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

Hi Everybody! I'm new here and I'm glad to find this board. I just registered my son for scat and don't really know what to expect from here. My son is 7 in second grade. I think he excels in math but probably about average in verbal. I have a few questions about scat:

1. What do they send score automatically to his school? I don't think I want the school to know as I don't really think he will score well.

2. Where can I find sample questions, or practices for the test other than those on cty website? I think he could use some practice on the analogies department.

3. Does it matter whether you put down the name of the school or just said he's homeschooled?

Thanks in advance for reading my questions. Hope everybody is doing well!

Mic

Hi Mic,
I wish I know those answers, but rest assured that your son will 'do well' because every child who takes the test is in the top 5% of their grade, and that's wonderful.

Will he show himself to be really unusual compared to other gifted kids in his same grade? Maybe, maybe not. Not every test demonstrates evey child's skills equally well. Sometimes you just have a bad day.

If you look at 'why' you signed him up for this test in the first place, then you'll be able to decide in advance what is a good outcome and what is a bad outcome.

Basically remember that the SCAT doesn't measure what they know, it is designed to measure performance on material that hasn't been taught - aptitude. So there isn't much practice needed that you can't do on your own after explaining what an analogy is, and asking him to come up with a few on his own so you are sure he understands the idea.

I don't remember them contacting my son's school, but I'd double check, as my son is 12 now.

Welcome and Best Wishes,
Grinity

Thank you Grinity and Dottie for your information! I checked out "homeschool" under the school name just to make sure they won't be able to send the score to my son's school. I have passed the deadline for "no score sent" request.

Just wondering, for those who had taken the test, are there only 2 types of questions in the real test same as in the sample test on cty website? I saw there were only 2 types of questions in the sample test. Analogies in verbal section and greater than or equal to in the math section. Any other types of questions in the real test?

I'm extremely nervous as this is going to be the first standard test for my son!! I have no idea when you have a child, it's like you're going back to school all over again!! hahaha!

Thanks a lot!

Mic

This is absolutly true, and a good thing to keep in mind. It's a great time to 'process' all those old feelings!

My son found the test to be very short, and way very unhappy when he finished early, and couldn't find me. Pee right away!

Love and More Love,
Grinity

Hi Mic,
I registered DS8 myself (under international students) and the results were sent to me via post so the school has no information on this unless I show them.

DS8 only tried those sample questions on the CTY website. I think it's sufficient. More important is to go through with him what to do or expect during the testing. Eg. He has to raise his hands for any questions and not just stand up and walk to the administrator, he has to let them know when he is done with the first part so that he can take the 10min break. Also to remind him to make the best guess if he doesn't know because he has to complete 55 questions in 20 minutes. Go through the booklet with him so that he has an idea how the screen will look like (even though there will be a 10 minute tutorial before he starts the test).

Make sure he has enough sleep the night before and is relaxed before the test. All the best!

I didn't think of all the rules he has to follow during the test. So thanks for reminding me! I don't think my son would do well in a fast pace test. He tends to take his time. I just think this will be a nice practice for him. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks again!

Mic,
It's certianly possible to overthink the SCAT, and I've heard of one or two stories where that's happened, but really my son 'hates timed tests' and still flew through this one. ((shrug))

Yup. Ds finished it ahead of time but choose to just review it again because he was irritated by the ending message which kept asking if he was sure that he was done. LOL!
(Because once you click on "End" or "Complete" - I am not sure of the exact word, u can't go back anymore)

Hi ladies,

Do you know anything about Stanford's EPGY? How does it compare to JH?

I found it through this website, I think. And I remembered DS took WASI, the abbreviated version of WISC, a few months ago during one of his annual review. He was born with disabilities and is receiving therapy services from the school district. The annual review is for that purpose. WISC is one of the tests accepted by EPGY so I applied and they accepted him. I'm still planning for DS to take SCAT but I'd like to know how EPGY compares to JH?

I think DS still has to take the EPGY math aptitude test in order to take math and computer courses. Can he be disqualified if he doesn't do well in the aptitude test? Anybody knows anything?

Thanks a million!!!

Mic