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Exams
The Tests
At CTY Greece, we offer a variety of tests designed to assess different skills and academic levels.
Our tests include:
SCAT (School and College Ability Test) – for 2nd–9th grade students
STB (Spatial Test Battery) – for 6th–9th grade students
These tests measure verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning abilities. They are available in Greek and English (for students taught in English or attending international schools in Greece and Cyprus).
To be eligible for the CTY Greece programs, students must pass the Center’s exams, held annually in multiple cities across Greece and Cyprus. The tests are developed and scored by the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University. For foreign students, eligibility can be established through the CTY JHU Center.
No preparation is required for these tests. Each student may take either or both tests, but only once per academic year for SCAT and once overall for STB.
SCAT (The School and College Ability Test)
The School and College Ability Test (SCAT) is an above-grade-level test, designed to identify academically advanced students.
It’s administered to students in grades 2–9.
The SCAT uses out-of-level testing, meaning students are given a test designed for older students. The SCAT is not about rote memorization or calculation speed. It measures reasoning ability. The SCAT is designed to show how students think, not what they have memorized.
- Elementary Level: for 2nd–3rd graders (tested on material for 4th–5th graders).
- Intermediate Level: for 4th–5th graders (tested on material for 6th–9th graders).
- Advanced Level: for 6th–9th graders (tested on material for high school students).
Structure of the Test
Two main sections:
- Verbal Section – 50 questions / 20 minutes (22 minutes for Elementary level)
Focus: analogies and verbal reasoning (not just vocabulary, but understanding relationships between words). - Quantitative Section – 50 questions / 20 minutes (22 minutes for Elementary level)
Focus: quantitative comparisons (mathematical reasoning and number sense, not long computations).
Timing & Logistics
Entire session: ~1 hour total, including distributing/collecting materials, reading instructions, clarifying rules
STB (Spatial Test Battery)
The STB (Spatial Thinking Battery) is an alternative test for students in grades 6–9.
It is a specialized assessment that focuses on spatial reasoning and memory skills. The STB does not test memorization of school material or curriculum knowledge, but rather cognitive abilities such as:
- Visual memory – the ability to store and recall shapes and details
- Spatial reasoning – understanding relationships between 2D and 3D forms and mentally rotating shapes
- Logical and combinatorial thinking
The STB is exclusively for students wishing to enroll in Math or Science programs and does not provide access to Humanities courses.
STB Test Structure
1. Visual Memory Learning – Memorization
Task: Memorize 20 shapes
Time: 8 minutes
2. Surface Development
Task: 35 questions assessing 2D & 3D reasoning by identifying which flat shapes can be folded into a cube/box
Time: 14 minutes
3. Block Rotations
Task: 24 questions testing 3D thinking by mentally rotating shapes and finding matches
Time: 15 minutes
4. Visual Memory Learning – Recall
Task: 20 questions recognizing previously memorized shapes
Time: 8 minutes
Total Test Duration: approximately 75 minutes, including time for distributing and collecting materials, reading instructions, and answering questions.
Sample Tests
The following sample tests are available for familiarization only. They allow students to understand the format and structure of the questions. No preparation or practice is required.
For more detailed information and sample questions, students and parents can download the following resources:
- SCAT Elementary Sample Test (Grades 2-3)
- SCAT Intermediate Sample Test (Grades 4-5)
- SCAT Advanced Sample Test (Grades 6-9)
- STB Sample Test (Grades 6-9)
What is Above-Grade-Level Testing?
Above-grade-level testing is what sets CTY’s Talent Search apart from the assessments students typically encounter. Most students take tests designed for their current age or grade, even when applying to a gifted program.
For exceptionally bright students, however, grade-level tests can mask their true abilities. These students often score at the very top percentiles, effectively “hitting the ceiling” of the test. Once the ceiling is reached, the test cannot reveal whether the student has reached their full potential or could successfully tackle even more challenging questions.
When top-performing students take an above-grade-level test, their scores distribute more naturally, forming a curve where most students cluster in the middle and fewer fall at the extremes. This distribution shows that even among top scorers on grade-level tests, there are meaningful differences in ability and academic needs.
Standardized test scores provide objective measures of a child’s capabilities, free from teacher perception, “good student” bias, or parental expectations. Research conducted by CTY demonstrates that strong scores on above-grade-level tests are highly predictive of a student’s success in advanced courses, helping to identify and nurture exceptional talent.
By Carol Mills, Ph.D., Director of Research for the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins
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