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Above-grade Eligibility Assessments for Davidson Applicants

Eligibility Assessment Partnership

The Davidson Institute’s Young Scholars program accepts several intelligence and achievement tests. You can learn more about those testing options on ours on our Eligibility and Testing page.

In an effort to make several of the many tests we accept more readily available to families, the Davidson Institute has partnered with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) to offer Davidson-specific eligibility assessment opportunities for students in grades 3-5, as well as students in grades 6-10.

Please Note: There is no preference given for scores from these testing opportunities, as opposed to scores from one of the other accepted tests listed below. We only require results from one test for the Young Scholars application.

In addition to the Young Scholars program, scores from these testing opportunities will also be accepted by the following Davidson programs:

Because each Davidson program has their own eligibility criteria, application, and application process, please consult the website of the program you are interested in to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date information on that program’s application criteria and process.

Grade 3-5 Eligibility Assessment Opportunities

Grade 3-5 Test Dates Spring 2025

This Davidson-specific testing opportunity is limited to the dates released. We have worked with CTD to establish a remote, online testing environment that is in line with the testing and eligibility requirements of Davidson programs. Similarly, the test itself is administered above-grade level, in order to meet the criteria of Davidson programs. As a result of these Davidson-specific testing details, we will only be accepting CTD testing results from Davidson-specific testing dates. 

To join the waitlist and be notified when Fall 2025 test dates are available, later this summer, CLICK HERE!

Look for updated information here, in our newsletter, and on our social media accounts. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on this testing opportunity.

Grade 6-10 Eligibility Assessment Opportunities

Grade 6-10 Test Dates Spring 2025:  

This Davidson-specific testing opportunity will be limited to the dates released. We have worked with CTD to establish a remote, online testing environment that is in line with the testing and eligibility requirements of Davidson programs. As a result, we will only be accepting CTD testing results from Davidson-specific testing dates. 

All 2025 Spring test dates are full and closed to registration. To join the waitlist and be notified when Fall 2025 test dates are available, later this summer, CLICK HERE!

Look for updated information here, in our newsletter, and on our social media accounts. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on this testing opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can register for this testing opportunity?

Based on the eligibility testing accepted by Davidson programs, the grade 3-5 Eligibility Assessment opportunities will include a Davidson-specific ITBS test (August 2024) and proctored, practice PSAT 8/9 and PreACT test sessions. The grade 6-10 Eligibility Assessment opportunities will include proctored, practice SAT and ACT test sessions.

What dates can I register for?

We have worked with CTD to establish a remote, online testing environments that is in line with the testing and eligibility requirements of Davidson programs. As a result, we will only be accepting scores from the proctored, practice PSAT 8/9, PreACT, SAT, and ACT, as well as ITBS scores, from the Davidson-specific test dates listed above.

To ensure that this opportunity is open and available to as many eligible testers as possible, testers are not allowed to participate in two consecutive testing dates.

That is, if you register your child to test through one of these Eligibility Assessment opportunities and then want them to retest, you must wait one testing session before doing so.

Ex. If your child tests during the January test date, they cannot immediately test again during the February test date.

How much does test registration cost?

Test registration is $100 per test session.

My child is not in the 3rd grade yet. Can they register for one of these tests?

Based on the eligibility testing accepted by Davidson programs, through our partnership with CTD, we are only able to offer Eligibility Assessment opportunities for students in grades 3-10.

Currently, we do not have a specific Davidson-hosted testing opportunity for younger students. Should that change, information will be posted on the website. In the meantime, you can learn more about the other accepted testing options by checking the admissions page of the Davidson program(s) you’re interested in.

We realize that one of the barriers many families face when pursuing resources or opportunities for their profoundly gifted (PG) or twice-exceptional (2e) child is being able to access testing. To help us better understand the challenges families encounter when pursuing and accessing testing opportunities for their child, please share your thoughts in our Testing Access Survey. Your thoughts will help to inform our work going forward.

You can also view our Gifted Testers and Therapists List to find potential testers in your area. Our Guides to Gifted Identification, Testing, and Therapists may also be useful to you as you navigate the identification and assessment process with your child.

How often can I register for one of these testing dates?

To ensure that this opportunity is open and available to as many eligible testers as possible, testers are not allowed to participate in two consecutive testing dates.

That is, if you register your child to take one of the above tests and then want them to retest, you must wait one testing session before doing so.

Additionally, students can only participate in a maximum of two test dates during this 2025 testing season (March-December 2025).

Are test results automatically applied to my student’s application?

No. Test scores are not automatically applied to applications, as families have the opportunity to use scores from these testing opportunities for several Davidson programs, including Davidson Institute’s Young Scholars Program, Davidson Institute’s Explore Program, Davidson Academy – Reno, and Davidson Academy Online. Each of these programs has their own application and process. Therefore, families must upload their scores to any Davidson application they wish to submit.

How do I submit my test results?

Test scores will be available to you via your CTD dashboard. Please download your child’s score report. From there, please upload the file with your child’s scores to the Davidson program application you are filling out. 

If you have any questions about this testing opportunity, please contact our Outreach team at Outreach@DavidsonGifted.org.