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 fourth through sixth grade take the Intermediate Level, which includes questions created at the sixth through ninth grade level of achievement. This is because the SCAT traditionally tests above the student’s current grade level. Children at the Intermediate Level can expect to be tested on both the verbal and quantitative sections. Below are several SCAT sample questions that are intended or the Intermediate Level. Each practice question will reflect a specific section that your child will come across.
Test Structure
The SCAT is divided into two sections: Verbal and Quantitative. Each section has 55 questions, including 5 experimental questions that are not scored. The SCAT evaluates reasoning skills and does not directly test what a student has learned in school.
- Verbal Section: This section tests a student’s understanding of vocabulary and verbal reasoning skills through verbal analogies. Students are given a pair of words that are related to each other in some way and are then presented with another word and a list of options. They must choose the word that best completes the analogy.
- Quantitative Section: This section evaluates mathematical reasoning skills through quantitative comparisons. A relationship between two quantities is presented, and students must find a similar relationship from the provided options.
Each section of the test lasts for about 22 minutes, with a 10-minute break between sections. The total testing process, including administrative tasks, takes around 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. Then, choose one of the four 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 parts are equal
D- Not enough information to decide
2.) Verbal Battery
Directions: Look at the 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 the same way the two words on top go together.
3.) Verbal Battery
Directions: Look at the 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 the same way the two words on top go together.
Answer Key
Quantitative Section
1.) B- 8 < 18
2.) A- 4 > 1
Verbal Section
1.) B- Smaller measure of time into larger measure of time
2.) A- State and formation