For Students New to Howard County
GT Testing
Early September
For Placement in 2009-2010

The SCAT test is a reasoning test and there are no practice tests available. I have a few practice problems below in the correct format. You can substitute any type of math problem into the format to help practice. Because it is a reasoning test, it is difficult to tell you want to study. It covers all areas of mathematics from 3rd grade level and up to very advanced math. The key is to be able to look at a given problem and try to reason out which answer would most likely be correct.

There are 50 problems in 20 minutes, so we encourage the students not to get stuck on any particular problem trying to actually solve out the sections.

Example:

Column A Column B

4 x 4 x 4 x 4 4 + 4 + 4 + 4

By looking quickly the students should reason that Column A would be bigger (without even solving it) because it is multiplication and Column
B is only addition.

The student would then bubble A because Column A was bigger.

If Column B were bigger they would bubble B.

If they were equal, they would bubble C.

If there is not enough information given to determine an answer, they would bubble D.


If your child qualifies, make sure to get the permission slip in as soon as possible.

If you child doesn't qualify, but you feel they would do well in a GT Placement, you must write a letter requesting a Placement Review. This letter allows the staff to gather important school data to include with the data from your letter. The data is them reviewed by staff and administration at a Placement Review Meeting. A placement recommendation will then be mailed home. These recommendations are final. If the committee recommends a GT placement, it will be tentative based on student progress in the fall. If the committee recommends a regular placement, it will be tentative based on student progress in the fall. Either way, we will be checking to make sure all students are appropriately
placed. If not, changes will be made.