For Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD — Suhaas Bhat, a sophomore at Marshfield High School, was recently honored by the Center for Talent Development for his achievement in Northwestern University’s Midwest Talent Search (NUMATS). As the top medalist in the Midwest, Bhat placed highly in each of the six categories of recognition: first place in SAT Composite, SAT Reading, ACT Composite, ACT Reading, ACT Math, and second place in SAT math.

NUMATS provides gifted young students the opportunity to take assessments designed for their older counterparts. The achievement tests students usually take in school focus only on grade-level content.

“Gifted students will often hit the ‘ceiling’ of the tests. When that happens, schools and families know their students are doing relatively well compared to other students their age, but they cannot tell whether the student is just a little bit ahead or whether the student is exceptionally advanced in some area in which he or she will require special programming to reach full potential,” explained Rhoda Rosen, associate director of the Northwestern Center for Talent Development.

Fewer than 3 percent of the almost 15,000 students nationwide who participate in the program each year qualify for recognition.