If you have a child or are a student between the grades of 2 and 8 you should know about the SCAT test.

Writing the SCAT test is a fantastic way to test yourself and to avail a number of benefits offered by the JH-CTY.

This test can help you distinguish yourself from the crowd and prove yourself deserving of learning with similar academically gifted students.

What is the SCAT?

The SCAT is a test organized by a non-profit group of John Hopkins University. It stands for School and College Ability Test. It is a test of both Quantitative Aptitude as well as Verbal Reasoning.

Why should I write the SCAT?

The SCAT test is conducted to find the most talented youth in schools to inculcate them in various programs directed by the JH-CTY to help build a more inquisitive approach to learning among the younger generation.

These programs are quite highly sought after and can play a heavy influence on a student’s university application.

What are the Topics under SCAT?

The SCAT consists of 2 Main sections. These contain 55 questions as well as 5 experimental questions. These sections are:

• The Verbal Section: This section is made to understand a student’s ability with words: Both their vocabulary and their verbal reasoning. The questions are multiple-choice which requires a student to choose the best pair of words to complete a given analogy. There might often be more than one answer that fits the statement perfectly, but the correct answer is the one that seems most appropriate.

This is generally a lower scoring section as compared to the Quantitative Section.

• The Quantitative Section: This section is meant to test a candidate’s Mathematical reasoning and is thus, does not normally require calculation. This section is multiple-choice as well where a candidate is expected to solve a particular equation.

This tends to be a much higher scoring section and requires a lot more effort to clear.

What are the levels of the SCAT?

The SCAT consists of three separate levels: Beginner, intermediate, and Advanced.

• Beginner: This is the lowest level of the SCAT test where students are compared to their peers two levels above themselves. This is aimed at students in grades 2 and 3.

Grade 2 takes the test made for Grade 4.

Grade 3 takes the test designed for Grade 5.

• Intermediate: The intermediate SCATis the second level where students are tested against their peers three grades ahead of them.

Grade 4 takes the test aimed at Grade 7.

Grade 5 takes the test aimed at Grade 8.

• Advanced: The highest level of the SCAT exam, which is also the hardest because students are compared to their counterparts three or four grades higher than them.

Grades 6 and above are compared to those in grades 9 – 12.

What are the scores required for each level?

The Proficiencies required to clear the SCAT increase radically as we move from level to level. This makes clearing the SCAT incredibly hard at the higher stages.

The scores are scaled between 401 and 514 depending on the level taken by the student. These are as follows:

• The Elementary SCAT level ranges from:

Verbal Range = 401 – 471

Quantitative Range = 412 – 475

• The Intermediate SCAT level ranges from:

Verbal Range = 405 – 482

Quantitative Range = 419 – 506

• The Advanced SCAT level ranges from:

Verbal Range = 410 – 494

Quantitative Range = 424 – 514

Source: JHU-CTY

As a student writing SCAT, you might want to hire a coach or tutor to help you cover the more complex situations and chapters. Certain concepts tend to take a lot more time and depending on your current condition you need to make your schedule.

How do I clear the test? What is it like?

Having a good study pattern, solving papers consistently, and working hard can mean all the difference to you.

The SCAT test consists of two sections, each 22 minutes long separated by a 10-minute break. The break is optional and student-directed. In other words, the test center administrator will not start and end the break. It is completely up to the candidate to return in time.