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Home > Talent Search and Testing
CTY Talent Search: Grades 7-8

What is the CTY Talent Search?

The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY), a world leader in gifted education, conducts national and international talent searches to identify, assess, and recognize outstanding academic talent. Through the Talent Search, high-performing students take a test designed for older students. This above-grade-level testing can reveal more about the academic talents of students who are toppingout on grade-level tests.

How was my child selected?

We ask educators to nominate students who exhibit outstanding academic talent to participate in the annual CTY Talent Search. The nominations are based on any of the following criteria:

  • Achievement at the 95th percentile or higher on one or more areas of a nationally normed standardized test
  • Achievement at advanced levels on state tests, designated as scoring in categories such as advanced proficiency, distinguished, honors, or gifted
  • Demonstration of superior academic performance

Parents may enroll children who meet any of these requirements.

The nomination of your child to the CTY Talent Search is an honor in itself, in that it recognizes your child's outstanding academic talent.

Please note: Students must be attending school or homeschool in AK, AZ, CA, CT, DE, HI, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, OR, PA, RI, VT, VA, WA, WV, or DC to receive full Talent Search benefits. For students living overseas, CTY has an International Talent Search.

Talent Search benefits, now and lasting...

Let CTY help you guide your child through the next stage of intellectual growth and development. Enroll your child in the Talent Search to receive the following benefits, and more!

  • Assess a student's high academic talents and/or reveal previously unrecognized abilities
  • Receive statistical data about Talent Search participant's test scores by grade
  • Be recognized by Johns Hopkins University for academic talent via certificates (and state awards ceremonies if qualified)
  • Receive email news items for gifted students and their families, as well as updates on CTY's programs
  • Gain access to CTY's rewarding Family Academic Programs
  • Potentially qualify for hundreds of courses offered by CTY's Summer Programs and CTYOnline

Learn more about Talent Search benefits!

How Do I Participate?

1. Submit Talent Search Application

Online registration is available here starting September 1, 2008.
OR
Complete the Talent Search paper application included with the brochure and mail to CTY with non-refundable $35 fee payable to CTY/JHU. You may order a CTY Talent Search paper application here (applications will be mailed starting September 1, 2008).

See calendar below for deadlines.

2. Receive test registration materials

CTY will mail you a test registration packet containing the materials you need to register to take the SAT and ACT. The mailing of this packet is confirmation that CTY has received your Talent Search application.

IMPORTANT: It is your responsibility to contact CTY at 410-735-6278 or ctyinfo@jhu.edu if you have not received your test registration packet three weeks after submitting your Talent Search application.

See calendar below deadlines.

3. Register to test

See calendar below for deadlines.

Register for the SAT or ACT by mailing in the test registration form.
To find test centers, please visit the SAT test center locator or the ACT test center locator.

If you are a student who requires special conditions for testing, please consult your test registration booklet or CTY's Testing with Disabilities Page for more information.

4. Take the SAT or ACT

See calendar below for deadlines.

Fees

CTY Talent Search application fee = $35
+
SAT Test registration fee = $45
OR
ACT Test registration fee = $31

What Happens After I Test?

If you took the SAT, you will receive your scores from the SAT College Board. If you took the ACT, you will receive your scores from ACT.

Qualified students will receive academic program catalogs. Program information is also available on-line for Summer Programs and CTYOnline.

Your school will receive your SAT/ACT scores from CTY in April.* 

*Parents wishing to withhold scores from schools must notify the CTY Talent Search in writing. These requests must be received at CTY by February 1, 2008, regardless of test date.

Eligible students will receive Awards Ceremony invitations in early April. To be eligible, Talent Search participants must test by February 15 and score at or above one of the following levels:

Grade 7 >= 550 SAT-M or 550 SAT-CR or 600 STB or 22 ACT-R or 21 ACT-M
Grade 8 >= 600 SAT-M or 600 SAT-CR or 600 STB or 24 ACT-R or 24 ACT-M

You will receive a Resource Packet from CTY in May/June which includes: Certificate of Participation, Talent Search Report, and Suggested Reading List.

2007-2008 Calendar

2008-2009 Calendar coming soon!

Dec SAT

Jan SAT

Dec ACT

Feb ACT

Submit Talent Search application by

Oct 1

Nov 20

Oct 1

Nov 20

Receive test registration materials by

3 weeks after submitting application

3 weeks after submitting application

3 weeks after submitting application

3 weeks after submitting application

Register to test by

Oct 30

Dec 26

Nov 2

Jan 4

Take the test

Dec 1

Jan 26

Dec 8

Feb 9

Talent Search and Testing

©The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland. All rights reserved.
CTY is accredited for grades 5 through 12 by the Commission on Secondary Schools of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Center for Talented Youth -- A world leader in gifted education
5801 Smith Ave #400 McAuley Hall, Baltimore, Maryland 21209
Phone: 410 735-4100 / 410 735-6200 / Email: ctyinfo@jhu.edu

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