SCAT is a School and College Ability Test that is designed by John Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth (JHCTY or CTY). The test seeks to find out the academic excellence in students in and above grade two. However, SCAT is not an easy test. Unlike any other test, in this test, students are supposed to solve a paper that has been designed according to the curriculum of grades above them. For example, children in grade 2 or 3 would appear for the paper designed for 4-5, students in 4-5 solve problems designed for 6-8, and so on. This makes the test very difficult to crack and in the process, discovers the best for special programs with the CTY.
The SCAT test is divided into two parts – quantitative and verbal. The former is math-based. The verbal part, however, tests a student’s proficiency in English language. The English vocabulary section is a part of the verbal section and is vast. It has to be taken up with ample time in hand and needs strategic preparation to ace. However, if a student is well prepared and manages to score well, the vocabulary section can substantially boost the scores. So, if you are wondering how to prepare for your SCAT’s vocabulary section, here are a few tips for you!
Read a dictionary: It might sound absurd but reading a dictionary can help you go a long way in developing your vocabulary. Reading a dictionary can be extremely helpful if you don’t have a lot of time to spend on your vocabulary. Of course, you will not retain all the information but whatever of it you do will stick with you for a long time. Read words for each letter every day or you can also break up the letters that have a lot of words. Make sure that you don’t mug up. Try to make sentences in your head with the words you’re learning.
Read books: Reading is one of the best hobbies that anyone can have. Not only is it a great exercise for your mind, but it will also help your language skills. Every successful person reads because that is how people learn and get wiser. When preparing for SCAT, make sure that you read a lot. It is not a tip for the last moment, so start early, give yourself a few months of good reading. Reading also explains how a single word can be used in many different contexts.
Practicing worksheets: More than reading, you learn better while solving. That is why practicing worksheets is very important for expanding your vocabulary. You also retain information much better when you practice. Solve papers and worksheets that will help you get better at your vocab game.
Solve crosswords: Crosswords can be a fun way of developing a good vocabulary. Considered a habit of the wise, solving them from a young age will enhance your language skills as well as your general knowledge. The benefits of solving crosswords are never-ending. It will help you ace the verbal part of your SCAT paper.
Play word games: Learning can be fun. It doesn’t have to be a rigorous task all the time. You can increase your vocabulary by playing word games like Scrabble, Taboo, etc. There are many good word games available online. You can also invite your friends to play with you in multiplayer games. This will help you learn even in your playtime and preparation will not feel like hard work at all!
So, now that you know some tips on how you can prepare for your vocabulary section, start preparing at the earliest. Vocabulary is mastered gradually and can hardly be mugged up. So, the best tip would be to start with the vocabulary preparation right at the beginning when you start preparing for SCAT. With a strong vocabulary, your chances of clearing the test will be much higher.
