Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment SCAT Question

We have not yet done the SCAT, but I'm curious about something: What percentile (out of the SCAT testers of the same grade level) does a kid need to get to qualify for courses? And what's the percentile to qualify for the awards ceremonies?

Thanks.

I'm not sure what you are looking to qualify for.

If you are interested in John Hopkins CTY online classes for gifted they have qualifying scores on their web site. You can get the scat test thru their talent search.

http://cty.jhu.edu/ts/tests.html

Yes, I know that the qualifying scores are listed on CTY's website, but what I'm curious to know is where the cuts fall in terms of percentiles. And are the cuts based on percentiles with regard to average students two (or three) levels up, or are they based on percentiles with respect to the talent search participants of the same grade level?

As far as I can tell, that info is not listed on the website, but for those who already have scores in hand it may well be somewhere in the score report documents.

Thanks.

Q: How do I qualify for an Awards Ceremony?

A: Students who participated in the Talent Search qualify for the state Awards Ceremonies based on SCAT, SAT, ACT, or STB scores in the chart below. Awards Ceremonies are held in states with the largest Talent Search enrollments, �currently AK, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, HI, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, VT, VA, WA, and WV.

Test
Grade Level (7 or 8)
Required scores

SAT
Grade 7
Math ≥550 or Critical Reading ≥550

Grade 8
Math ≥600 or Critical Reading ≥600

ACT
Grade 7
Math ≥21 or Reading ≥22

Grade 8
Math ≥24 or Reading ≥24

STB
Grade 7
STB ≥600

Grade 8
STB ≥600

Test
Grade level (5 or 6)
Required Scores

SCAT
Grade 5
Math ≥480 or Verbal ≥460

Grade 6
Math ≥485 or Verbal ≥465

STB
Grade 5
STB ≥600

Grade 6
STB ≥600

Test
Grade level (2 - 4)
Required Scores

SCAT
Grade 2
Math ≥440 or Verbal ≥435

Grade 3
Math ≥455 or Verbal ≥440

Grade 4
Math ≥465 or Verbal ≥455

Q: How much of an honor is it to be invited to the Awards Ceremony?

A: About 25% of 7th and 8th graders and 33% of 2nd through 6th graders who test qualify to attend Awards Ceremonies. Considering that all students who enroll in the Talent Search are very bright, scoring at these top levels is a great achievement, and should be a source of pride

fyi, with your test scores, you get a booklet which lists percentiles by gender and grade. So, you could figure out qualifying and honors level percentiles from there. I'm not aware that the graphs are online though.

Examples from SCAT 2009 booklet (for some reason, they're divided boys and girls). It says these relate to students taking SCAT b/n 9/1/2008 and 3/1/2009.

Grade 2
girls verbal: 25th/421; 50th/429; 75th/438
girls math: 25th/426; 50th/433; 75th/439
boys verbal: 25th/422 50th/430; 75th/438
boys math: 25th/430; 438; 439

(it's just easier from here on out to type three numbers - the first is 25th percentile, then 50th, then 75th)

Grade 3
girls verbal: 429, 436, 443
girls math: 433, 440, 452
boys verbal: 429, 436, 445
boys math: 438, 449, 461

Grade 4
girls verbal: 432, 442, 454
girls math: 432, 442, 454
boys verbal: 434, 442, 453
boys math: 438, 450, 464

Grade 5
girls verbal: 442, 453, 461
girls math:444, 457, 469
boys verbal: 442, 453, 462
boys math:452, 465, 475

Grade 6:
girls verbal: 448, 458, 466
girls math: 462, 472, 484
boys verbal: 448, 458, 468
boys math: 466, 478, 488

Thanks, Questions. That's just what I was looking for.

Just to make sure I have this right, the numbers in your last post are percentiles in relation to the other talent search participants of the same grade? (And not, the percentiles compared to national norms 2/3 grades up?)

They say percentiles as to other CTY talent search participants, and yet they also say an X% is the percentile against text takers two years up (e.g., in 2nd they give the 4th grade SCAT). So, I leave that to someone else to answer.

You can pretty much tell the qualification and award levels from the above. I should have typed in the Q and H levels next to the list, but didn't think of it. Glad to help.

Dear Dottie
My daughter (5th grader) will take SCAT in Feb'2010 and I have no idea how to prep for this test. Do you know the format of the test? How many sections are there? Are you allowed to go back to review and change your answers? Or you can't go back to a previous section once you are done, like the GRE or GMAT? How should I prepare her for this test? Any light you can shed will be highly appreciated!

I agree with Dottie. The sample tests (10 q's each) should give your child a handle on the actual test. There's no way to "cram" for this test, but familiarity has got to be helpful.

Our son is taking the sample SCAT at school next week for a "formal" timed environment, and then we'll work through any questions together after school. I'm betting on a decent score for verbal, and he'll also do well in math if he resists the temptation to try solving everything in his noggin.

He takes the official SCAT next Friday, and because the closest center still involves 3+ hrs of travel, he gets a day off from school and we'll find a blow-'em-up movie to indulge ourselves after testing.