Assessments for Admission

Identifying Student Talent

The first step of the talent search is to identify student talent. Baylor TIP offers two above-level assessments. Students who are qualified to take the assessments will select one of the following to complete: 

The Indicator of Academic Readiness (IAR) is an assessment of the knowledge and skills that are predictive of success in post-secondary education. Specifically, the IAR measures knowledge and skills in the following domains: mathematics, science, reading, and writing. 

The Indicator of Academic Readiness 8/9 (IAR 8/9) aligns with the IAR to assess students’ progress toward college readiness at the end of middle school/junior high school. Similar to the IAR, the IAR 8/9 measures knowledge and skills in the domains of mathematics, science, reading, and writing. 

Download the IAR 8/9  Manual for more information

Registering for a Baylor TIP Assessment

Families can register their students individually at any time on our website without going through their school district. Students who are registered by their families take the assessment online at their own home. 

REGISTER AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT

Were you looking for information about group registration? 

Go to Group Assessment Registration

Registration for 2025-2026 testing opens on September 1. The testing window to be considered for our 7th-Grade Talent Search Recognition Ceremony is September 1–February 28 of each year. We have a limited amount of financial aid available for families. Families wishing to apply for a need-based scholarship for testing should complete this application and return it to us at TIPtest@baylor.edu. 

If your child attends a school that is participating in the Baylor TIP program, please contact the school or district directly for registration due dates and testing dates. School administrators are in charge of making these arrangements, and we are not part of that process.  If your school or district does not participate in the Baylor TIP program at this time, or if you would prefer to have your child register individually and take the assessment at home, please feel free to register him or her at the link that is available above.

Next Steps

After testing, students will receive a detailed score report with their results, as well as educational recommendations. Once students are admitted to Baylor TIP, they are eligible to participate in our educational programs through Grade 12. To have a full perspective of students' strengths, we ask that students test once during Grades 4–6 and once again during Grades 7–8.

Baylor TIP Alternate Admission Application 

Students who were previously identified through other national talent search program such as Duke TIP, CTY, or CTD and were eligible to take their courses will be automatically admitted to Baylor TIP by filling out this form and submitting an application fee of $100.  Also students who have taken other assessments that they would like to submit for consideration for the alternate admission application process can fill out this form, along with an application fee of $100. A list of assessments that we will consider is included on the form.