Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Numats Award Criteria

From what I remembered about 2012 & 2013 statistic data, there are much less kids participating 2013 NUMATS than 2012. Could it be the reason why they add more kids to the award pool?

The following is the cutoff and the number of students got invited from 2009-2011. I cannot find the number of students got invited for 2012:

2009
4th graders >= 81 38
5th graders >= 89 53
6th graders >= 93 41
Total EXPLORE Winners 132

2010
Grade 4 >= 80 34
Grade 5 >= 91 41
Grade 6 >= 94 31
Total EXPLORE Awards 106

2011
4th Graders >= 83 29
5th Graders >= 92 43
6th Graders >= 95 38
Total EXPLORE Winners = 110

2012
3rd Graders >= 76 6
4th Graders >= 85 20
5th Graders >= 90 37
6th Graders >= 95 23
Total EXPLORE Winners = 86
(the number of students attending the ceremony)

What's the point of repeating the talent search test?

The cutoff is 99 percentile of the grade participants.

For me, it is just a monitor for the academic improvement of my kids. The standard tests (such as WKCE or MAP) cannot tell us anything, because the scores touch the celling (such as 99%).

We do not need the scores to do anything. But from Explore or ACT exam scores, it can tell that my kids can improve in some areas.

The award ceremony is just a bonus, also it is an effective way to encourage kids to study and take the test.

It is my personal opinion.

Do you agree?

I totally agree with MidwestDad. I plan to have DS10 and DD7 take EXPLORE next year. DS's reading scores have been the same for two years. I am not sure if it is just bad luck or it should be a concern.

@MidwestDad I am fine with kid taking talent search test once a year to monitor the progress. But taking multiple tests within the same school year (just to get awarded) is kind of pointless.

@xiaobaobao My DS did not show progress in Reading for couple of years and then a giant leap the next year. Kids develop on spurts.

If the kids want to do it by studying hard voluntarily, it is a good thing.

NUMATS just updated 2013 statistics. It is pretty competitive year. Possible cutoff criteria fall in these range:

Grade 3: 76-80 (15 out of 1003)
Grade 4: 84-88 (37 out of 2587)
Grade 5: 92-96 (38 out of 3880)
Grade 6: 97-99! (30 out of 3024)

After reading all this, I am assuming that my daughter (11), DD11 will not get invited to this years award. She is in 5th grade and got English 22, Reading 21, Maths 20 and Science 25 so a composite of 88. Percentile of 97.50. Anyhow, please let me know how different ACT is compared to this. Also, what tips to improve scores for next year please?