The SCAT Test (School and College Ability Test) is the primary exam used by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) for admissions into their program. Specifically, the test helps to identify 2nd-12th grade students for admissions into their gifted program. The SCAT is designed to measure math and verbal reasoning abilities. Depending on the grade level of the student, individuals will either take the Elementary Level, Intermediate Level or the Advanced Level. Children in the second through third grade take the Elementary Level which includes questions that are at the third through sixth grade level of achievement. This is because the SCAT traditionally tests above the student’s current grade level. Children at the Elementary Level can expect to be tested on both the verbal and quantitative sections. Below are several SCAT sample questions that are intended or the Elementary Level. Each practice question will reflect a specific section that your child will come across.
The SCAT consists of two sections: Verbal and Quantitative. Each section contains 55 questions, including 5 experimental questions that are not scored. The focus of the test is on reasoning skills rather than specific knowledge content.
- Verbal Section: This section assesses understanding of vocabulary and verbal reasoning skills. The format involves completing verbal analogies. The student is given a pair of words that are related to each other in some way, followed by another word that is paired with a list of answer options. The student must choose the word that best completes the analogy.
- Quantitative Section: This section measures mathematical reasoning abilities. It involves quantitative comparisons, where a relationship between two quantities is given and the student must find a similar relationship from the answer options.
Each section lasts for approximately 22 minutes, with a 10-minute break in between. The entire testing process, including administrative tasks, takes about 1 hour.
1.) Quantitative Battery
Directions: Each of the following questions has two parts. Look at the part in Column A. Then look at the part in Column B. Decide if one part is greater then the other or if the parts are equal. Choose one of the three answers below and write it into the 4th Column:
A if the part in Column A is greater
B if the part in Column B is greater
C if the two parts are equal
2.) Verbal Battery
Directions: Look at the two words on top. They belong together in a certain way Now look at the answer choices below. Choose the best pair of words in the answer choices that go together in the same way the two words on top go together.
3.) Verbal Battery
Directions: Look at the two words on top. They belong together in a certain way Now look at the answer choices below. Choose the best pair of words in the answer choices that go together in the same way the two words on top go together.
Answer Key
Quantitative Section
1.) C- 5=5
2.) C- 20=20
Verbal Section
1.) C- Item and energy Source
2.) B- Animal and its limbs