Talent Searches
Since 1980 over 2 million gifted youth have explored the heights of their abilities through the Duke TIP Talent Search.
What is a Talent Search?
Duke TIP offers a 4th/5th Grade Talent Search and a 7th Grade Talent search. These talent searches help gifted students and their families find out how advanced the students' abilities truly are. Traditional testing often fails to measure the variation among many gifted students who reach the upper limits of scoring on grade-level exams. By taking advanced above-level (at least two years above a student's current grade placement) testing through Duke TIP's talent searches, gifted students and their families gain a far better understanding of where the student stands in relation to his/her gifted peers and what level of educational challenge is appropriate.
In What Grade Can Students Participate?
Duke TIP offers two talent searches: one for students in fourth and fifth grades and another for students in seventh grade. The 4th/5th Grade Talent Search gives students the opportunity to take the EXPLORE test for eighth graders; while the seventh graders get to experience the ACT or SAT college entrance exam."A seventh grader doesn't really understand how difficult getting into a good school can be. The exposure they are getting to the SAT is great at this level." — Talent Search parent
Taking the SAT or ACT in seventh grade gives students a chance to practice and become familiar with the exams that play a major role in college admissions. Students' early experience with the college entrance exam is helpful in preparing them to take it in high school. All talent search participants receive resources and publications to assist the student's educational growth.