Free SCAT Intermediate Practice Test & PDF: Build Confidence Before the Real Exam
Help your child prepare for the CTY SCAT test with practice questions that mirror the actual test
- Start with a Free Practice Test: Get a feel for the exam and identify areas that need improvement with our free SCAT Intermediate practice test below (PDF included).
- Ready for More? Access the complete practice package with 2 full-length simulations and 17 practice quizzes designed to increase your child's chances of scoring high.
So, let’s work together to ensure your child excels on the test!
Hey there! Do you have a question about the test or our practice package? Email me at roman@giftedready.com. I'm here to help your child succeed!
What to Expect on the School and College Ability Test (SCAT) Intermediate?
The SCAT Intermediate is designed for students in grades 4 and 5 and measures skills typically taught in grades 6 to 8.
Because it is an above-grade-level assessment, students will see material that goes beyond what they usually cover in school.
Here’s what you can expect:
Test Structure
Sections: Two sections – Verbal and Quantitative
Number of Questions: Each section includes 55 multiple-choice questions, including five experimental questions that do not count toward the final score.
Timing: Students have 22 minutes per section, with an optional 10-minute break between sections.
The pacing is fast, so students must work efficiently and manage their time carefully.
Content Focus
Verbal Section:
This section measures verbal reasoning and vocabulary through analogy questions.
Students must recognize relationships between words and select the pair that completes the analogy correctly.
Quantitative Section:
This section measures mathematical reasoning using comparison problems.
Students compare two quantities and determine the correct relationship between them.
How to Prepare Effectively
Familiarize Your Child with the Format
Review the structure, question types, and pacing in advance. Knowing what to expect reduces stress and builds confidence.
The sample test below is a helpful starting point.
Practice Under Timed Conditions
The test moves quickly. Without practice, students may rush or leave questions unanswered. Regular timed practice helps them develop a steady pace and avoid careless mistakes.
Full-length simulations are especially helpful because they mirror the actual testing experience and build both speed and endurance.
With structured preparation and ongoing practice, your child can approach the SCAT Intermediate feeling confident and well prepared.
Free SCAT Intermediate Practice Test – Verbal & Math [PDF Included]
Try the following sample questions (taken from our complete practice package) with your child to help them get familiar with some of the question types on the test.
SCAT Intermediate Practice Questions – Quantitative (Math)
In this section, each question has two parts. One part is in Column A. The other part is in Column B.
You must find out if one part is greater than the other, if the parts are equal, or if not enough information is given to decide. You will choose one answer.
A. if the part in column A is greater.
B. if the part in column B is greater.
C. if the two parts are equal.
D. if not enough information is given to decide.
Practice Question #1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
In the first triangle, to find a, add the first two and subtract the sum from 180°.
Why? Because the sum of the interior angles of any triangle is always equal to 180°.
a = 180° – (39° + 80°) = 180° – 119° = 61°
Similarly, in the second triangle,
b = 180° – (33° + 85°) = 180° – 118° = 62°
So, ‘Column B is greater’
Practice Question #2
Welcome to your trusted practice resource for the 2026 SCAT Intermediate Test (Grades 4–5).
If you’re hoping to help your child qualify for Johns Hopkins CTY programs, you’re in the right place.
The SCAT Intermediate assesses skills that are typically two to three grade levels above what students cover in school, and that jump in difficulty can feel challenging at first.
That’s why we’ve created a step-by-step preparation program designed to strengthen reasoning skills, reinforce key foundations, and help your child approach test day feeling confident and ready:
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B.
In column A,
(d ÷ 24) + 32 = 30
d ÷ 24 = 30 – 32
d ÷ 24 = – 2
d = – 2 x 24 = – 48
In column B,
7 + (g ÷ 9) = 25
g ÷ 9 = 25 – 7
g ÷ 9 = 18
g = 18 x 9 = 162
So, ‘Column B is greater.’
Practice Question #3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D
The length and width of the rectangular field are given.
To find the value of k, we need the area of the rectangular field, which is not given here.
So, we cannot find the value of k without the area given.
Therefore, ‘Not enough information is given.’
Practice Question #4
Show Answer
Answer: C.
The length of the rectangle is 15 units.
In the figure, the length is p – 2. So,
p – 2 = 15
p = 2 + 15
p = 17
And in Column B,
3 + 7 x 2 = 3 + 14 = 17
So, ‘The two parts are equal.’
Practice Question #5
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A.
Find the Mean (Column A)
Add all the numbers:
23 + 17 + 33 + 11 + 19 + 26 + 30 + 18 + 24 + 21
Add in parts:
(23 + 17) = 40
(33 + 11) = 44
(19 + 26) = 45
(30 + 18) = 48
(24 + 21) = 45
Now add:
40 + 44 = 84
84 + 45 = 129
129 + 48 = 177
177 + 45 = 222
Total = 222
Now divide by 10:
222 ÷ 10 = 22.2
Column A (Mean) = 22.2
Now, find the Median (Column B)
First, arrange numbers in order:
11, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 30, 33
There are 10 numbers, so take the middle two:
5th number = 21
6th number = 23
Now average them:
(21 + 23) ÷ 2 = 44 ÷ 2 = 22
Column B (Median) = 22
So, column A (22.2) is greater.
If your child found some of these questions challenging, that is completely normal.
The SCAT Intermediate includes material that is often two to three grade levels above what students typically study in school.
Without targeted preparation, many students are surprised by the level of reasoning and the fast pace of the test.
Improvement comes from structured, consistent practice.
Our complete SCAT Intermediate practice package prepares your child step by step. It includes full-length simulations, focused verbal and quantitative quizzes, and extra math drills designed to strengthen core skills and improve reasoning speed.
With guided practice at the correct level of difficulty, your child can build confidence, develop stronger problem-solving skills, and approach test day calm, focused, and ready to perform at their best.
Increase Your Child's Chances of Scoring High
Help your child prepare with a complete practice package designed to maximize their performance on the SCAT Elementary Test
Two Full SCAT Intermediate Simulations (Math & Verbal)
17 Quizzes Targeting the Question Types & Skills Seen on the Test
Questions and Explanations Created by Math & English Teachers
SCAT Elementary Practice Questions – Verbal
In this section, each question begins with two words. These two words go together in a certain way. Under them, there are four other pairs of words lettered A, B, C, and D.
Find the lettered pair of words that go together in the same way as the first pair of words.
Practice Question #6
Drought : Famine ::
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. Fire : Smoke
A drought (long period without rain) can cause a famine (shortage of food).
We are looking for another pair where the first thing causes the second thing.
A fire produces smoke.
Fire → causes → smoke. So this is the correct answer.
Other choices:
A: Exercise can build strength, but it’s not a direct natural cause like drought → famine.
B: Flood does not cause drought.
C: Study does not cause a teacher.
Practice Question #7
Neuron : Brain ::
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A. Petal : Flower
A neuron is a small part of the brain.
We need another pair where the first word is a part of the second word.
A petal is part of a flower. So this is the correct answer.
Other choices:
B: Engine uses fuel (not part-whole).
C: A ring goes on a finger (not part-whole).
D: Artist creates a painting (creator-creation).
Practice Question #8
Evaporation : Vapor ::
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B. Freezing : Ice
Evaporation is a process that produces vapor.
We need another pair where the first word is a process and the second word is the result of that process.
Freezing produces ice. So this is the correct answer.
Other choices:
A: Melting turns solid into liquid (wrong direction).
C: Break and repair are opposites.
D: Heat does not automatically create fire.
Many students find the SCAT Intermediate Verbal section challenging because:
- The vocabulary often reflects middle school–level reading (typically grades 6–8), which may be unfamiliar to 4th and 5th graders.
- Verbal analogy questions require students to recognize word relationships quickly and accurately under strict time limits.
- For some students, English is their second language, and they may not regularly encounter advanced academic vocabulary outside of school.
The good news is that these skills can be strengthened with focused practice.
Encourage your child to read slightly above grade level for 15–20 minutes each day. Discuss unfamiliar words and ask them to explain meanings in their own words.
Practice verbal analogies consistently. Ask your child to identify common relationship types such as synonyms, antonyms, cause and effect, part-to-whole, and function.
The more patterns they practice, the faster and more confidently they will recognize them on test day.
With steady exposure and structured preparation, your child can expand vocabulary, improve reasoning speed, and approach the Verbal section with clarity and confidence.
Practice Question #9
Reluctant : Hesitant ::
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C. Brave : Fearless
Reluctant and hesitant mean almost the same thing.
We need another pair of close synonyms.
Brave and fearless are very similar in meaning. So this is the correct answer.
Other choices:
A: Loud describes noise.
B: Falsity is the opposite of truth, so these are antonyms.
D: Weak and power are opposites as well.
Practice Question #10
Seed : Sapling ::
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D. Child : Adult
A seed grows into a sapling. This shows a stage of development.
We need another pair that shows one stage growing into a later stage.
A child grows into an adult. This is the correct answer.
Other choices:
A: Frog and toad are two closely-related species, but a frog does not grow into a toad.
B: Egg and nest show location, not growth.
C: Student does not automatically become a teacher.
Keep Practicing with the Complete Package to Maximize Your Child’s Scores
- 2 Full-length SCAT Elementary Practice Simulations (Math & Verbal)
- 8 Practice Quizzes That Focus on Each of the Test Sections
- 5 Math Refresher Drills to Brush Up on 4th-5th Grade Foundations
- 4 Extra Math Quizzes at 6th-8th Grade Level to Sharpen Above-Grade-Level Skills
- Student-friendly Explanations for Every Question