Northwestern Universitys

1

• Northwestern Universitys
• Midwest AcademicTalent Search
• Center for Talent Development
• Evanston, Illinois
• 847-491-3782
• ctd_at_northwestern.edu
• www.ctd.northwestern.edu

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What is the Center for Talent Development (CTD)?

• School of Education at Northwestern University
• Founded in 1981
• Mission Serving gifted children and their
  families from PreK through grade 12 through a
  variety of programs.
• Programs Testing, research, family conferences,
  Saturday and Summer Programs and
  distance-learning courses for gifted students

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How does CTD serve gifted students through
testing?

• Students test by participating in
• Northwestern Universitys
• Midwest Academic Talent Search
• (NUMATS)

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How Does NUMATS Serve Gifted Students?

• Provides students in grades 3 through 9 the
  opportunity to take an above grade-level test and
  also
• Provides academic counseling material, based on
  scores achieved on the above grade-level test

5
Additional Ways NUMATS Serves Gifted Students

• Provides resource information on special
  opportunities -- this resource continues until
  students graduate from high school
• Helps bright students understand their abilities
  and plan for their future

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What is Above Grade-Level Testing?

• Definition Using a test designed for older
  students
• Rationale Above grade-level tests have enough
  ceiling (difficult questions) for students with
  advanced abilities.

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Which Above Grade-Level Tests are Used?

• EXPLORE Test for students in grades 3 through 6
• (a test designed for students in grade 8 and
  typically used for high school placement)
• SAT or ACT Tests for students in grades 6 through
  9
• (tests designed for juniors and seniors in
  high school and typically used for college
  admissions)

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Above Grade-Level Testing
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How Do NUMATS Students Perform?

• Most participants are not frustrated by the
  testing experience.
• As a group, NUMATS students perform
• - about as well as the older students on the ACT
  and SAT
• - even better than the older students on EXPLORE.

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NUMATS Performance (cont.)

• NUMATS students continue their achievement into
  high school.
• NUMATS students take more accelerated and
  advanced courses.
• NUMATS students tend to excel and do not burn
  out.

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Student and Family Benefits

• Practice taking tests that are used for
  highschool placement in many schools and also
  for college admissions
• Test preparation materials
• Test scores reflecting a more accurate assessment
  of a students abilities

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Student Family Benefits (cont.)

• Information on educational programs for
  gifted students across the United States
• Academic counseling information including
  recommended courses matched to students ability
  level
• College planning materials (College Guide sent to
  all students when they are in grade 10)

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Further Participation Benefits

• CTD Award Ceremony invitation for top scorers in
  grades 4 through 8
• Invitations to local and state Award Ceremonies
• Tuition Scholarships for CTD programs to first
  place winners

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How Does a Student Register?

• Register online at www.ctd.northwestern.edu or
• Secure a paper registration from your school or
• Contact CTD for a registration form,
• 847-491-3782 ctd_at_northwestern.edu

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What Happens After a Student Registers?

• Preparation material and an admission ticket are
  sent to students homes.
• Test is taken preferably in January or February
  (although later test dates are available).
• Results are mailed to students homes and to CTD
  four-five weeks after testing.
• Students receive follow-up interpretive packets
  at their homes.
• CTD sends scores to schools.
• Qualified students receive invitations to summer
  programs and distance learning programs.

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What is in the Follow-Up packet?

• A Statistical Summary comparing the students
  scores with their peers scores
• A Planning Resource Guide which recommends
  courses that match the students abilities
• Long Range Academic Plan which gives students
  scores and their percentile ranks compared to
  other NUMATS students
• Talent newsletter, a publication of CTD

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In addition students will receive

• The Educational Program Guide which contains
  listings of gifted learning experiences
  throughout the Midwest
• A certificate recognizing their participation in
  NUMATS
• A copy of the College Guide when they are in
  grade 10

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Common Misconceptions

• If I can take the ACT/SAT on my own why should I
  register through NUMATS ?
• Scores for younger students are confusing when
  viewed out of context.
• NUMATS provides easy-to-understand material to
  help young students and
• parents interpret scores and plan educational
  needs for the future.

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Common Misconceptions

• I am not interested in gifted programs
  outside of my school so why should I test?
• To track your annual academic growth
• To practice taking a test you may have to take
  later for placement in high school or admission
  to college
• To receive interpretive material
• To compare your academic abilities with your
  peers

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Why Should A Student Participate in NUMATS?

• Students, parents and teachers receive valuable
  information, materials and testing experience
  when they participate in NUMATS.
• Everybody wins!