To enter the CTY Talent Search, students must have a qualifying test score. Here are some guidelines to assist you in determining if a student has a qualifying, or acceptable test.

GUIDELINES

We encourage educators, parents, and others to nominate students who exhibit outstanding academic talent to participate in the CTY Talent Search. The nominations are based on the following criteria:

95th percentile or higher...

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

State tests...

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

For a list of state tests click here

Parent Nomination Form

Students who do not have standardized test scores may use the parent nomination form. The parent nomination form is NOT to be used for students who have scores below the 95th percentile, but only for those students with NO test scores. This form must be mailed WITH the student's Talent Search application. The Parent Nomination Form is available as part of the online application, you do not need to mail the form in if you are applying online. Download a copy of the parent nomination form now.

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

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

ACCEPTABLE TEST LIST

Although this is not a complete listing of tests CTY accepts, it does provide information on the most commonly used tests.

When acceptable subtests are listed, they are coded to assist the student in entering the percentile rank on the Talent Search application.

M = Math
V = Verbal
C = Composite

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abbreviated Stanford Achievement Test (ASAT)

California Achievement Test (CAT)

M Mathematics Concepts and Applications
M Total Mathematics
V Reading Comprehension
V Total Reading
C Science
C Social Studies
C Total Battery

Cognitive Ability Test (CogAT)

M Quantitative
C Nonverbal
V Verbal
C Total

Cognitive Skills Inventory (CSI)

Comprehensive Assessment Program (CAP) Achievement Series

M Mathematics Total
M Math Concepts & Problem-solving
V Reading Total
V Reading Comprehension
C Social Studies
C Science

Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP); see ERB

Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS)

M Mathematics Concepts & Applications
M Total Mathematics
V Reading Comprehension
V Total Reading
C Total Battery
C Science
C Social Studies

CTB/McGraw-Hill (also see NYSTP)

M Mathematics Concepts and Applications
M Total Mathematics
V Comprehension
V Total Reading
C Science
C Social Studies
C Total Battery

Degrees of Reading Power (DRP)

Developing Cognitive Abilities

Diagnostic Inventory of Essential Mathematics (Keymath)

Differential Aptitude Tests (DAT)

M Numerical Ability
V Verbal Reasoning
C Abstract Reasoning
C Verbal Reasoning & Numerical Ability

ERB (Educational Records Bureau)*

M Quantitative Aptitude/Ability
M Mathematics Basic Concepts
M Mathematics
V Reading
V Verbal Aptitude/Ability
V Reading Comprehension
C Total Aptitude
C Total Battery

* Schools administering the CTP 4 can use the following chart of scaled scores since there are no national norms for Level 1 and 2 of the CTP 4:
LEVEL 1
Reading Comprehension: Spring 1 >= 319 scale score; Fall 2 >= 323 scale score
Mathematics: Spring 1 >= 251 scale score; Fall 2 >= 276 scale score
LEVEL 2
Reading Comprehension: Spring 2>= 330 scale score; Fall 3>= 334 scale score
Mathematics: Spring 2>= 285 scale score; Fall 3>= 294 scale score

Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests

GOALS

V Reading
M Mathematics
C Social Science
C Science

Henmon-Nelson Tests of Mental Ability

Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE)
(Independent school norms of 80 or higher are acceptable)

V Verbal Ability\Reasoning
V Reading Comprehension
M Quantitative Ability\Reasoning

Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS)

M Mathematics Concepts
M Mathematics Problem Solving
M Mathematics Total
V Reading Comprehension
V Reading Total
C Complete Composite
C Social Studies
C Science

Iowa Test of Silent Reading

Individual Tests of Academic Skills (ITAS)

M Problem Solving and Applications
M Total Mathematics
V Reading Comprehension
V Reading

Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (K-TEA)

Kentucky Essential Skills Test

Kuhlman-Anderson Tests: A Measure of Academic Potential

M Quantitative
V Verbal
C Total

Longitudinal Assessment Program (LAP)

M Mathematics Concepts
M Mathematics Problem-solving
M Total Mathematics
V Reading Comprehension
V Total Reading
C Total Complete Battery
C Science
C Social Studies
C Thinking Skills

National Achievement Test (NAT)

National Test of Basic Skills (NTBS)

Nelson-Denny Reading Test

New Standards
(will accept "Achieved Standards with Honors")
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "other" and leave percentile blank.

M Mathematics Total
M Mathematical Concepts
M Mathematical Problem Solving
V Reading Total
V Reading Basic Understanding
V Reading Analysis and Interpretation
V Writing Effectiveness

NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) Achievement Level Tests

NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) Measures of Academic Progress

Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test (OLMAT)

Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT)

Piaget Individual Aptitude Test (PIAT)

Ravens Progressive Matrices

Ross Test of Higher Cognitive Abilities

Survey of Basic Skills (SBS) part of SRA

Scholastic Testing Service

M Mathematics Concepts
M Nonverbal Cognitive Skills
V Reading Comprehension
V Verbal Cognitive Skills
C Total Cognitive Skills
C Social Studies
C Science

Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students (SAGES)

V Reasoning
C School Acquired Info (SAI)

Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)

M Quantitative Ability
V Reading Comprehension
V Verbal Ability
C Total Ability

Sequential Test of Educational Progress (STEP)

M Math Basic Concepts
V Reading
C Science
C Social Studies

Science Research Associates, Inc. (SRA)

M Math Concepts
M Math Problem Solving
M Total Math
V Reading Comprehension
V Reading Total
C Composite
C Social Studies
C Science
C Educational Ability Series

Scott-Foresman Test of Academic Aptitude

Scott-Foresman Achievement Series

Student Learning Objectives (SLO)

Stanford Diagnostic Math

Stanford Achievement Test (SAT)

M Problem Solving
M Mathematics Concepts
M Concepts of Number
M Mathematics Applications
M Total Mathematics
V Reading Comprehension
V Total Reading
C Total Complete Battery
C Science
C Social Science
C Thinking Skills

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

Terra Nova

M Math/Quantitative
M Math Composite
M Sequencing
V Analogies
V Context
V Reading
V Reading Composite
V Vocabulary
C Total Score
C Science
C Social Studies

Test of Cognitive Skills

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)

Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery

M Mathematics Achievement
M Mathematics Aptitude
V Reading Achievement
V Reading Aptitude
V Verbal Ability
C Reasoning
C Full Scale Cognitive Ability

Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests

World Class Test

STATE TESTS

Alaska Comprehensive System of Student Assessment (CSSA)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced" scores in Reading and Mathematics)

Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS)

California Standards Test (CST)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced" scores in English/Language Arts and Mathematics)

Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

If using Generation 4 will accept "Advanced"

If using Generation 3:
M Mathematics (minimum raw score: grade 4 = 103; grade 6 = 133)
V Reading Comprehension (minimum raw score: grade 4 = 29; grade 6 = 28)

Maryland State Assessments (MSA)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced Proficiency Levels" if no national percentile equivalents are provided)
If national percentiles are given, please use 97th percentile or higher.

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced Performance Levels")

New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced Proficient Levels" in Mathematics and/or Language Arts)

New York Statewide Testing Program (NYSTP); produced by CTB-McGraw Hill
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept performance levels of "4" that indicate "Meeting learning standards with distinction")

Oregon State Assessment
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept state percentiles of 95 or higher in reading/literature and mathematics; i.e. the "total score" that is used to determine Oregon TAG identification)

Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced Performance Levels" in Mathematics and Reading)

Tests of New York State Standards (TONYSS)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept performance level of 4 "advanced")

M Mathematical Reasoning
M Number and Numeration
M Operations
M Modeling/Multiple Representation
M Measurement
M Uncertainty
M Patterns/Functions
V Information and Understanding
V Literary Response and Expression
V Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Virginia Standards of Learning (VA-SOL)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept "Advanced Levels")

Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

(will accept level 4)

West Virginia Educational Standards Test (WESTEST)
If using this test, students should complete Talent Search application qualifying test with "State Test" and leave percentile blank.

Students need to attain a scaled score that falls within the Distinguished Performance Level in any one content area including Mathematics, Reading / Language Arts, Science, or Social Studies.