The tests your child may have to take for application to various NYC private schools and Hunter College Elementary School are all different. (See: "Getting Into NYC Kindergarten" for a guide to which school requires which test, and the differences between them.) Yes, that means that your child might be certified gifted on one of them, but not the others.

Each of the tests is normed in groups based on your child's birthday. Different tests have different bands. It is always to your advantage to be on the older side of a group band. (In "Getting Into NYC Kindergarten," I tell the story of identical twin boys who got the exact same raw score on their tests, but one scored in the 97th percentile, while the other scored in the 90th, because the first took his test a few days before his 4th birthday and so was one of the oldest in the sample group, while his brother took it a few days after, and ended up as one of the youngest.) You want to schedule your child's test sometime in the last two weeks of their optimal band. I recommend giving yourself a little wiggle-room so that if your child gets sick, you still have time to reschedule.

Be advised that testing periods change constantly. Our calculator is set for maximum ranges, and parents can decide which works best for them, depending on a given year's schedule. Private schools usually test in October, November, and December, while Hunter tests in September, October, and November.

To figure out the best dates to apply your child to various schools, send an email to Calc@nycschoolsecrets.com. You will then receive a link to the calculator and be signed up for the Secrets of NYC Schools mailing list. (We do not sell your information to anyone.) If you do not receive an email within 10 minutes please notify me at AlinaAdams@gmail.com

As of now, there is no test for public school Gifted & Talented programs. Teacher recommendations, parent interviews, or grades are the sole criteria. Learn more, here.