Above-Grade-Level Assessment
Above-grade-level testing isn't new, but your ways to access it are.
Easily assess your strengths, know what you're ready to learn, and plan for talent development.
Programs
Enrichment and credit-bearing, accelerated programs designed for students at every age and stage of talent development.
Talent Identification
Why Test Above Grade Level?
In areas of interest and strength, students are often ready to learn beyond grade level content--sometimes several years beyond. Grade-level tests and computer-adaptive tests can provide limited information for advanced learners. Assessments that go beyond these limits can help determine a student's need for enrichment, acceleration, or supplemental programming. Tests designed for older students, which use more advanced learning benchmarks, provide insights into academic ability and potential and allow CTD to recommend pathways for talent development and resources for instruction and programming.
CTD is excited to be able to offer several above-grade-level assessment options, including the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), the Iowa Assessments (School-based only), and practice (non-official) SAT®, PSAT®, ACT® and Pre ACT® aligned assessments. With CTD, students can take these tests from home to receive in-depth information about their strengths.
Assessments Administered Remotely (Online)
The following assessments are administered at home through a remote proctoring system and are taken online using a computer or tablet.
"Who knew that waking up early on a Saturday morning to take a test would change my life?" - Above-Grade-Level Assessment Participant
Assessment for Talent Development
Above-Grade-Level Assessment Options for Schools
By using above-grade-level assessments, CTD helps schools gather a more nuanced profile of advanced students’ learning needs. When given as above-grade-level assessments to high-achieving students, the tests used by CTD reveal the type of content students are ready to learn and assess readiness for acceleration, allowing educators to differentiate instruction to the appropriate level and make well informed decisions about programs and services. But more importantly, CTD Assessment helps schools:
- Analyze and understand the data to address students' learning needs,
- Determine the level of differentiation or acceleration required for students' growth,
- Plan programming to support talent development, and
- Measure the impact of programming.
Need Help Getting Started?
If you would like to work with a CTD staff member to discuss your child’s strengths, interests, or talent development pathway, consider setting up a consultation.
Looking for Grade-Level Assessment Options?
If you have a young child, a student new to standardized testing, or need a test aligned to grade level content or benchmarks, consider a grade-level assessment.