SCAT Practice & Test Guidance for 2nd-3rd Grade (2024)

The SCAT Test is an above-grade-level test used as an entrance exam to the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) program. 2nd and 3rd grade students take the Elementary SCAT Test. The scores of 2nd graders are compared to a general 4th grade level and the scores of 3rd graders are compared to a general 5th grade level. Most of the time, once the student takes the Elementary SCAT once, s/he is not required to take it again until s/he reaches the next level, the Intermediate SCAT.

Like any gifted children’s test, the Elementary SCAT opens a range of doors for the future, not just with admission to the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, but with several other programs as well. Having a solid report that accurately reflects your child’s abilities can be used for several programs’ considerations. In addition, it gives you, as a parent and/or mentor, a detailed understanding of your child’s abilities in both language and math.

By properly preparing your child for the Elementary SCAT, you are reducing the chances of his or her results being blurred by factors such as testing anxiety or small gaps in knowledge. Learn more about the SCAT.

2nd and 3rd graders take the Elementary SCAT, which has questions designed for 3rd-6th grade students. The test is comprised of 55 multiple choice questions per section (five of the questions in each of the sections are experimental and it is unknown which are the experimental questions). Students have 22 minutes to complete each of the two sections, with a 10-minute break in between, for a total of 54 minutes. As in the case of Advanced and Intermediate SCAT Testing, the two sections included on the test are verbal and quantitative:

• The 2nd-3rd Grade SCAT verbal section assesses the student’s understanding of word definitions and consists of verbal reasoning analogy questions. In each question, students are presented with a pair of words that are related to each other in some way. They are then to select from the answer options a pair of words that shares the same relation.
• The 2nd-3rd Grade SCAT quantitative section assesses how well the student is able to work with numbers and consists of multiple-choice mathematical comparisons. Each question displays two quantities, of which the student needs to choose the one with the greater value.

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the day before the test. All brains need time to process, especially those still growing. Make sure that your child is getting the proper rest he or she needs for optimal strength and performance.
• Don’t add any new information right before the test. Save the reviewing for the days before the test, and not the day of. Absorbing any new information on the day of the actual test can lead to your child forgetting previously learned material because of anxiety.
• Pack healthy snacks. Sitting for 50+ minutes to take a test can be tiring for anyone, especially a small child. Make sure to pack with your child the snacks necessary to provide adequate nutrition and brain power.
• Give you and your child plenty of time to get to the testing center. Minimize stress as much as possible by getting to the test well before it begins. This will also benefit in supplying your child with plenty of pep talk.
• Give the test a fun aspect. Let’s face it- your child is most likely not excited for the test; it’s OK, it’s only natural. However, motivation plays a big role in optimizing performance. Keeping your child motivated before the test can boost your child’s abilities and confidence throughout the test. Improve motivation by letting your child choose an activity he or she enjoys to do after the test, anything from eating ice cream to going to the movies (or both, of course!)
• Don’t put pressure on your child. Taking a test can be a scary thing, and this is true for all ages. Try not to add unnecessary pressure to your child before the exam, as this will only worsen the effects, and increase the chances of forgetting information and blanking on certain questions.

Don't know where to start in your prepping process? Try our free SCAT sample questions for elementary, intermediate, and advanced testing!

View and download a free SCAT Elementary Sample Test. This is a printable practice test with various questions and explanations. This would be an excellent starting point for progressing towards the upcoming SCAT Elementary test.

SCAT Elementary Sample Test PDF

In order to succeed on the SCAT, it is important to set aside time to practice. Help your 2nd or 3rd grader succeed on the SCAT with TestPrep-Online’s level specific and child-friendly SCAT Elementary Practice Test Packs. Start today!