1. Why Cito and the STU?  International experience from the UK, Australia, the USA and the Netherlands has been used to develop a new system of student selection in cooperation with strategic partners Cito Institute for Educational Measurement (Netherlands) and Johns Hopkins University Center for Youth Talent CTY (USA).

 Brief information on the Institute pedagogical measurements  Cito:

• Founded in 1968 by the Dutch government
• Has three branches: in Germany, the USA and Turkey
• Provides counselling services in all areas of educational testing and assessment (assessment, research, test development, specialist training, expertise, etc.)
• Cooperates with examination and assessment centres of ministries of education in 30 countries

 Brief information on strategic partner CTY:

• Founded in 1979
• Has branches in Greece,Ireland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Thailand, Bermuda and Hong Kong.
• Carries out its activities along the lines of «Exploring an extraordinary talent» Professor Julian S. Stanley
• Provides counselling services on selecting and working with gifted children
• Working with schools for gifted children in many countries around the world

2.  What is the competitive selection test?  Competitive selection consists of 2 tests: a subject test and an aptitude test. Subject test includes tests in Mathematics, Kazakh, Russian and English. In terms of content, the tasks  in mathematics  focus on assessing the ability to Apply knowledge in different situations.Tasks linguistically are aimed at measuring literacy and language competence through textual work, rather than through rule checking. Ability Assessment Test is aimed at identifying the pupils’ aptitude for learning science and mathematics and makes it possible to organise differentiated teaching taking into account the different levels of pupils’ abilities and to determine the trajectory of the pupil’s individual development. The aptitude test consists of two sections: the «Quantitative characteristics», focused on identifying the ability to operate quantitatively, i.e. the ability to work with numbers. «Spatial thinking», aimed at identifying the ability to orientate in three-dimensional space, i.e. the ability to think abstractly and logically.

3.  Why are the results known after 40 days? 

Scores are posted on the website 40 days after taking the test. This length of time is due to the need to scan answer sheets, conduct psychometric processing of results according to international standards.

When processing test results, psychometric analysis is used to assess the quality of questions and to determine and compare their level of difficulty across variants. Poor quality questions are automatically withdrawn from the test items database and from the score calculation of all test takers, which ensures a level playing field for all applicants without appeal.

Due to the fact that Kazakhstan does not have specialists in the field of psychometrics, the processing of competition results is carried out by the Centre for Educational Measurement Cito in the Netherlands and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talent CTY in the USA. 

4. Who is eligible to apply for a grant? 

In accordance with paragraph 9 of PPKK No. 515 of 24.05.2013. Applicants are eligible to apply for the competition, who scored:

–              35% or more of the maximum possible score on a maths subject test;

–              40 % or more of the maximum possible score on the quantitative characteristics of the aptitude test.

Accordingly, these are the applicants who scored:

–              140 points or higher in mathematics;

–              24 points and above on quantitative characteristics. 

1. 5. How is the grant awarded? 

The procedure for awarding a grant to applicants to study in grades 7, developed with strategic partners through a ranking of applicants’ results (Table). 

In accordance with paragraph 10 of PPKK No. 515 of 24.05.2013. grants for 7th grade Intellectual Schools are awarded by decision of the National Commission within the allocated vacancies of a particular school:

–              applicants with a higher overall score on the subject test;

–              If there is an equal total score in the subject test, the advantage is given to the applicants with the higher score in mathematics;

–              If the applicants have an equal score in mathematics, the applicants with the higher overall aptitude test score will have priority.