Eligibility

Participation in Northwestern University's Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) can boost student self-confidence, help educators better address academic needs, and expose students to a variety of enrichment programs at schools, universities and through distance learning. Students who are most likely to benefit from NUMATS are in grades 3 through 9 who meet at least one of the following criteria.


Participation in a school gifted program
Students in grades 3 through 9 who qualify for their school’s gifted programs are encouraged to register for NUMATS testing.


Recommendation by a parent or teacher
To be recommended, students should meet all of the following criteria:

• Demonstrate advanced aptitude in verbal or mathematical reasoning
• Consistently perform in the top 10% of their grade level on tests and assessments 
• Perform exceptionally well in academically demanding course work in school
• Consistently look for more challenging experiences

Past talent search participation
Students who qualified for and participated in a talent search in a previous year qualify to participate in NUMATS this year and are encouraged to take the same test or experience a different test.


Achievement test scores
The verbal, math or composite score, or subscore from a nationally normed, standardized grade-level achievement, aptitude, or abilities test, such as the Terra Nova, can qualify a student for NUMATS. Scores from tests taken in previous years may be used to qualify.

Depending on the test, the naming may vary:

• Verbal scores may be called Total Reading, Verbal, Reading Composite, or Verbal Ability.
• The Verbal subscore may be called Vocabulary or Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, or Reading.
• Math scores may be called Total Math, Quantitative, Math Composite, Quantitative Ability, or Math Composite.
• The Math subscore may be called Math Concepts & Applications, Problem Solving/Reasoning, or Problem Solving.
• The Composite score may be called Total Battery, Composite, Total Aptitude, Core Total, Complete Battery, or Total Score.

Students in grade*	Whose achievement test scores are	Qualify to take
3	≥ 92nd percentile	EXPLORE
4 or 5	≥ 90th percentile	EXPLORE
6	= 90th or 91st percentile	EXPLORE
	≥ 92nd percentile	ACT or SAT
7 - 9	≥ 90th percentile	ACT or SAT

State Achievement Test Performance
Students qualify for NUMATS with at least one (either verbal/reading or math) of the state test scores given below. Scores from tests taken in previous years may be used to qualify.

State	Test	Grade*	Verbal/Reading	Math
Illinois	ISAT	3	≥ 92nd percentile	≥ 92nd percentile
		4-8	≥ 90th percentile	≥ 90th percentile
Indiana	ISTEP +	All	Pass + category	Pass + category
Michigan	MEAP (scaled scores)	3	≥ 361	≥ 363
		4	≥ 464	≥ 458
		5	≥ 566	≥ 565
		6	≥ 661	≥ 658
		7	≥ 755	≥ 755
		8	≥ 851	≥ 857
Minnesota	MCA II or NWEA-MAP	3	≥ 92nd percentile	≥ 92nd percentile
		4-8	≥ 90th percentile	≥ 90th percentile
North Dakota	NDSA	All	Advanced level	Advanced level
Ohio	Ohio Achievement Test	All	Advanced level	Advanced level
South Dakota	Dakota STEP	All	Advanced level	Advanced level
Wisconsin	WKCE	3	≥ 505	≥ 494
		4	≥ 529	≥ 523
		5	≥ 535	≥ 550
		6	≥ 563	≥ 568
		7	≥ 576	≥ 590
		8	≥ 585	≥ 603

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