Test Tips

• Don’t panic, even if you don’t have a clue. Remember this is a test designed only for students who participate in the CTY Talent Search. The test is meant to be challenging.
• If you start to panic—try to relax. Close your eyes for a few seconds and concentrate on your breathing.
• Review the sample test questions on the CTY web page. www.cty.jhu.edu/ts/STBsamples.html
• If you get stuck on a question, go ahead and take your best guess. You must answer each question before you move to the next question, so don’t spend too much time on any one question. In multiple-choice questions, eliminate the obviously wrong choices first, then, carefully consider the remaining ones.
• Unlike other tests, there is no break during the STB.
• On the STB there is no penalty for wrong answers, so guessing is OK. Items are of equal value, so the more correct answers you give, the higher your score. If you find you don’t have enough time to finish, take the last minute in each subsection and take guesses to make sure you finish each subsection.
• If time permits, use the previous button and go back and check your answers.
• Many students do not use the full 8 minutes allowed for the Visual Memory: Memorization Phase. Students who use more time to memorize the shapes score higher on the Visual Memory: Recall Phase. You will need to complete two other subtests before you are asked to recall the images.
• Finally, be confident and good luck!