At least one of the tests submitted in a Young Scholars application must have been administered no more than two years prior to the application date. As we strive to serve the extreme of the gifted population, the following scores are considered to be MINIMUM criteria for the Davidson Young Scholars program on both IQ and achievement testing. Test reports are reviewed in the context of a full application to determine eligibility for this program. Upon review of the application, additional testing or information may be requested in order to determine the applicant’s eligibility. If you cannot access testing due to financial constraints, you may submit a portfolio of work samples in place of testing.
Additional tests not listed on the Qualifying Tests and Score Guidelines, such as the Stanford-Binet Form L-M, may be submitted in addition to, but not in place of, the tests listed below.
Qualifying Test & Score Guidelines
INDIVIDUALLY ADMINISTERED IQ TESTS
| Test Name |
Minimum Score Guidelines |
| Stanford-Binet-V or Stanford-Binet-IV (SB-V or SB-IV) |
Standard score 145+ (99.9th percentile):
Verbal, Non-Verbal or Full Scale |
| Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) |
Standard score 145+ (99.9th percentile) Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, General Ability Index (GAI), or Full Scale |
| Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence – III (WPPSI-III) |
Standard score 150+ (99.9th percentile):
Verbal, Performance or Full Scale |
| Woodcock-Johnson Cognitive Battery-III (WJ-III Cog) |
Standard score 150+ (99.9th percentile) General Intellectual Ability |
| Differential Abilities Scale-II (DAS-II) |
Standard Score 145+ (99.9th percentile) General Conceptual Ability, Verbal Ability, or Nonverbal Reasoning |
INDIVIDUALLY ADMINISTERED ACHIEVEMENT TESTS
| Test Name |
Minimum Score Guidelines |
| Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement-II (KTEA-II) |
Standard score 145+ (99.9th percentile): Reading, Math or Total Battery |
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - II
(WIAT - II) |
Standard score 145+ (99.9th percentile) Total Reading, Total Mathematics, Total Written Language, or Total Composite |
| Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement-III (WJ-III Ach) |
Standard score 145+ (99.9th percentile): Broad Reading, Broad Math, Broad Written Language, or 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 |
590 |
630 |
650 |
700 |
| Math |
630 |
680 |
700 |
720 |
| Combined |
1220 |
1310 |
1350 |
1420 | Critical Reading, Math or Combined
|
| ACT |
| ACT |
Grade 7 |
Grade 8 |
Grade 9 |
Grade 10 |
| English |
26 |
28 |
30 |
32 |
| Math |
25 |
27 |
30 |
33 |
| Reading |
28 |
30 |
32 |
34 |
| Science Reasoning |
24 |
26 |
28 |
30 |
| Composite |
24 |
26 |
28 |
30 | At least three of the five scores listed, including the composite score
|
| Explore |
|
EXPLORE |
Grade 3 |
Grade 4 |
Grade 5 |
Grade 6 |
| English |
16 |
19 |
22 |
23 |
| Math |
14 |
16 |
18 |
21 |
| Reading |
16 |
18 |
21 |
23 |
| Science Reasoning |
16 |
18 |
20 |
22 |
| Composite |
15 |
17 |
20 |
22 | At least three of the five scores listed, including the composite score
|
Please see How to Apply for additional information regarding the application process.
Qualifying Test and Score Guidelines last updated August 2009
This page last Updated August 2009
THIS GUIDE MAY NOT BE REPRINTED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE DAVIDSON INSTITUTE FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT.