Need to Know About SCAT Online Test

The SCAT (School and College Ability Test) is a gifted test by the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (JH-CTY) – to identify and encourage academically gifted students.

Participating in a gifted education program helps academically gifted students maximize their potential and realize their dreams. Qualifying the SCAT test is an excellent way your child can attend the coveted John Hopkins summer programs. Students from grades 2-9 can register for and answer the online gifted test held from July 1 every year to June 30 of the following year.

The SCAT has 3 levels:

Elementary SCAT – For students in grades 2-3 and designed for students in grades 4-5

Intermediate SCAT – For Students in grades 4-5 and designed for students in grades 6-8

Advanced SCAT – For students in grades 6 and above and designed for students in grades 9-12

The best way towards SCAT Test Preparation is to attempt an online SCAT Practice test. This is how a SCAT Practice test will help you max your SCAT prep:

1.    Familiarizing yourself with the test format – At all levels, the SCAT has 2 sections: Quantitative (Math) and Verbal Reasoning. Students are given 22 minutes to solve 55 questions on each section which include 5 unidentified questions that do not count towards the final score. A student can choose to have a 10-minute break between the sections.

2.      Simulation of the actual test – An online full-length SCAT Practice test will help students and parents know what the actual test will be like. Answering an online test is quite different from answering a paper-based test.  Getting online to practice is a great way to get comfortable and confident for the upcoming SCAT.

3.     Time management – Just 22 minutes for 55 questions is no easy feat. With a challenge such as this, it’s imperative for a student to know how to keep cool and cope with the ticking clock!

4.      Strategy planning – Often it’s the way you approach a test and tackle the questions therein that can make all the difference with your SCAT Test Preparation. Strategies like elimination and guesstimating can help students arrive at the correct answers even if the exact answer is not known.

5.     Type of questions on the SCAT – JH-CTY has not prescribed any syllabus for the SCAT. However, online tutoring companies like eTutorWorld have mentored thousands of children globally to qualify the SCAT test. This has helped their test prep tutors gain enough experience and understanding about the type and difficulty level of the questions on the SCAT which in turn is passed on to the advantage of the students. For example, eTutorWorld’s SCAT quantitative tutors have realized that the questions asked are more about essential concepts than lengthy calculations.

6.    Qualifying SCAT scores – Though the JH-CTY declares specific qualifying scores for every SCAT level and section, usually students in the 90+ percentile of a SCAT level, grade and gender qualify for the summer courses. SCAT percentiles are typically used to compare students to the older population. For example, Grade 2 students are compared to the general 4^th graders and so on.

Grade 2 is compared to Grade 4

Grade 3 to Grade 5

Grade 4 to Grade 6

Grade 5 to Grade 8

Grade 6 to Grade 9

Grade 7 to Grade 12

Grade 8 to Grade 12

For more information on talent search programs like the SCAT, you can link to the official JH-CTY page. 

5 Ways to Further your Gifted Child’s Talent

You know your child is ‘gifted’ when you observe that she possesses a natural gift of a higher degree than the average mental ability or an inherent talent in a specific area of knowledge or skill. Such children are able to learn and grasp concepts far ahead of their peers. While it is certainly a fact that can fill any parents’ hearts with pride; what it truly entails is far more than mere pride. The role of parent(s) is key as far as nurturing and enhancing a gifted child’s true potential goes. 

A gifted child, without a doubt, has the intelligence and talent which sets him or her apart from their peer group however this potential can truly be harnessed to the fullest degree when they are equipped with the right support in the form of resources and tools.

Let us look at some ways in which parents can uplift their gifted child’s potential further.

1.    Encourage ‘failure’ – This does seem ridiculous but what it implies is that a gifted child need not always succeed. Parents must let their kids know that risk-taking and failing are possibilities when attempting something new. Children need not be ‘perfect’ at all times – mistakes allow them to learn and ‘relearn’ things which will equip them with the right emotional strength to deal with any kind of situation in their future.

2.    Don’t hesitate to get help – As parents you may not always have the answers to all the questions – it is never a bad idea to get additional help. There are great options available, online and otherwise, with well-designed courses and tutorials which keep in mind the specific help that would benefit gifted children. ELearning sites such as etutorworld.com offer suitable preparatory courses for gifted children who can help them not only at school but also in getting through programmes such as the CTY at the John Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth- one of the premier programmes for gifted children.

3.  Challenge them –It is essential that gifted children are not allowed to rest on their laurels. Encourage them to pick up new skills, languages or crafts – these would allow them to not only learn something different but also expose them to new experiences which will surely provide stimuli for curiosity and inventiveness. Parents can use community resources such as museums, national parks, libraries to enhance the child’s repertoire of new and interesting learning experiences.

4.   Build emotional stability – While taking pride in your child’s intellectual superiority; the emotional quotient has to be of prime importance. Gifted children are generally known to be more sensitive than others so it is always a great idea to encourage them to be more open about their feelings. Talk to them as a friend; allow them to be more expressive and provide them with avenues to vent their emotions in positive ways. A happy child will always be a successful child.

5.   Stay updated – While you may be aware of your child’s special abilities you need to be in constant touch with the teachers in order to understand how your child is performing at school. A gifted child is usually far ahead of the peers and so it helps if you check with the school and get additional assignments or activities planned for your gifted child.  This will, without a doubt, help your child to stave off boredom and take a renewed interest in the class.

A gifted child may be ahead as far as academic progress goes however with some extra steps, parents can steer them to greater successes in life and that too with a smile.

5 Top Tips for SCAT Test Prep

The SCAT test is the stepping stone for academically gifted children. Qualifying the test makes them a part of one of the much-coveted summer programs by Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth, the JH-CTY. In comparison to grade specific Standardized Tests; the SCAT is an “above grade level” test that assesses both math and verbal reasoning abilities.

As parents of gifted children, it will be a dream-come-true to see your child participate in these prestigious courses. Here are some pointers to help guide your gifted child towards a great SCAT score.

1.      Explore online content – Never underestimate the power of free online SCAT content. Ensure that you and your child go through online content as they include not only information about the SCAT format and strategies but are a comprehensive trove of what the SCAT test truly entails.

2.      Becomes tech savvy – SCAT is an online test. Hence, it is imperative that your child is comfortable using a computer. Attempting an online SCAT practice test before the test helps in more ways than one. A wonderful technique would be to opt for eLearning sites like SCAT Online Tutoring Services that will help in familiarizing your gifted child with the SCAT test design thereby ensuring a good SCAT score. 

3.      Never Say No to Practice – Without using clichés, the best tip to ace any test is to keep doing it over and over again till you don’t get it right. Ensure that your child has the opportunity to attempt advanced SCAT Online Practice Tests before the D-day. Sites such as etutorworld.com offer online practice SCAT tests help the child know the SCAT format, type of questions and areas for improvement. 

4.      Tame the Clock – With just 22 minutes to complete 55 questions in each section, your child has to learn to manage the clock effectively. Attempting online practice SCAT tests and more importantly, as per the given time pattern, the child can learn to manage not only the time but also manage pressures of the impending test.

5.      Don’t shy away from help - It’s always a great idea to seek direction from expert online SCAT teachers help when it comes to something as prestigious as this. Sites such as etutorworld.com have dedicated SCAT tutors who ensure that your gifted child gets personalized training for the SCAT tests. Online tutors for SCAT prepare an effective option as they work one-on-one with every child to identify their strengths and areas of improvement towards an effective SCAT test prep.

The SCAT test is the harbinger of an exciting future for your gifted child so leave no stone unturned to ensure that she aces it.