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, at universities and through distance learning. Students who are most likely to benefit from NUMATS are those in grades 3 through 9 who meet at least one of the criteria listed below. 


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.


Nationally normed test scores
The verbal, math or composite score or subscore from a nationally normed, standardized grade-level achievement, aptitude, or abilities test* 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, 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

* Examples of nationally normed tests that may be used to determine eligibility for NUMATS include but are not limited to:

• Cognitive Abilities Test  (CoGAT)
• ERB Tests: Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP), Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
• Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Tests: Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), MAP for Primary Grades
• Stanford Achievement Test
• Terra Nova

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 (scale scores)	3	≥ 243	≥ 256
		4	≥ 252	≥ 265
		5	≥ 265	≥ 281
		6	≥ 268	≥ 296
		7	≥ 277	≥ 306
		8	≥ 278	≥ 312
Indiana	ISTEP+	3-8	Pass+ level	Pass+ level
Michigan	MEAP (scale scores)	3	≥ 363	≥ 356
		4	≥ 464	≥ 457
		5	≥ 565	≥ 566
		6	≥ 660	≥ 654
		7	≥ 760	≥ 758
		8	≥ 850	≥ 851
Minnesota	MCA II	3	≥ 92nd percentile	≥ 92nd percentile
		4-8	≥ 90th percentile	≥ 90th percentile
North Dakota	NDSA	3-8	Advanced level	Advanced level
Ohio	OAA	3-8	Advanced level	Advanced level
South Dakota	Dakota STEP	3-8	Advanced level	Advanced level
Wisconsin	WKCE	3	≥ 92nd percentile	≥ 92nd percentile
		4-8	≥ 90th percentile	≥ 90th percentile
	WKCE (scale scores)	3	≥ 505	≥ 488
		4	≥ 528	≥ 521
		5	≥ 535	≥ 555
		6	≥ 557	≥ 581
		7	≥ 569	≥ 590
		8	≥ 592	≥ 606

Please note: students who have high EXPLORE scores may be eligible to take ACT or SAT before grade 6.  Please call NUMATS at 847/491-3782 extension 3 for more information.