Does every Durham student write the CCAT-7?

No. DDSB screens by nomination: a family or a teacher nominates a student, and nominated students in Grade 3 or above take the CCAT-7.

When is the DDSB CCAT-7, and when do results come?

The CCAT-7 is given in early November at the home school, and a short written report comes home in January.

What score does DDSB need?

The 98th percentile or above on the CCAT-7 to go on to the WISC-V with DDSB psychological services.

Can we use a private assessment?

Yes, with DDSB’s approval: ask the gifted placement facilitator or your school’s SERT for the consent form. If it is the same test DDSB used, DDSB asks for at least nine months between them.

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DDSB gifted screening

Durham District School Board · from the board’s own documents · checked 25 October 2026

Durham (DDSB) screens by nomination, not for everyone: a family or teacher nominates a student in Grade 3 or above, who takes the CCAT-7 at their school in early November, with results home in January. A result at or above the 98th percentile leads to a WISC-V with DDSB psychological services, and students who meet the criteria are invited to an IPRC in the spring.

At a glance

Grade: Grade 3 and up (the CCAT-7 is given in Grades 3 to 8)
Who: Students nominated by their family or a teacher; a family can nominate at most twice
When: CCAT-7 in early November; results in January; IPRC in the spring
Cut-off: 98th percentile or above on the CCAT-7 to go on to the WISC-V
Placements: Grades 4 to 12: regular class with support, or a full-time gifted class

Step by step

1
Nomination
A family or an educator nominates a student who shows above-average ability, creative thinking or broad connections between ideas. Nominated students in Grade 3 or above get a form from the school’s special education resource teacher (SERT). A family can nominate a child at most twice with DDSB.
2
The CCAT-7 · Early November
The SERT gives the CCAT-7 at the home school. Results come home in a short written report in January.
3
The WISC-V
Students at or above the 98th percentile go on to a WISC-V with DDSB psychological services. A student who meets the criteria doesn’t write it again.
4
The IPRC · Spring
Students who meet the criteria are invited to an IPRC meeting in the spring to discuss placement. Placements are reviewed every spring.

Where it leads

The home school, in a regular class, with an IEP and support for the teacher from specialists.
A full-time gifted class at the nearest school that offers one, with a special education teacher and a Gifted Facilitator. Not every school has one: gifted students are about 2% of students.

Can you practise for it?

DDSB says students do not practise in advance, because practice would affect the test’s validity.

Cub Climb is a set of original reasoning puzzles with words, numbers and pictures, from kindergarten to grade 5: a child finds the answer, then names the rule. It is not a copy of any test and makes no promise about results.

Questions DDSB parents ask

Does every Durham student write the CCAT-7?
No. DDSB screens by nomination: a family or a teacher nominates a student, and nominated students in Grade 3 or above take the CCAT-7.
When is the DDSB CCAT-7, and when do results come?
The CCAT-7 is given in early November at the home school, and a short written report comes home in January.
What score does DDSB need?
The 98th percentile or above on the CCAT-7 to go on to the WISC-V with DDSB psychological services.
Can we use a private assessment?
Yes, with DDSB’s approval: ask the gifted placement facilitator or your school’s SERT for the consent form. If it is the same test DDSB used, DDSB asks for at least nine months between them.

Build the reasoning, not the test

Short, original puzzles with words, numbers and shapes. Your child answers, then names the rule.

Android: coming soon

Or print free reasoning worksheets, kindergarten to grade 5.

Sources

DDSB, Gifted Program — ddsb.ca

CCAT-7 is a trademark of Nelson Education. Cub Climb is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any test publisher or to the Durham District School Board. Boards change their process from year to year; check what your own school sends home for this year’s dates.