over prepared.
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