Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment SCAT questions

Well...since we're on the topic of SCAT I thought I'd throw out a question I have. I paid the fee to JHU for the talent search. I then received the paperwork to register for the test. I realized then that she would test based on her grade level and NOT her age. Here's the problem, she turned 6 in May and should be a first grader, but she was double grade accelerated to third. If she was a first grader she would qualify on her WPPSI score,but because she is a third grader she must take the test to qualify (I called JHU to confirm this). So now she must take the test for 2/3 grade which I understand is really a test for 5/6 graders! Yikes, she's good at math, but I don't know if she's THAT good! She took the practice tests and got 100% on the math and not so good on the verbal.
Is it worth paying the $50 for her to take the 2/3 grade test? Is it really similar to the practice test?

Thanks for your help,

L

Thanks Dottie for your advice. I guess we will let her take it and see what happens. She should do ok on the math if the practice test is accurate, so that would be good.
I agree that the grade skips, although great for her academically and socially, do have their drawbacks when it comes to stuff like this.

Thanks again, L

SCAT Results are in!! I'm happy but also feeling a bit guilt. My DD7 took the test and I did not prep her at all...meaning I didn't say guess on hard questions and move on so she got stock and didn't finish the math section. Um..head hung low here. I also let her stay up a bit late the night before and then had to drag her out bed to make the 7:45am appt. She was not happy. However she did get some pretty rockin' scores.

Verbal 438
Quant 433

Aack!! So close on the math but oh well. Anyone have any insight? Should I retest under better conditions and see what she can really do? Should I send these in as part of gifted evaluation process going on at her public school right now. Her verbal says 87% for 4th grade which sound pretty darn impressive to me but I don't have much perspective. Anyway thanks as always!

Hi Zia,

My DD7 qualified for Verbal with a 438 which translates into 38/50. She just missed the Math with a 433 which translates into 28/50. FYI my DD took the test on January 10th and we got scores back today. How's that for speedy! Expect yours very soon and good luck!!! One additional thought. I didn't expect my DD to do well on the Math as it is not her strong area but she only answered 40 of the 50 questions and still got pretty darn close so chances are good.

best

Thanks Ianfan,
Congrats to your daughter, those are great scores. I made the same mistake of not reviewing with my son that the test was timed and he should move on if he is stuck so as to get the chance to complete more. Please let us know if you decide to retest. I'll be watching for our results. Do they give you percentiles as comparisons for 4th, 5th and 6th grade?

One note regarding the jhu cty summer programs. There ARE programs for grades 2-12. I believe the 2-4 are day programs and starting in 5th, they can do either day camp or residential.

Are the percentiles for gifted 5th graders if you test in 3rd or for ND 5th graders?

On the percentiles I can tell you my dd's verbal of 438 was in the 87% for 4th graders apparently high enough to get an invitation to the awards ceremony...yeah! Her math score at 433 was 57% for 4th grade, not fabulous by JHU standards but I was pretty pleased.

How does one get notified of an invitation to an awards ceremony? Did you get that with the info packet? Or did it come separately?

thanks! and congrats to your dd!

DS8.25 (3rd Grd) took the SCAT (2nd-3rd) on 12/20 and just got the score today. Both are 41/50, with verbal of 443 (80percentile) and math of 454 (87percentile). He got out the testing room 10min after the verbal part; and finally 15min after the math after I told him that he should at least have reviewed the answers; but maybe he just knows only that much.

Because we are in MN, which is covered by NUMAT, the elementary school even has a contact assigned for NUMAT. But now all the local NUMAT registration for EXPLORE is full and the closet one open is at least an hour away. I don't plan on dragging him up at 6am then for him to take a three-hour test.

Given the GT program is mostly to keep their creativity up and the PTC is coming up in a week, will it be appropriate for me to share this SCAT results with the teacher at PTC? Pardon my lack of knowledge in GT area, I don't know if the thoughts of grade skipping should even come into mind. Even that, I think the social skills will be the first concerned feedback from the teacher. I know in the reading area at school, they have more freedom and he is encouraged to read harder ones; but the math contents and progress at school is really getting me inpatient. But of course I don't want to rub teacher the wrong way. Or am I getting ahead of myself?