Preparing for SCAT – Here are Some Tips and Tricks

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SCAT, a special and unique test designed by the John Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth is one of a kind standardized test. It is for students from grade 2 and above and opens up portals to new and exciting opportunities. In this exam, students have to solve questions from higher grades. For example, a student in class 2-3 has to appear for a test designed with the curriculum of grades 4-5, and a student in grades 4-5 has to appear for an exam designed from grade 6-8 curriculum, and so on. Thus, it requires a student to learn more than their current curriculum.

However, SCAT tries to recognize gifted students and that process is a little difficult. But it is worth every effort and penny. Just appearing for the test itself has a lot of benefits whether you clear it or not. In case you do clear it, however, it can widen your horizon and open your eyes to a huge world of opportunities and similar-minded people. Plus, it doesn't have to be a lot of work. Replace hard work with smart work and things will be much better for you. With proper SCAT test practice, anybody can ace these exams. This article talks about a few tips and tricks that will help you score better.

1. Start early:

The thing with SCAT test preparation or any exam for that matter is that the earlier you begin your preparation, the easier the work will seem to you. Not only does it reduce the anxiety of cramming at the last moment but it also makes the hard work that you put in feel easier. It evenly spreads out the work over a larger period and reduces the stress. This will help you prepare better. Moreover, since SCAT tests your verbal and quantitative abilities, it has a huge curriculum and cannot be covered in a short span. There is nothing to mug up since the test checks your understanding more than your memory.

2. Read:

For the verbal part, your English skills will be tested. Even for a native speaker, the shift from informal speaking to formal can be difficult to adjust to. Moreover, having a polished vocabulary and a strong sense of grammar is extremely important when it comes to clearing the verbal section of the SCAT paper. Thus reading books, dictionaries, solving crosswords, etc, will help you develop a strong base in the English language.

3. Practice worksheets:

The only mantra for clearing SCAT is practice. Since the test is more analytical and time-based, the more you practice, the better you get at it. There is no upper limit as to how many worksheets you should practice. In SCAT, the paper is divided into two parts - quantitative and verbal. For each part, you only get 22 minutes to solve it. The two parts are divided by a 10-minute break. There is a short time so even if you are familiar with the problems, if you don't solve them on time, you will not crack the test. Thus, practice will also help you solve quickly thereby leaving more time to revise as well.

4. Introduce studying in games:

Don't make a big deal out of SCAT. Nothing in life is more important than learning how to enjoy the result of hard work. That is why introduce studying in your game time. It will be fun plus you will also get work done. It is the era of multitasking and this will be good practice for you. Play games like Scrabble and Taboo to increase your vocabulary. Games like Prodigy and Maths Bingo will also help you improve your math skills. This trick will take you a long way in the SCAT exam and also in life.

5. Seek advice:

Talk to experts or people with experience who have already cracked the exam. They will be able to guide you through the process the best. Giving the exam for the first time might seem overwhelming and some assurance from people who've taken the test in the past might be reassuring. Don't feel shy to seek guidance.

If you follow these tips and tricks, you are bound to crack the SCAT exam without having to crush yourself under the pressure of it. Moderation and steady practice is the key to clearing SCAT.