We've done the talent search testing mostly with the idea of JHU-CTY being a large sample of talented students (they have to score above 95% on acceptable standard tests), then they take the SCAT or SAT/ACT and the report compares how they did to 30,000 students and whether they qualify for distance education or summer programs. The SCAT was a great test to start with for young students because it's short (DS6 took about 35 minutes including a mandatory break) and gets them in the mode for above-level testing. DS9 took EXPLORE this year, which is a step up (about 2 hrs), and then they get into the lengthy SAT/ACT (4 hrs/3 hrs, respectively). Nice progression.
An aside: both my older boys seem to be enjoying jhu cty summer institutes, maybe not as much as Duke but still positive experiences.
