Often parents are very aware of a bright student’s academic abilities. For example, you may know that your child is quite advanced mathematically. However, you may not know the extent of this ability, or you may want or need outside, objective documentation of advanced talent. The Talent Search test can reaffirm student ability, and provide concrete test results showing that a student does indeed have a level of knowledge far beyond what is expected for his or her current grade level.
For example, two students who both show in-grade math test scores in the 99th percentile take the SAT. One student scores a 420 on the SAT Math section, and the other scores a 790 out of a possible 800 points. Though these two students look very similar based on their in-grade standardized test scores, the SAT results clearly differentiate these two students’ degree of advanced verbal ability. This information can be very helpful in planning future educational opportunities, or for consideration for gifted programs, either within a school setting or through outside organizations such as CTY.
On the other hand, a student may show a clear ‘area of talent’, such as highly advanced math skills, and still have unusually advanced talent in verbal reasoning which is overlooked because math comes more easily to that student. When a student who is clearly mathematically talented takes the SCAT and scores very highly in the math section, but also scores almost as well in the verbal section (or, as does happen, scores even higher!), this can reveal to parents, students, and educators that the student does indeed have very strong verbal reasoning skills. The Talent Search test can help focus educational planning by revealing abilities that are sometimes neglected because the student is not as obviously advanced in that area.
Indeed, when very bright students show exceptionally advanced mathematical or verbal reasoning ability, they may not realize the extent of their ability in the ‘other’ area. Students who do not feel the same level of competence and/or confidence in the area that is not their greatest strength often mistake this for not being academically advanced—because they are not advanced by their own standards! However, they may be well above grade level in the “lesser area of ability.” They may not—some students do show extremely advanced ability in one area, and remain average or below average in the other area. This is not at all unusual.
Information about the area of ‘lesser’ ability can be important in ensuring that these other critical skills are not neglected. Many CTY parents are grateful for the Talent Search test feedback that reveals that their fifth grader, who is so clearly verbally talented, also possesses formidable mathematics skills. She may not be engaging these abilities because of a lack of interest or motivation. Test scores can provide feedback that encourage talent development as well as renewed student motivation. Finding out that your reasoning abilities are very advanced, compared to most other students, in a subject that you believed you were not good at, can be a nice surprise for a student who takes academic accomplishment seriously, and can spark motivation to improve those skills.
On the other hand, some students will show clear ability in one area, and achieve average to low scores in the other area. These results, when approached as an assessment of ability rather than as a pass/fail situation, can serve as a powerful tool for guiding important academic and personal development. Very bright students can easily become accustomed to succeeding and even exceeding expectations with very little effort in their areas of strength, and therefore run the serious risk of failing to develop strong, or even adequate, study skills. These students may become frustrated when confronted with moderately challenging work in subjects where they need to work harder to achieve results, and may give up or not exert the effort. Working with a student to understand that he or she is nevertheless still competent in the ‘lesser’ area of strength, and can, with more effort, show strong results in this area, not only helps develop strong study skills, but at the same time increases ability in the less strong area.
Indeed, students who can exceed expectations without work are not learning—they already have mastered the material and are not stretching their minds to learn more. One of the great dangers confronting our brightest students is a sense of complacency about ability, and a lack of motivation to fully engage their talents in productive ways. By learning to cope with real academic challenges early on, students improve their ability to succeed when difficult material is presented to them. At CTY, we want to ensure that students are well prepared for the next stage in their educational program, whether middle school, high school, or college. Taking the above-grade-level Talent Search test, and reviewing the results with the above information in mind, can help keep them on the path to continued success.
