Young Scholars - Qualification Criteria

Evidence of Extreme Intellectual Abilities

The Davidson Young Scholars Qualification Criteria was developed to identify students at the extreme end of the gifted continuum, which is the population served by the Young Scholars program. The criteria for individually administered tests typically represent scores in the 99.9th percentile. 

The scores listed below represent the minimum eligibility requirements for consideration of admission into the Young Scholars program. Testing information is evaluated in the context of the rest of the application and supporting materials to determine admission eligibility.  The Davidson Institute is unable to determine whether or not an applicant will qualify for the Young Scholars program outside the context of a complete application. 

For additional details regarding the Young Scholars program and applications process, please visit:

• Young Scholar Application Checklist (PDF)
• How to Apply
• FAQs

For questions not addressed on these pages, please email ysapplications@davidsongifted.org. Emails will be answered within three to five business days.

Required – At least ONE test listed under Option #1 or Option #2

In efforts to obtain a current snapshot of the applicant’s intellectual and academic abilities, it is preferred that accepted tests be administered within two years of the application.  Accepted tests must: 

• Be administered when the applicant was at least 4 years old; AND 
• Meet or exceed the score guidelines listed; AND 
• Include an official, complete report with all pages attached. Reports for individually administered tests often include the tester’s observations, tests administered, test scores, explanation of findings, and recommendations.

Do you have testing administered more than two years ago?  We will consider testing administered up to four years prior to the application on an individual basis if the student was at least 6 years old at the time of testing. The full test report must be accompanied by current academic work samples or videos as described below under Supplemental Information.  

Can other tests be accepted in place of the tests listed below?  No. Eligibility can only be determined by submitting one of the accepted tests listed here. If you have an additional test, please review the Supplemental Information section below.  

ACCEPTED TESTS

OPTION #1 - INDIVIDUALLY ADMINISTERED IQ TESTS

Test Name	Minimum Score Guidelines
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales - Fifth Edition (SB5)	Standard score 145+ on at least one of the following: Verbal Nonverbal Full Scale
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition (WISC-IV)	Standard score 145+ on at least one of the following: Verbal Comprehension Perceptual Reasoning General Ability Index (GAI) Full Scale
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V)	Standard score 145+ on at least one of the following: General Ability Index (GAI) Full Scale Nonverbal Verbal (Expanded Crystallized) Index (VECI) Expanded Fluid Index (EFI) OR at least two of the following: Verbal Comprehension Visual Spatial Fluid Reasoning
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV)	Standard score 145+ on at least one of the following: General Ability Index (GAI)   Full Scale Nonverbal OR at least two of the following: Verbal Comprehension Visual Spatial Fluid Reasoning
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities - Third Normative Update or Fourth Edition (WJ-III NU or WJ-IV Cog)	Standard score 145+ on General Intellectual Ability (GIA)
Differential Ability Scales - Second Edition (DAS-II)	Standard Score 145+ on at least one of the following:  Verbal Ability  Nonverbal Reasoning General Conceptual Ability

OPTION #2 - INDIVIDUALLY ADMINISTERED ACHIEVEMENT TESTS

Test Name	Minimum Score Guidelines
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement - Second or Third Edition (KTEA-II or KTEA-3)	Standard score 145+ on at least two of the following: Reading Composite  Math Composite Written Language Composite Comprehensive Achievement Composite
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Third Edition (WIAT - III)	Standard score 145+ on at least two of the following: Total Reading Composite Mathematics Composite Written Expression Composite Total Achievement Composite
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement - Third Normative Update or Fourth Edition (WJ-III NU or WJ-IV Ach)	Standard score 145+ on at least two of the following: Broad Reading Broad Math Broad Written Language Total Achievement

TALENT SEARCH/COLLEGE PLACEMENT TESTS

Test Name	Minimum Score Guidelines
SAT	SAT Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Verbal/Crit. Reading 640 700 720 750 Math 660 720 740 760 Combined 1300 1420 1460 1510 Must meet or exceed on at least two of the scores listed above. The Combined score does not include writing. * The new version of the College Board SAT test may be submitted. Scores will be considered using the above testing criteria along with the published SAT concordance tables available through the College Board.
ACT	ACT Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 English 26 30 33 34 Math 23 28 32 33 Reading 28 31 33 34 Science Reasoning 24 28 31 32 Composite 24 28 31 32 Must meet or exceed on at least three out of five scores above. ****
Explore	EXPLORE Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 English 19 21 23 24 Math 16 18 21 24 Reading 18 19 22 24 Science Reasoning 18 20 23 24 Composite 17 19 21 23 Must meet or exceed on at least three out of five scores above.

Not Required - Additional Information

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 

Information included here will not add substantially to the review committee’s decision, nor override test scores that fall significantly below the Minimum Score Guidelines listed above. However, this additional information may assist the review committee in better understanding the applicant’s abilities.

A maximum of SIX of the following documents may be uploaded in this section of the application. Academic work samples or videos, which MUST include detailed information about each item. For example, the title and grade level of workbooks used, whether a work sample was edited several times or is a first draft, if the work was completed independently or was revised based on parent or teacher feedback, and the age and grade level at the time the work was completed.

Strong work samples include:    

• demonstrate abilities in academic areas such as math, writing, reading, science, or social studies
• demonstrate the applicant’s ability to work at least two to three grade levels above age peers
• demonstrate the ability to learn and process complex information rapidly, a need to explore subjects in surprising depth, or an insatiable curiosity
• Other evidence of extreme precocity, as determined by the applicant and family.
• Extenuating circumstances, as determined by the applicant and family.
• Certificates, awards, artwork, music pieces, or other non-academic samples do not add to the review committee’s decision.

All supplemental information must be uploaded as *.PDF or *.WMV files. Video files must be under 75MB in size and uploaded as *.WMV files. Please visit the FAQ and video help pages if you need additional support or information. 

For more information, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions about the Young Scholars program and application process. If your question is not answered in the FAQs, please email ysapplications@davidsongifted.org. Emails will be answered within three to five business days.

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