A Hotlist on SAT
An Internet Hotlist on SAT

created by SAT in Grade 7?

Introduction | Additional Links


Introduction

Introduction
DID YOU SAY THAT MY STUDENT IS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE SAT IN 7 TH GRADE? ISN'T THAT THE SAME ADMISSION TEST THAT JUNIORS AND SENIORS TAKE FOR COLLEGE?

By the beginning of October, students will be notified of their eligibility for the Johns Hopkins Talent Search. Qualifying students will receive information from the guidance office further describing the process of participating in the program. One of the most surprising elements of the talent search to both parents and students is the fact that participating students take the SAT.

This website was designed to help guide you and your family through the decision making process by answering some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the talent search process. If you have further questions, you may wish to refer to the websites linked below or for more specific questions contact the guidance office or Ms. Kashey at the middle school.



WHAT IS THE TALENT SEARCH?
The Johns Hopkins University Talent Search is a research-based organization that identifies, assesses and recognizes students with exceptional mathematical and/or reasoning ability. It is designed to identify, challenge and reward academically able young people.




WHY IS THE SAT USED?
Students are identified for participation in the Talent Search by scoring at or above the 97th percentile on a nationally normed, standardized aptitude or achievement test. These in-grade level tests often do not reveal the full extent of highly able students’ academic ability. The Talent Search uses the SAT to provide a more accurate assessment of advanced talents.



WHO QUALIFIES?
Any 7th grade student who has taken a qualifying, standardized test such as the IOWA Achievement Test in sixth grade AND scored at the 97th percentile in one of the testing sub-categories in Reading or Mathematics, NOT Language.




WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
-Students who score well may qualify to:

-Participate in summer camps

-Earn 3-credit scholarships to local
colleges to take a class while in 8th or
9th grade:

*In the past seven years, one PV student
has earned a scholarship for a course.
Scholarship awards are dependent on course
tuition donations by local colleges and
universities.

-Participate in correspondence courses
-Have the experience of taking the SAT




WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED?
Letters will be sent directly to your home from the PVMS by mid-October. Information is included to register your student for the SAT.


WHAT IS THE COST?
-The Center For Talented Youth (CTY) charges a fee
of approximately $30.00 to participate in the
talent search.

AND

-SAT registration is approx. $23.00 (paper and
pencil) or $ 75.00(computerized)

-Paper-and-pencil version recommended rather than
the computerized version




DO THE SCORES REMAIN ON THE STUDENT’S RECORD?
No. Sorry, you will need to take them again as a junior or senior.





CAN ANYONE TAKE THE SAT?
As a matter of fact, yes. Anyone, at any age, may take the SAT. You need NOT be invited by Johns Hopkins to take the SAT. If your child was not eligible for the talent search, please contact the high school guidance office for a registration booklet OR check the SAT website (link on this site).




HOW DO THE 7th GRADE STUDENTS TYPICALLY SCORE ON THE SAT?
The range varies from year to year, and from student to student. Students who score higher on the SAT tend to have qualified for the talent search in at least several subtest areas and/or their overall achievement test score.

Individual student scores for each section typically range from 350-500 (a perfect score for each section is 800). Usually a handful of participating students from our middle school earn between 500-700 on one or both of the SAT subtests.




DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TALENT SEARCH PORTION?
As a research institution on gifted education, Johns Hopkins University provides feedback regarding ways of fostering a student’s mathematical or verbal strength and invites students scoring 700 or above on either the verbal or mathematics section to participate in special studies. If you decide to take the SAT and NOT participate in the Talent Search, students would be ineligible for participation in this study and feedback. In addition, students not participating in the Talent Search are NOT eligible for any 3-credit course scholarships. Qualifying students, however, remain eligible for summer programs as well as the correspondence courses. If you decide not to participate in the Talent Search, you will need to contact Ms.Kashey for information once your student’s scores have arrived.




MY 8TH GRADER RECEIVED A LETTER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TALENT SEARCH AGAIN. WAS THIS A MISTAKE?
No. Johns Hopkins sends invitations to some 8th graders to participate in the Talent Search as an 8th grader based on their achievement on the SATs when they were in 7th grade. These invitations are sent directly to the student from Johns Hopkins NOT through the school district.




WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION TO REGISTER MY CHILD?

Whether or not your child takes the SAT is a personal decision. During the decision making process, it may be helpful to consider the following:

1. Is my child eligible for the talent search based on high scores on several subtests or the overall score for the achievement test? Or is my child only eligible because one subtest score is high?

TAKING AN ABOVE GRADE LEVEL TEST, SUCH AS THE SAT, IS MOST INFORMATIVE FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE REACHED THE SCORING CEILING OF THEIR GRADE LEVEL TEST. ON A GRADE LEVEL TEST, THESE STUDENTS ARE UNABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BECAUSE THEY 'TOP OUT'. IF A STUDENT HAS CONSISTENTLY HIGH SCORES (98th and 99th percentile) ON THE MAJORITY OF SUBTESTS and SCORES IN THE 98th or 99th percentile FOR EITHER THE READING OR MATH TOTAL, THE CHILD IS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE 'HIT THE SCORING CEILING'.


2. Does my child WANT to take the SAT?

3. Why do we want our child to participate in this program? (Experience with testing? Earn a scholarship? Be eligible for camps?)

STUDENTS WHO EARN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A COURSE DURING THEIR 8TH OR 9TH GRADE YEAR TYPICALLY SCORE WELL ABOVE 600 ON AT LEAST ONE SECTION OF THE SAT. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT AT THIS TIME (2004), THERE ARE NO COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES WHO OFFER STUDENTS WITHIN THE PERKIOMEN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT ZIP CODES A SCHOLARSHIP. STUDENTS, HOWEVER, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SEVERAL UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC CAMPS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BASED ON THEIR SAT ACHIEVEMENT. THESE CAMPS COST APPROXIMATELY $2,200.


4. Why does my child want to participate in this program? (Experience with testing, to be eligible for camps? Earn a scholarship? Because other students are taking the SAT?)


5. Does my child react positively to testing situations or does testing cause undue stress?

IF YOUR CHILD WILL BECOME OVERLY NERVOUS OR WILL HAVE UNREALISTIC PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS, IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED.


6. Does my child react positively to receiving testing results regardless of the outcome?


7. Will my child view this as a learning experience—an opportunity to preview the SAT for the future?














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Last revised Tue Mar 30 7:50:43 US/Pacific 2004