Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment CTY? NuMATS? How to choose?

Hi
We have done both CTY and Numats over the years. My ds13 has taken both Explore and Scat testing. I personally liked Explore better. Our schools familiarity with ACT and PLAN testing made it much easier to explain to those staff unfamiliar with Explore. I could find data and benchmarks for them to see. The SCAT testing is was interesting to my ds. We really only had him take it for the eligibility of CTY programs. The follow up information was basically nothing. He got awards but we didn't travel to the Ceremony. Others may feel differently about it. I also liked the continuity between Explore and ACT.

My ds has done online class at both. I think the class strength varies a lot. The Northwestern class had video conferences with peers that made it fun for him. It depends on if they are a scheduled class or more independent study. He had good experience with both programs. Some of the CTY classes are 3rd party classes. I think that can impact the quality of the class.

For summer programs, we have not done a CTY summer program. I have heard very mix reviews about them. It's seems love it or hate it is the experience. We have done Northwestern summer class. I can't speak for the younger classes. My ds did Honors Physics last summer and is going again this summer. He absolutely loved it and was glowing when we picked him up! He can't wait to get back there this summer. It has been a motivating and uplifting experience for my ds. He does not really have true peers at home and he did there. He has stayed in touch with friends from all over the world that he met at NW. It has been a very positive experience for us.


There are test locations in TX for Numats. You can look them up and see if one works for you.