Accepted Tests for 12 and Younger
The 2027-2028 school year application is open until January 14, 2027. Application and testing requirement updates will be posted at the end of the summer.
Please see our Eligibility Criteria and How to Apply for important information pertaining to application requirements. Applicants only need to submit one of the accepted tests.
The published testing criteria were established in consultation with national academic talent search organizations and other professionals in gifted education and are updated every year.
Full time applicants who are 12 and younger
Full time applicants who are 12 years of age or younger at the time of application are required to submit scores from one of the following:
- ACT
- Pre-ACT administered through the Davidson Institute partnership with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD)
- Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement - Third Edition (KTEA-3)
- PSAT 8/9
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
- Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Fourth Edition (WIAT-IV)
- Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement - Fourth or Fifth Edition (WJ-IV Ach or WJ-V Ach)
IQ testing submitted will be considered as supplemental information.
Accepted test score requirements for full time applicants who are 12 and younger
ACT Assessment (ACT)
Administered within the past three years. All applicants can submit this testing.
Full time applicants must provide scores that meet or exceed at least three out of the five scores of those indicated in the following table with their age-based grade. We do not accept superscores.
| ACT | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 28 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 36 |
| Math | 27 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Reading | 30 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 36 |
| Science Reasoning | 25 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| Composite | 27 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
PreACT
Administered within the past one year. Full time applicants who are 12 and younger can submit this testing.
Must be administered through the Davidson Institute partnership with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD).
Must meet or exceed on at least three out of the five scores listed below. We do not accept superscores.
| PreACT | Grade 5 |
|---|---|
| English | 24 |
| Math | 22 |
| Reading | 24 |
| Science | 20 |
| Composite | 23 |
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement - 3rd Edition (KTEA-3)
Administered within the past five years. Full time applicants can submit this testing.
Standard score 145+ on at least two of the following:
- Reading Composite
- Math Composite
- Written Language Composite
- Comprehensive Achievement Composite
PSAT 8/9
Administered within the past one year. Full time applicants who are 12 and younger can submit this testing.
The Davidson Institute has partnered with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) to offer the opportunity to take a proctored, practice version of this test. More information and registration.
Applicants must provide scores that meet or exceed at least two of the scores indicated below. We do not accept superscores.
| PSAT 8/9 | Grade 5 |
|---|---|
| RW | 580 |
| Math | 540 |
| Total | 1120 |
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
Administered within the past three years. All applicants can submit this testing.
Full time applicants must provide scores that meet or exceed at least two of the scores indicated in the following table with their age-based grade. We do not accept superscores.
| SAT | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW | 630 | 670 | 700 | 750 | 780 |
| Math | 650 | 700 | 740 | 770 | 800 |
| Total | 1280 | 1370 | 1440 | 1520 | 1580 |
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Fourth Edition (WIAT-IV)
Administered within the past five years. All full time applicants and single course applicants who are 13 and older can submit this testing.
Standard score 145+ on at least two of the following:
- Total Reading Composite
- Mathematics Composite
- Written Expression Composite
- Total Achievement Composite
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement - Fourth or Fifth Edition (WJ-IV Ach or WJ-V Ach)
Administered within the past five years. All full time applicants and single course applicants who are 13 and older can submit this testing.
Standard score 145+ on at least two of the following:
- Broad Reading
- Broad Math
- Broad Written Language
- Total Achievement
Single course applicants who are 12 and younger
Single course applicants must submit a qualifying score on a test in the subject area for which they are applying. For example, applicants who are applying for an English course and are submitting an SAT test as a part of the application must meet the minimum score requirement in the EBRW category. Meeting the minimum score in Math or Total is not considered a qualifying score if the applicant is applying for a single course in English.
Single course applicants who are 12 years of age or younger must meet at least the 7th grade score in the subject area for which they are applying from one of the tests listed below:
For applicants 12 years of age or younger, who are interested in testing through the Davidson Institute partnership with CTD, please email Outreach@DavidsonGifted.org for age-specific directions. When emailing, please specify that you’re interested in testing in order to apply for a DAO single-course enrollment.
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. Based on individual program criteria, scores may not be transferable from one Davidson program to another.
Please Note: There is no preference given for scores from the Davidson Institute-CTD testing opportunities, as opposed to scores from one of the other accepted tests, such as accepted testing through College Board or ACT. Additionally, because testing can be used for various Davidson programs, test dates do not align with any one program’s application deadlines. Please plan accordingly.
Accepted test score requirements for single course applicants who are 12 and younger
ACT Assessment (ACT)
Administered within the past three years. All applicants can submit this testing.
Single course applicants who are 12 years of age or younger must meet at least the 7th grade score in the subject area for which they are applying. We do not accept superscores.
| ACT | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 28 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 36 |
| Math | 27 | 30 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| Reading | 30 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 36 |
| Science Reasoning | 25 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| Composite | 27 | 29 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
For single course applicants 12 years of age or younger, who are interested in the ACT testing through the Davidson Institute partnership with CTD, please email Outreach@DavidsonGifted.org for age-specific directions. When emailing, please specify that you’re interested in testing in order to apply for a DAO single-course enrollment.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
Administered within the past three years. All applicants can submit this testing.
Single course applicants who are 12 years of age or younger must meet at least the 7th grade score in the subject area for which they are applying. We do not accept superscores.
| SAT | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grade 9 | Grade 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RW | 630 | 670 | 700 | 750 | 780 |
| Math | 650 | 700 | 740 | 770 | 800 |
| Total | 1280 | 1370 | 1440 | 1520 | 1580 |
The Davidson Institute has partnered with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) to offer the opportunity to take a proctored, practice version of this test. More information and registration.
For single course applicants 12 years of age or younger, who are interested in the SAT testing through the Davidson Institute partnership with CTD, please email Outreach@DavidsonGifted.org for age-specific directions. When emailing, please specify that you’re interested in testing in order to apply for a DAO single-course enrollment.
Other Testing Submission Requirements
Applicants who are 13 and older
Please review the accepted tests page for applicants who are 13 and older.
Applicants who have previously applied and were declined admission
Applicants who were declined admission and wish to reapply must complete the current online application with a new application and upload updated testing and/or grade reports.
If the applicant is now 13 and older, they can submit one of the accepted tests listed for applicants who are 13 and older.