Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment reasons to take Explore?

I'm trying to convince DD10 to take the Explore test. DD has not had any formal testing other than CoGat and NNAT tests administered by the school. She is in a gifted classroom. Her teachers keep telling me that she is "out there" especially in math. As we are starting to look at middle school options, I would like to have some more data to help determine what kind of program would be appropriate for her. The Explore seems like an inexpensive way to get another data point.

DD doesn't see the value in this. She says that it sounds like a wasted Saturday. She just wants to follow her friends to the GT middle school program (assuming that she will test into the program).

Has anyone else come up against a kid who is reluctant to take the test? Any good persuasive arguments out there?

A bribe? We took our twins out for a pancake breakfast afterwards (it is only half a Saturday), but I guess our kids are easy. We told them we wanted to have experience with that testing format, as they will encounter it later for more important stuff like college admissions. We also told them it would be useful for us and their teachers for curriculum planning.

My child was totally ok with taking the EXPLORE test up till the last minute. Then he had a melt down that it was a waste of his time on a Satuday but I made him go because he commited. I would be very careful about pushing a child too hard to do this especially if you don't really need it. I would save that for when it's really needed.

I think the SCAT is easier to schedule and about the same price. You may be able to get about the same benefits. You may want to consider a sick day from school if that is not a big deal for her.

Some of the benefits of taking a test like this is to see child's strenghts, compare them to others in age group for advocacy (although I wouldn't count on this to help in many schools), take on a challenge is a good experience and to learn to take tests like this which will be good experience for SATs before college. Test results of SCAT and Explore can provide opportunity to some of the talent search classes that need qualification.

Hope this helps. You may also what to search this discussion board for this topic.

Day off from school, plus breakfast of choice, plus ridiculously unhealthy lunch, plus a movie... this was for the SCAT last year.

The only official "bribe" was the movie. I added the other things to wrap the day in pleasurable experiences. Not sure his pediatrician would agree with my approach, but it worked!