A few people have commented that the "Developing Math Talent" (DMT) recommendations seem aggressive to them, causing me to reread this section of the book.
The link I posted was to the 2005 edition of DMT, with score ranges for grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 of
A: 1-8, 1-9, 1-11, 1-14
B: 8-11, 9-12, 11-15, 12-19
C: 11-25, 12-25, 15-25, 19-25
The 2011 2nd edition of the book (no link, I'm referring to my copy) has slightly stricter criteria:
A: 1-9, 1-12, 1-14, 1-16
B: 9-12, 12-15, 14-17, 16-19
C: 12-25, 15-25, 17-25, 19-25
The median math scores for grades 3 to 6 were 11.6, 13.9, 16.2, 17.3 . The qualifying math scores for Davidson Young Scholars (DYS) are slightly higher: 14, 16, 18, and 21 (the actual criterion is that the composite score plus two subject test scores must meet the minimum score criteria).
These numbers refer to the math scores, but all the scores must matter. Certainly colleges look at all the scores on the ACT, even for prospective math/science/engineering students.
The authors do not cite a formal study to justify their recommendations of educational options, writing that "The program options we considered were based on 20 years of experience in creating programs for the range of talents demonstrated by the gifted students who take EXPLORE". I think DMT is a great book and respect the authors' judgement, but these are judgement calls.
Some of the recommendations pertain to middle school and high school. Students who score in the C range of EXPLORE should take the ACT and/or SAT in 7th (or even 6th grade). I wonder what the A, B, and C score ranges should be for 7th graders taking the ACT or SAT. The DMT thresholds for the C range on the EXPLORE are above the medians of talent search participants in each grade. It is plausible to identify students scoring well above the median of talent search 7th graders on the ACT or SAT as being in the C group. The ACT and SAT scores needed to qualify for Johns Hopkins summer courses are at
http://cty.jhu.edu/summer/iselig.html , and according to
http://cty.jhu.edu/ts/faq.html#Courses_1 about 30% of 7th and 8th graders get these scores.
The DYS thresholds for EXPLORE scores are slightly higher than the DMT book's thresholds for the C group, as described above, and DYS thresholds for the ACT and SAT for kids in higher grades are at
http://www.davidsongifted.org/young...holars___Qualification_Criteria_384.aspx . For the sum of SAT math and verbal in grades 7 to 10 they use 1220, 1310, 1350, and 1420 . Parents who think the DMT recommendations are too aggressive could consider these thresholds as guidelines.
