FAQ

My child has already been assessed. What are the benefits of taking part in this assessment?

• The information provided in the Interpretation Guide gives comparisons with other gifted students in your child's grade, as well as the particular skills which your child has mastered in each subject area.
• Taking part in the talent searches assists students in developing better test taking skills in a non-threatening environment.
• The information provided complements school reporting.
• As students must take all four tests, regardless of their qualifying area, some gifted students who have a recognised talent in a particular area report being pleased with their results in areas which they did not view as particular strengths.
• Students report enjoying the challenge of the test.

I already know my child is bright. Why should s/he take part in the talent search?

Most tests your child will have taken up until now would have been on-level tests. The talent searches are different because they allow bright children to really stretch their mental muscles. Both APTS & ASSETS are designed to challenge the brightest children to demonstrate their full potential. Past APTS participants have told us that the test is difficult, but they have enjoyed the challenge. The experience has been positive in terms of students becoming accustomed to sitting formal tests and learning exam technique. Additionally the tests give parents a good way of measuring the curriculum knowledge of their children who are often at the top of their class.

My child’s class has not yet covered the material in the test. Will it be too hard? Will it be unfair for him/her?

The Talent Searches are not competitions and it is fine if a student is unable to answer some questions. The test must test students on concepts outside of classroom curriculum to find out what each student already knows. This will enable teachers to meet their academic needs.

It is surprising how much a gifted student learns from television, books, and conversations. This test allows gifted students to show or discover just how much they know.

Gifted students are often able to learn and utilise concepts quickly. The tests teach students a new concept, while testing if they have learnt it correctly. For example, when the the primary school paper (EXPLORE) asks algebra questions, it asks questions at the start that allow the student to get used to the concept of replacing unknown numbers with a letter. 2 examples of early questions may be:

1. Nathan has a number of basketball cards, call that number n. Nathan has spent $24 on basketball cards, which cost 30 cents each. Which equation helps you work out how many cards he owns?
a. n= 24÷0.3
b. n= 24x30
c. n= 30¸24
d. n= 24+30
e. n= 0.3x24

2. George works for a café cleaning its windows. He is paid $5 for every day he works. Call the number of days he works d. Which expression shows what George gets paid?
a. d4
b. d+4
c. d-4
d. dx4
e. d¸4

How have Australian students performed on the EXPLORE test?

Between 1998 and 2006 over 11,000 primary school students from across Australia have taken part in APTS. Those who have participated have indicated that the experience was extremely positive. The selection criteria have been effective and the students' scores have been outstanding. The purpose of APTS testing is to see how students perform on an above-level test. Over 50% of the Australian participants have scored higher than the average 8th grade student.

What about ASSETS?

This is the fourth year that GERRIC has offered the ACT Assessment for students in Years 7-9. Previous Talent Search participants indicated that taking the test was an exciting and intellectually exhilarating experience.

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