The SCAT Test (2024 Guide)
Updated November 20, 2023
- A List of SCAT Tests Available for Practice in 2024
- What Is the SCAT Test?
- What to Expect on the SCAT Test
- SCAT Test Levels in Detail
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- SCAT Test Sample Questions
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- How Is the SCAT Test Scored?
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- What Is a Good SCAT Score?
- How Do I Prepare for SCAT Test in 2024?
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- General Preparation: Step by Step for SCAT Test
- SCAT Test - On the Day
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- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
A List of SCAT Tests Available for Practice in 2024
What Is the SCAT Test?
SCAT is the abbreviation of School and College Ability Test, The SCAT Test is an aptitude test created to identify 2nd to 12th graders eligible for gifted programs.
It is run by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), a world leader in giving talented children the tools and resources to reach their potential.
This above-grade-level test or advanced SCAT assessment measures verbal and quantitative reasoning abilities.
In 1996, CTY made the test fully computerized and available at Prometric testing centers.
What to Expect on the SCAT Test
The SCAT test comes in three levels:
- Elementary – For 2nd and 3rd graders
- Intermediate – For 4th and 5th graders
- Advanced – 6th, 7th and 8th graders
Each level contains a verbal reasoning section and quantitative reasoning.
As it is an 'above grade level' test, which means that the questions are designed to suit students one or two grades higher than your child's.
For example, if your child is in the 4th grade, they will take the SCAT Intermediate Test, which has questions suitable for 6th graders.
Regardless of the level, both sections have 55 multiple-choice questions and a 22-minute time limit. There is an optional 10-minute break between the sections, should your child need some time.
SCAT Practice Test Online With Test Prep
SCAT Test Levels in Detail
Elementary SCAT Test
At this level, 2nd and 3rd-grade students are set questions aimed at 4th–6th graders.
There are 55 questions in total in this assessment, and all are multiple-choice. Out of the 55 questions, five are what are known as ‘experimental’ – these do not count towards the final score.
The SCAT test is set in two sections, both lasting 22 minutes. The first section relates to verbal questions and the second for quantitative, with the opportunity for a short (10-minute) break between each part.
The score on this assessment is compared to the scores achieved by 4th–6th graders.
Practice SCAT Elementary Level with Test Prep Online
Intermediate SCAT Level
Gifted children in the 4th or 5th grade are offered the Intermediate Level SCAT, which asks questions suitable for students in 6th–8th grade.
4th-grade children are directly compared to this in 6th grade, while 5th-grade students are measured against those in the 8th grade.
There are 55 total questions, separated into two sections – verbal and quantitative. There is a 22-minute time limit for each section and the option for a 10-minute break between them.
To keep the test relevant and up to date, five of the questions in the assessment are ‘experimental’ – this means they do not count towards the final score, but the student will not know which ones these are.
Practice SCAT Intermediate Level with Test Prep Online
Advanced SCAT Level
The most challenging version of the SCAT is the Advanced Level, which is administered to students in 6th–8th Grade. This is based on the average performance of 9th to 12th-grade students.
In this assessment, there are two sections – like in previous tests. The first lasts 22 minutes and consists of verbal questions, and the second also lasts 22 minutes but asks quantitative questions.
There are 55 questions in total, but only 50 count towards the final score.
Practice SCAT Intermediate Level with Test Prep Online
SCAT Test Sample Questions
SCAT Verbal Reasoning
The verbal section of the SCAT test measures your child's aptitude for understanding the meanings of words through a series of analogies.
To successfully pass, your child will need to choose a set of words that best completes an analogy.
For some questions, there may be more than one possible answer. Your child needs to be able to decide which one suits best.
The skills assessed are:
- Vocabulary
- Analogies
- Verbal reasoning
SCAT Testing Samples
These questions start with two words that match in some way. Below them are four other pairs labeled a), b), c), d).
Which pair goes together in the same way as the first pair?
SCAT Elementary Level
1. HAT : HEAD
a) Shoe : Foot
b) Nose : Face
c) Hood : Coat
d) Bobble : Wrist
2. TIGER : ROAR
a) Seagull : Soar
b) Frog : Leap
c) Monkey : Swing
d) Dog : Bark
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3. PHOTOGRAPH : PORTRAIT
a) Fiction : Non-fiction
b) Comedy : Parody
c) Likeness : Caricature
d) President : Nation
SCAT Quantitative Reasoning
This section measures your child's understanding of number operations. Your child will be required to compare two quantities and decide which is greater.
They will not be allowed a calculator.
The skills assessed are:
- Number operations
- Math facts
- Calculations
- Mathematical comparison
- Mathematical reasoning
SCAT Testing Samples
Every question has two columns: A and B.
You need to decide if one column is bigger than the other or if they are both the same.
Choose a) if Column A is bigger
Choose b) if Column B is bigger
Choose c) if they are the same value
Elementary Level
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 11+14 | 15+12 |
Which is bigger?
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| The number of days in March | 29 |
Which is bigger?
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Family Membership gives you access to all the TestPrep-Online resources for the next 12 months. You will also get two separate accounts, which can be very helpful if you have two children preparing for their tests.
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| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| The greatest even number less than 30 | The least even number greater than 26 |
Which is bigger?
How Is the SCAT Test Scored?
The SCAT scores can be calculated in three different ways:
Raw Score
This score is calculated by adding together all those correctly answered out of the 50 scored questions.
For example, 30/50.
Scaled Score
This score is a conversion of the raw score. It allows the administrators to compare the scores of those taking each test.
It ranges from 400 to 514, depending on the test version.
A full breakdown of the possible scaled scores is below:
| Verbal | Quantitative | |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 400 – 471 | 412 – 477 |
| Intermediate | 405 – 487 | 417 – 506 |
| Advanced | 410 – 496 | 424 – 514 |
SCAT Percentile
The percentile score is what allows administrators to see your child's score compared to those in the higher grades.
For example, if your child is in the 2nd grade, they will be ranked in comparison to those in the 4th grade.
There are no penalties for answering incorrectly.
What Is a Good SCAT Score?
To be accepted onto a CTY program, your child will need the following scat scores or higher:
| Grade | Verbal | Quantitative |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 435 | 430 |
| 3 | 440 | 435 |
| 4 | 450 | 440 |
| 5 | 465 | 445 |
| 6 | 470 | 450 |
How Do I Prepare for SCAT Test in 2024?
Taking a test or exam at any age can be daunting. When helping young children prepare for a test that will have such a bearing on their future, it can sometimes become overwhelming, especially when your child doesn't appear to be responding.
The following tips are designed to help you and your child prepare for the SCAT test in a fun and practical way.
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SCAT Verbal Reasoning
Work on Vocabulary and Knowledge Skills
As the verbal reasoning test uses analogies to assess your child's aptitude, you need to help them develop their understanding of what words mean.
During everyday conversations, teach your child the connections between words.
For example, if you see some ducks waddling together, talk to your child about other animals, their collective term, the sounds they make and how they move.
With human interactions, explain why someone might give up a seat for an elderly person or hold the door open if someone is carrying a lot of items.
Work on Nouns and Adjectives
Teach your child that when the television is on, you watch it; when the radio is on, you listen to it.
Helping them understand these connections will help them make the right connections in the test.
Put the Analogies Into Sentences
When working through practice SCAT tests, have your child put the analogies into a sentence.
For example:
George Washington : One-dollar bill
Hat : Head
Water : Glass
Earth : Sun
George Washington is on the one-dollar bill
The hat goes on my head
The water is in the glass
The earth goes around the sun
Doing this will help your child find the common theme in the question.
SCAT Quantitative Reasoning
Master Mathematical Operations
Have your child work through everyday math scenarios with you, such as:
If Dad has three eggs with his dinner, Mom has two, you have one, and your big brother also has three, how many eggs do we need altogether?
When shopping for groceries, put your child in charge of the list and have them calculate how many of each ingredient you need.
Invest in Games
Making learning fun is the best way to keep children interested. Buy or create games that test their quantitative reasoning.
Once the game is over, sit with them and discuss the problems they faced. This will help you understand where your child might be struggling and allow you to reinforce the learning outcomes.
General Preparation: Step by Step for SCAT Test
Step 1. Read the Information Pack
Step 2. Make a Schedule
Create a schedule to ensure you and your child have enough time to prepare. When creating this schedule, mark in play and relaxing time and keep the study sessions for study only.
Trying to multitask teaching, learning and other responsibilities will only stress everyone.
Step 3. Start at Your Child's Current Level
In the first couple of weeks of SCAT test preparation, have your child work through topics they are already comfortable with.
This helps build their confidence and allows them to make natural connections to the next levels.
Step 4. Practice Often and Under Timed Conditions
Have your child complete as many practice papers as possible, eventually building to timed practices.
If your child doesn't understand how quickly they need to work through the questions, they will not get a good score.
Build up their speed throughout the study schedule so they can complete a practice paper within 22 minutes at least two weeks before the test date.
You should also have them complete example tests on a computer to know what they need to do on the test day – your child should be comfortable using a mouse and keyboard.
Step 5. Schedule the Test for Later in the Year
As the assessment content is 'above grade level', try to have your child sit the SCAT test towards the end of the academic year.
This allows them more time to prepare and learn additional skills.
Step 6. Decide Which Topics Need More Work
Your child will probably be better in some areas than others. Speak to your child's teachers to better understand what areas you should dedicate more time to and prioritize them in your study schedule.
However, don't neglect the other topics. All topics should be adequately practiced.
Step 7. Don't Overdo It
Yes, this test is important for your child's development, but it should not jeopardize their health.
Ensure your child is getting enough sleep and exercise, and they are eating healthy and drinking lots of water.
This is often easier said than done, but developing these good habits helps brain development and information retention.
Ideally, your child should not feel the pressure of this test. Making your child feel stressed will only result in them performing poorly or developing anxiety.
Explain to them how the SCAT test will help them in the future, but make the learning fun.
Practice SCAT Test with Test Prep Online
SCAT Test - On the Day
Use the Break
Your child is allowed a 10-minute break after the first test.
Encourage them to take it to visit the restroom, have a healthy snack, a sip of water and a rest from the test environment.
This will allow them to clear their head and prepare for the second section.
Answer All the Questions
As there are no penalties for incorrect answers, explain to your child that they should answer all the questions.
During preparation, teach them to eliminate the obviously wrong answers and make an educated guess from the remaining options.
Frequently Asked Questions
A good score on the SCAT test depends on the grade that your child is in – and whether they will be applying for entry to any CTY programs.
The scores for CTY are as follows:
| Grade | Verbal | Quantitative |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 435 | 430 |
| 3 | 440 | 435 |
| 4 | 450 | 440 |
| 5 | 465 | 445 |
| 6 | 470 | 450 |
The SCAT test is known as an ‘above-grade’ test, which means it is assessing each child based on questions that are designed for students one or two grades higher.
This makes it more challenging, which is why it is used for testing children for gifted and talented programs.
Whether taking the elementary, intermediate, or advanced level SCAT, your child will answer 55 questions which are split into two sections.
Of the 55 questions, only 50 counts towards that final score, with the other five being used for research purposes, but your child will not be aware of which questions these are.
Your child can retake the SCAT test, but they can only take it a total of twice in a single academic year.
If your child becomes eligible for the CTY, this eligibility will remain throughout their school life according to Johns Hopkins, so they don’t need to take it every year if they achieve a high enough score.
As the SCAT test is an aptitude test and not about things that have been taught, there is not much that needs to be revised.
However, some preparation will be useful, especially as the test environment can be daunting.
Practicing similar aptitude tests under exam conditions (including time pressure) will help, as will working on things like analogies, word meaning and sentence construction.
Everyday math knowledge will be important for this as well.
The SCAT test is available online and on paper and is aimed at students in grades 2-12 who want to qualify for a CTY program.
The ACT is an assessment that is used for children at CTY in grades 7-12, and asks questions on writing, reading, and math as well as an optional essay section.
This is completed using paper and pencil and is essentially an early access college assessment.
Here's a general guideline on how you might go about scheduling a standardized test:
Find out which organizations or institutions offer the SCAT test. This could be educational testing centers, schools or specific organizations that specialize in gifted education.
Look up their contact information, typically available on their official websites. Make sure you are accessing accurate and up-to-date information.
Check for registration deadlines and requirements. Some tests might have specific registration periods, so make sure you register within the given timeframe.
Follow the registration process outlined by the administering organization. This could involve filling out an online form, providing necessary details about the student, paying a registration fee and selecting a test date and location.
Once you've successfully registered, you should receive confirmation of your registration along with details about the test date, time, location and any other relevant information.
Make sure to prepare for the test by studying or reviewing relevant materials. The SCAT, for example, assesses verbal and quantitative reasoning skills, so practicing these areas can be beneficial.
Arrive at the test center on the scheduled date and time. Make sure to bring any required identification and materials.
Depending on the test, results might be available within a certain timeframe.
Here are some tips to help you succeed:
- Understand the Test Format
- Practice Regularly
- Time Management
- Review Basic Concepts
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Vocabulary Enhancement
- Pacing Yourself
- Elimination Strategy
- Stay Calm and Focused
- Read Instructions Carefully
- Simulate Test Conditions
- Review and Learn
- Balanced Approach
- Positive Mindset
- Rest and Nutrition
The exact locations where you can take the SCAT test may vary depending on your region and the organizations offering the test.
Some testing centers or organizations that offer standardized tests for students, such as the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), administer the SCAT test. You can check the official CTY website or similar organizations for information on test locations.
Some schools, especially those with gifted education programs, may offer the SCAT test to their students. If you're a student in such a school, they might provide information about test dates and locations.
Here's what you can generally expect on the day of your SCAT test:
Arrival and Check-In: Arrive at the test center on time. There may be a check-in process where you need to provide identification and verify your registration details.
Test Materials: You'll likely be provided with any necessary test materials, such as pencils, scratch paper, and test booklets or answer sheets.
Instructions: The test administrator will give instructions on how to fill out your answer sheet, how to mark your answers, and any specific rules for the test.
Test Format: The SCAT test is typically administered in sections, each focusing on verbal and quantitative reasoning. You'll be given a specific amount of time for each section.
Verbal Reasoning Section: This section may include questions related to vocabulary, analogies, and verbal logic. Expect questions that challenge your understanding of word relationships and meanings.
Quantitative Reasoning Section: This section covers math-related questions involving concepts like arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. You'll need to solve mathematical problems and apply logical reasoning.
Question Types: The questions in the SCAT test can vary in format, including multiple-choice questions, quantitative comparisons, and math-related problem-solving.
Time Management: Time is limited for each section, so managing your time effectively is crucial. Aim to complete as many questions as possible within the allocated time.
No Penalty for Guessing: In most cases, there is no penalty for guessing, so if you're unsure about an answer, it's better to make an educated guess rather than leave it blank.
Quiet Environment: The test environment is usually quiet and controlled to minimize distractions for all test takers.
Breaks: Depending on the test administration, there might be short breaks between sections. Use these breaks to rest briefly and mentally prepare for the next section.
Focus and Concentration: Maintaining focus and concentration throughout the test is important. Try to remain calm and avoid being distracted by other test takers.
Adhering to Rules: Follow all instructions and rules provided by the test administrator. This includes guidelines on using scratch paper, turning pages, and ending the test when instructed.
Personal Items: You might be asked to store personal items, such as bags and electronic devices, outside the testing room to prevent any potential cheating or distractions.
Reviewing Answers: If you finish a section before time is up, you can use the remaining time to review your answers.
Test Completion: Once the test is completed, you'll be instructed on how to submit your answer sheet and test materials.
Understand the Test Format: Familiarize yourself with the structure of the SCAT test. Understand how many sections there are, the time limits for each section, and the types of questions you'll encounter.
Gather Study Materials: Find reputable study materials, practice tests, and resources that are specifically designed for the SCAT test. You might find official practice materials from organizations that administer the test or other reliable sources.
Start with Diagnostic Tests: Begin your preparation by taking a diagnostic test. This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to tailor your practice accordingly.
Create a Study Schedule: Develop a study plan that allocates time for each section of the test. Make sure to include practice for both verbal and quantitative reasoning.
Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is essential. Set aside time each day or week for focused SCAT practice. Gradually increase the complexity of questions as you become more comfortable with the content.
Work on Vocabulary: The verbal section often includes vocabulary-based questions. Expand your vocabulary by reading widely and studying word lists. Try to understand word meanings and usage in context.
Practice Verbal Reasoning: Solve analogy problems, synonym/antonym questions, and sentence completions. Focus on recognizing word relationships and understanding the underlying logic.
Enhance Math Skills: The quantitative reasoning section involves math-related questions. Review concepts in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Practice solving math problems quickly and accurately.
Practice Quantitative Reasoning: Work on quantitative comparison questions and math-related word problems. Practice breaking down complex problems into simpler steps.
Time Management Practice: The SCAT test is timed, so practice under timed conditions. Learn to manage your time effectively for each section.
Review Mistakes: After practicing, review any mistakes you make. Understand why you got a question wrong and learn from it. This will help you avoid similar mistakes in the future.
Simulate Test Conditions: When taking practice tests, simulate actual test conditions. Sit in a quiet environment, set a timer, and complete the sections as if you were taking the real test.
Analyze Solutions: Understand the solutions to problems you've practiced. Focus not only on the correct answer but also on the reasoning behind it.
Use Official Materials: Whenever possible, use official practice materials provided by the test administrator. These materials are likely to closely resemble the actual test.
Take Full-Length Practice Tests: As you get closer to the test date, take full-length practice tests to simulate the entire testing experience. This will help you build endurance and assess your progress.
Stay Positive and Patient: Improving your cognitive abilities takes time. Stay positive and patient with yourself throughout the practice process.
Seek Guidance: If you're struggling with certain concepts or strategies, consider seeking guidance from teachers, tutors, or educational resources.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you study for the SCAT test:
- Understand the Test Format and Content
- Gather Study Materials
- Create a Study Plan
- Diagnostic Assessment
- Focus on Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension
- Practice Verbal Reasoning
- Enhance Math Skills
- Practice Quantitative Reasoning
- Time Management Practice
- Take Practice Tests
- Analyze Solutions
- Test-Taking Strategies
- Review and Revision
- Stay Positive and Persistent
- Seek Guidance
- Rest and Nutrition
Final Thoughts
As parents, you understand how the choices you make in your youth can have an impact on your future.
Wanting to give your child the best of everything is a natural feeling.
When preparing your child for the gifted and talented tests, remember to be encouraging and understanding.
Build your child's confidence by starting with the subjects they already know and be patient if they struggle.
Make the experience fun and rewarding, and they will deliver their best result.
