Free Online SCAT Elementary Test Preparation: Practice 2nd & 3rd Grades Sample Questions & Tips – 2024

What Is the SCAT Elementary Test?

The SCAT Elementary Test is an aptitude test that is used to admit students into the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program. The SCAT Elementary Test is administered to students in 2nd and 3rd grade. This test stands out from other types of aptitude tests, because it includes questions on the test that are at a higher grade level. This means that 2nd graders are answering 4th grade level questions, and 3rd graders are answering 5th grade level questions. This is why the SCAT is considered an “above grade level” test.

It is important to note that the SCAT Elementary Test is a timed test that is divided into two sections, which contain a Quantitative Section and a Verbal Section. The test is administered in a multiple-choice format and is typically administered in a computerized format. Once the test has been completed, the student’s scores will be compared with other students in the same grade level, and the scores will determine the eligibility of a child to be placed into a specialized program.

What Are the SCAT Elementary’s Test Sections?

The SCAT Elementary Test is comprised of 55 multiple-choice questions per section. It is important to note that five questions will be experimental, and students will not be able to know whether or not a question is experimental. 2nd and 3rd graders have a total of 54 minutes to complete the entire SCAT Elementary Test, with 22 minutes allotted to each section. The SCAT Elementary Test will include both a Verbal and Quantitative Section, which will further be split into individual subsections that will provide further testing on that specific topic. Between taking both sections, students will be allowed to take a 10-minute break to relax.

Verbal Section

The Verbal Section is used to assess 2nd and 3rd grader’s ability to understand word definitions through the use of verbal reasoning analogies. Students may be presented with a word pair that hold a specific relation with each other through their meaning. They may be asked to choose a pair of words from the answer options that hold the same similarity. To learn more, take a look at the following example questions that your 2nd or 3rd grader may see on the SCAT Elementary Test Verbal Section.

Quantitative Section

The Quantitative Section assess how students are able to work and manipulate numbers through the use of multiple-choice questions. Within each question, there will be two number quantities, and will require the students to assess which number quantity has a greater value. This may not be extremely straight forward for some children, as the columns may include mathematical equations, percentages, or fractions. 2nd and 3rd graders need to have a strong grasp on mathematical reasoning in order to perform well on this section.

How to Read SCAT Elementary’s Score Report

The SCAT Elementary Score Report will include both a raw score and a scaled score. The use of these two scores determines a child’s eligibility to enter a gifted and talented program, including JHU CTY programs.

• Raw Score: The raw score is simply the number of answers responded to correctly over the total possible answers, which in this case is 50 per section. Remember, five of the questions are experimental, so they will not be counted against your child. Therefore, a score may look like 45/50 if a child answered 45 questions correctly.
• Scaled Score: The raw score will be compared with other children nationwide that took the SCAT Elementary Test. The STAT scaled scores can range between 401 to 475 for elementary students. For the Verbal Section, students can receive a score between 401 – 471, and for the Quantitative Section, students can receive a score between 412 – 475.
• Percentile Rank: The Percentile Rank is a percentage that represents the number of students that your child scored the same as or higher than.

SCAT Elementary Test Tips

1. Practice with practice exams a few weeks out. The SCAT Elementary Test is unlike other aptitude tests, which makes it even more important to study for. Make sure that you prepare your child for this difficult exam at least two weeks in advance, if not more. Set up a clear study schedule that dedicates a certain amount of time per day strictly for studying. It is imperative that you do not wait until a few days before to start studying, as the information will likely not stick with your child.
2. Complete practice exams in their entirety, and then read the explanations. Practice exam explanations are the hidden key to successfully scoring well on the SCAT Elementary Test. Explanations provide in-depth knowledge about the testing topics as well as about how to answer any difficult questions. Explanations are typically provided at the completion of the practice exam, so make sure you instruct your child to complete the entire test, and then read the question explanations together.

How to Prepare for the SCAT Elementary Test

The SCAT Elementary Test is the first step towards a child gaining entry into the JHU CTY program. The Verbal and Quantitative Sections can be especially difficult or overwhelming for children, which is why it is important to create a solid preparation plan that includes practice exams. Practice exams can be re-taken as many times as necessary, allowing your child to repeatedly familiarize themselves with the information. Practice tests also provide insight on areas of strength and weakness, which will allow you and your child to focus on any problem areas. Online practice exams and study guides are an extremely important step in preparing for the SCAT Elementary Test and achieving a high score.