SCAT Intermediate Sample Questions: Preparing Gifted Students for Academic Excellence

To succeed on the Advanced SCAT Test, it is important for your child to be properly prepared. To help your 6th-8th grader’s preparation process, TestPrep-Online offers its Advanced SCAT Test Preparation Packs. All of TestPrep-Online’s SCAT practice material is designed to simulate testing conditions as much as possible, while still offering user-friendly practicing material, and an opportunity to study online at a pace that best suits your child’s needs. 

Advanced SCAT:

• Target Grades: Students currently in grades 6, 7, and 8 (and sometimes higher, depending on the program).
• Content Difficulty: The questions are typically based on material found in grades 9-12 (high school) curricula.
• Verbal: Features sophisticated vocabulary and complex analogical reasoning.
• Quantitative: Covers a broader range of high school math topics, including algebra I & II concepts, functions, more complex geometry, probability, and statistics, all within the comparison format.

Verbal reasoning questions all have the same instruction

Each question begins with two words. These two words go together in a certain way. Under them, there are four other pairs of words lettered A, B, C, and D.

Quantitative reasoning questions all have the same instruction.

Each of the following questions has two parts. One part is in Column A. The other part is in Column B.
You must find out if one part is greater than the other or if the parts are equal.

Then, choose one of the four answers below:

A if the part in Column A is greater
B if the part in Column B is greater
C if the two parts are equal
D if not enough information is given for you to decide

Whatever the results on the test end up being, the score reports you receive after your child takes the SCAT can give you a far better understanding of where his or her academic strengths and weaknesses lie.

The SCAT is administered by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) to identify students eligible for its advanced academic programs. Students in grades 6-8 take the Advanced SCAT, which is normed against students in grades 9-12.

High SCAT scores at the advanced level can be used to apply to John Hopkins’ Talented Youth Programs after completion of 7th grade, since it is not necessary to take the same SCAT exam every year.

Benefits: 

• Qualification for elite college preparation programs 

• Placement into advanced/AP courses in high school 

• Development of college-level analytical thinking 

• Enhanced college application profile 

• Preparation for collegiate academic rigor 

• Potential scholarship opportunities 

Advanced SCAT Test Format & Content

• 55 multiple-choice questions per section (Verbal and Quantitative)
• 22 minutes per section, with a 10-minute break between them
• Administered via computer

Read more about test registration on our SCAT Registration FAQ page.

• Understanding the question types: The SCAT measures verbal and quantitative reasoning abilities through two 22-minute sections. Preparation should focus on understanding and practicing verbal analogies (identifying relationships between pairs of words) and mathematical comparisons (determining the relationship between two quantities). 

• Developing strong reasoning skills: The SCAT emphasizes logical thinking over rote memorization. Therefore, strategies that enhance analytical and logical reasoning will be beneficial. 

• Expanding vocabulary: For the verbal analogies section, expanding vocabulary through reading and understanding roots and affixes is important. 

• Mastering fundamental mathematical concepts: Success in the mathematical comparisons section requires mastering fundamental mathematical concepts across various topics such as arithmetic operations, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. 

• Utilizing practice tests: While the sources specifically mention official SCAT sample questions, they also note that numerous external resources offer practice tests, study guides, and tutoring services tailored to the SCAT. Practicing with these materials can help students become more comfortable with the test format and pacing. 

• For older students (relevant to the Advanced SCAT), preparing for the PSAT 8/9, SAT, and ACT can serve a dual purpose of achieving CTY eligibility and providing valuable practice for future standardized testing. Effective preparation for these tests involves familiarizing oneself with the format and content, using official practice tests, and building fundamental skills in reading comprehension, writing, and mathematics. 

• Use SCAT Advanced practice tests. Using practice tests is a great way to reduce anxiety on the day of the actual test. By supplying practice tests during your prepping time, your child will become more accustomed to the testing format, and will therefore not be taken aback by the actual exam questions when s/he sees them.

Learn more about Elementary and Intermediate SCAT testing.