The Duke 7th Grade Talent Search Program

Today, I joined hundreds of academically talented 7th grade students throughout the country, who qualified for Duke TIP, by taking the SAT exam along side high school juniors and seniors.

The Duke 7th Grade Talent Search Program helps academically talented students identify their strengths, develop their abilities and interests, and celebrate their achievements at a crucial time when we are forming our identities and looking ahead to the future.

Students qualify for the 7th Grade Talent Search by scoring at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level standardized test. I qualified in math by scoring in the 96 percentile on the 6th Grade STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness).

The SAT exam was quite challenging. Duke TIP encouraged us not to practice the exam too much because the point of the talent search is to test our current abilities - not to cram for a test. However, my mom didn't want me taking the test with no awareness of what was being tested, the number of sections, and basic things like time management. So, we went over one of the recently released SAT exams, posted by Khan Academy.

Khan Academy is great for students who desire to practice the SAT who might not have time or resources to pay for a test prep center. They post several practice exams and have an online application for self-diagnosis and improvement for each section.

My mom and I read and discussed the five literature sections together and I went over some of the math problems that were on my level of understanding. For those that I got wrong, my mom found a great website called, Magoosh, that used the same practice tests from Khan Academy and explained each math problem step-by-step with video explanations. That was very helpful!

As for how well I did on the actual exam today . . . Only time will tell. Apparently, it will take about 2 months before I receive my results. I will share when I receive them.

Some of the benefits of Duke TIP, in addition to the opportunity to take the ACT or SAT, are receiving special recognition, specialized publications, college prep advice, and access to educational programs, like their fantastic intense level summer camps for those who meet the minimum required scores on the ACT or SAT. To qualify for Academy Camps, I must score 540–600 on the English/Language section and 530–590 on the Math section. Seventh graders who score on that level are basically above what the average junior and senior high school student scores. To qualify for the most elite summer program, I would have to score above a 600 on one of the sections of the SAT. That's tough to accomplish!

My mom made sure to emphasize that the mere fact that I took the SAT in 7th grade is quite an accomplishment, whether I qualify for the camps or not! I do feel proud to participate and I know this is just the beginning of a long journey of learning and challenging myself.

To learn more about the Duke TIP and to view eligibility criteria, visit https://tip.duke.edu/programs/7th-grade-talent-search/eligibility

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