As the parent of a child gifted in mathematics in Dubai, you will be looking for opportunities to further their knowledge and skills and to nurture their talent.
Taking the SCAT advanced math test is one way of opening doors to some unparalleled opportunities for precocious children who are talented in mathematics.
Read on to find out what the SCAT is, how to take it, and the openings available to children who pass it.
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What is the SCAT?
SCAT stands for the Schools and Colleges Abilities Test. It’s organized by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). The CTY is a nonprofit organization that’s committed to the nurturing of gifted young minds.
The SCAT test can be taken between grades 2 and 10. Students enrolled in grades 2 and 3 can take the elementary test, while those in grades 4 and 5 can take the intermediate, and students in grades 6 and above can take the advanced test.
What opportunities can taking the SCAT lead to?
The SCAT is the entrance test for CTY and it is often referred to as the CTY Talent Search. The fundamental reason for taking the test is to open up incredible and varied opportunities with the CTY. It runs an array of world-renowned summer programs for gifted and talented children in many locations.
The CTY is based at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. However, there are further sites across the USA and international centers, including Hong Kong. There are even online learning opportunities.
From these locations, CTY runs summer camps on a huge range of subjects. As examples, here are some three-week camps recently available to grades 7 and above in mathematics-related topics:
- Mathematics and money
- Topology
- Probability and game theory
- Mathematical modeling
- Physics: Special relativity
There are also many additional courses in other STEM subjects and also history, social sciences and language arts.
CTY’s enrichment programs have a reputation for excellence. Alumni of CTY programs include the founders of Facebook and Google, Rhodes Scholars, and Fields Medal winners.
CTY programs are open to bright kids from all over the globe. Each year, over 20,000 children take the SCAT test.
What does the test involve?
The test has two sections: verbal and mathematical reasoning. The test is taken on a computer, either online or in a registered center. It takes around one hour total, including a break between sections.
Both the verbal and mathematical sections involve answering around 50 questions within a strict time limit of 22 minutes. Therefore, this is a fast-paced test.
Students must work through the paper methodically, completing the answer to each question before the next is available. That said, the test is very formulaic, and the structure is straightforward to master for bright kids.
The verbal reasoning section tests vocabulary knowledge. Students are shown a pair of words. They must work out how these are connected before choosing another pair of words connected in the same way. For example, alphabet-letter and orchestra-instrument follow the same logic in that they are whole-part.
In the mathematics section, children are asked to complete questions in many areas of mathematics. All questions test their ability to apply logic and reasoning. The child must determine which of two parts represents the greater amount or whether the parts are equal. For example, they could be asked to compare 25% with ⅜ or 0.2 km with 200m.
How is the test scored?
The SCAT is scored for correct answers, but there are no penalties for incorrect answers. Guessing questions as a last resort is, therefore, encouraged so that the next question can be revealed. At the end of the test, students can check or revisit previous answers if they have some spare time.
Scores are presented as a scaled score. The maximum scaled score depends on the level of test taken. The maximum for the elementary level is around 475, whereas it is over 500 for the advanced level.
If students are dissatisfied with their score, they may retest once in the same academic year. When CTY has the pupil’s results, they will get in touch with information about which programs your child may be qualified to apply for.
What can my child do to prepare for the SCAT?
As already noted, the structure of the test is very manageable, so with practice, your child can feel confident that they know what they will have to do on test day.
However, the test is highly competitive.
Questions get progressively harder through the test, culminating in some very challenging ones. Your child needs to have an incredible vocabulary and understanding of language to excel. They also need to be comfortable in all areas of math.
Math mastery classes are recommended as preparation for the SCAT. The test is likely to cover concepts and curriculum areas normally taught to much older children. To get a great score, even the very brightest children are going to gain from tutoring in all mathematical topics to advance their knowledge.
If you would like your gifted child to take the SCAT, look into enrolling them in math classes for kids as soon as possible. The application process for next summer CTY programs will start in the new year.
AUTHOR BIO
Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.