For Educators

Welcome to the 7th Grade Talent Search!

We look forward to working with you during our 30th anniversary year. You are a critical member of the identification and support process for gifted students, and we appreciate your willingness to offer this valuable educational opportunity to students.

1. Prepare

Before you get started, we suggest perusing this site to learn about Talent Search benefits, considerations for testing, and the enrollment process. You can also review the 7th Grade Talent Search Coordinator's Guide (pdf) and PowerPoint presentation (pps).

2. Select

Identify your eligible students using recent test scores. Choose the name of your qualifying test from the drop-down below and then review the qualifying score requirements. Coordinator's recommendation option

    Note: Students must have scored 95% or higher on a grade-level standardized achievement test, aptitude test, mental-ability test, approved state criterion-referenced test or students must have scored at or above 125 on an IQ test. Scores from either of the two most recent test administrations are acceptable. For most 7th grade students this represents scores from either the 6th grade or the 5th grade. Mental-ability tests must be no more than two years old. Students need to qualify in only one of the acceptable composite or subtest areas.

    Enrollment Fees

    The non-refundable enrollment fee covers the cost of the ACT or SAT testing, plus Talent Search benefits through the student’s 10th grade year.

    • SAT Testing: $77 (or $35 if student qualifies for a fee grant)
    • ACT Testing: $63 (or $25 if student qualifies for a fee grant)
    • Fee information for students who require an exception to standard testing.

    Fee Grants

    Fee grants are available to students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs at your school. To provide verification, submit a copy of the student’s free or reduced lunch approval paperwork, or reproduce the fee grant request on your school’s letterhead. Schools submitting applications in bulk may list all eligible students on one fee grant request. Fee grant students who apply using the Duke TIP paper application must submit the fee grant request with their application and the reduced enrollment fee. Fee grant students who apply online will be asked to pay the full enrollment fee, then mail or fax in their fee grant request separately. Once we receive the fee grant request, we will issue the appropriate credit to their original credit card.

    3. Notify

    Deliver the exciting news to families! We've made it easy with downloadable letter templates in English (pdf); (doc) or Spanish (pdf); (doc) and brochures in English (pdf) or Spanish (pdf).

    Look up your school's Duke TIP ID.


    Select a State:

    4. Enroll

    Encourage families to enroll online or to submit their paper applications by the deadlines.