Who Can Participate?

We recommend the Talent Search for students who exhibit outstanding academic talent based on the following criteria:

• Nationally normed testing
• State testing
• Superior academic performance

Nationally normed testing

Achievement at the 95th percentile or higher on one or more subtests of a nationally normed standardized test

List of keywords for subtests

List of nationally normed tests and subtests (pdf)

State testing

Achievement at advanced levels on state tests, designated as advanced proficiency, distinguished, honors, or gifted

List of state tests (pdf)

back to top

Superior academic performance

Students who do not have standardized test scores may use parent nomination. The parent nomination is NOT to be used for students who have scores below the 95th percentile but only for those students with NO test scores who demonstrate superior academic performance.

back to top

Keywords for subtests

Talent Search accepts tests and subtests that measure mathematical and verbal reasoning ability. Since many tests have a wide variety of subtests, and these subtests' names change, the following guidelines can help you identify acceptable subtests:

Acceptable types of tests or subtests include those that look for reasoning.
Examples of key words in acceptable test/subtest names include:

• applications
• aptitude
• comprehension
• concepts
• interpretation
• problem-solving
• total battery
• total math
• total reading
• total score or core
  vocabulary

Unacceptable tests or subtests are those that are NOT reasoning.
Examples of key words indicating tests or subtests that are not acceptable include:

• computation
• expression
• language
• mechanics
• procedures
• punctuation
• spelling
• usage

back to top