Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Scat vs. Explore test?

DS6 felt much better today and took the test. He finished the verbal with 9 minutes left and couldn't do the last 3 math questions because he ran out of time. He thought some questions were hard and some were easy. I guess we'll see how it turns out in a week or two.

I'm glad he's feeling better and that you're not out the money.

Great! Glad he was feeling better. Good luck!

DS in 3rd will be given an IQ this year hopefully soon. I figured out he can take the Explore with a talent search that will take the test scores and make recommendations. My reason for testing is to try to figure out what he needs for his education. It would also be more information to provide for the school. Do you think the school will relate to the SCAT test?

Is there a reason why we should do the SCAT test?

The principal is for more depth for gifted students but not acceleration. I'm ok with this at this point. My son just wants to learn something. So, I would be ok if he did his math at a condensed, fast pace freeing him up to learn something else like computer programming or had a more enriched Math. I would also be ok with him accelerating in Math, but I want to know if our HS will let him do above level work. I know our state pays for college class for High School students. Somehow I need the principal to see that he can learn what he needs in less time with less repetition than ND child and still have mastery.

The school is making some nice efforts. He is doing an independent study that gives him the excitement of learning. He will do this with another boy he says is smart.

The trouble is all daily folder work during the day is driving him crazy. The teacher says it's all essential. They did eliminate one page of spelling cursive writing repetition that helps. My guess is he is getting more busy work and repetitions than is needed. I can't look at the work and know what he does not need all the time. EX. he knows spelling words first day so he doesn't need to do the circle word find. Maybe it's a issue of too high maintenance for the teacher. I wish they would tell me that when it's the case. The cursive writing is also driving him crazy. I told him the writing will get easier.

I noticed he was finally getting to 4 digits in his 3rd Grade Math. I said yeah finally. He then complained, it's just more writing. It's not more challenging it's just more writing. He said he could do this in K. He then agreed to work towards a goal of getting an online course at school for Math that was more right for him. He wants more meaningful work.

Any suggestion that don't include moving him up a grade or more?
Any suggestions for helping my son deal with his frustration?

Since my DS, in 3rd will have recently completed IQ and WJIII achievement(end of 2nd Grade) would the SCAT give more information? Is there a reason he should take it?

thank you.

one more question. Is it possible to compare a student's SCAT scores to a potential school's scores?

Sorry but I think I did not ask my question the right way.

I know of a school that does SCAT testing. This is a local private school (not a talent search. It is a school I am interested in my kids attending. If my DS had a SCAT test scores, could we see how he compared to the other students in his grade at a school that does SCAT testing? Someone told me this school is doing work 2 years ahead of our current school. I was wondering, could I use the scores as a way to see if this was the right school for him?

thank you. Dottie

One thing people often overlook in SAT/ACT testing is that they are very LONG tests. If a child does not have good stamina or has ADD, it may be very difficult for them physically and mentally, even if they are in the right intellectual ballpark to do well. My son, for instance, found the process exhausting at age 11, and for that reason, I am not planning to have my younger children take these until they are about 11.

OTOH, if a child has endurance and is ready earlier, I see no reason not to let them dive in!

Lorel, I was just wondering about this. I signed my DS up for the Explore test in Feb. He turns 9 next week so he is an older 3rd grader in a FT Gifted program. He does have ADHD. After seeing the first several posts it sounds like the explore test takes a good bit of time without a ton of breaks.

I wonder if I'm setting him up for failure and should wait a few years. Maybe the SCAT would be a better intro to these types of test situations.

R