torrance test of
creative thinking
(ttct)

Developed by Dr E. Paul Torrance, the TTCT is a highly reliable and one of the most widely used creativity testing of its kind.  This is a test where multiple methods of creative thinking are assessed, recognised and potentially nurtured.

 

These tests come in two forms:

• Figural 
• Verbal

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking:

Figural (TTCT: F) 

(The Figural TTCT: Thinking Creatively with Pictures) 

Ages: 5 onwards through Adult | Testing Time: 45 minutes

Administration Mode:

• Group
• Individual

 

TTCT-F uses three picture-based exercises to assess five mental characteristics:

• Fluency
• Originality
• Abstractness of titles
• Elaboration
• Resistance to premature closure

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking:

Verbal (TTCT: V) 

 (The Verbal TTCT: Thinking Creatively with Words)

Ages: First graders through Adult (ages 6+ yrs onwards) | Testing Time: I hour

Appropriate for first graders through adults, the Verbal TTCT uses six word-based exercises to assess the three mental characteristics:

• Fluency
• Flexibility
• Originality

 

These exercises present the examinee with a situation and give the examinee the opportunity to ask questions, to improve products, and to “just suppose”.

How can the test data help schools/educators?

According to Torrance, with the end results in hand, educators may be able to achieve the following:

• Enabling teachers, psychologists, students, and parents to be aware of the most important creative abilities/skills that needs to be developed;

• Enabling them to be aware of the students’ strengths for creative learning and problem solving;

• Enabling them to be aware of gaps/inconsistencies in the student’s repertoire of creative abilities/skills;

• Providing a basis for generating learning activities and planning instruction;

• Providing a basis for generating evaluation procedures that assess not only the traditionally tested outcomes but also some of the more elusive objectives of education.

 

How can the test data help managers?

With the end results in hand, managers may be able to achieve the following:

• Awareness of the most important creative abilities/skills that needs to be developed;

• Awareness of the candidate’s strengths for creative learning and problem solving;

• Awareness of the candidate’s gaps/inconsistencies in a repertoire of creative abilities/skills;

• Providing a basis for generating learning activities and planning instruction to enhance creativity;

• Providing a basis for generating evaluation.

 

Why Should The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking be Used to Assess Creativity

Creativity should be assessed with multiple methods in order to recognise and nurture it. Testing may be most valuable with certain subgroups of individuals, especially those whose creativity is not yet actualised. Creativity testing is suggested in addition to product and performance evaluations in order to ensure that creative potential, as well as creative productivity is assessed. Translated into over 50 languages, the TTCT is a test anyone could respond to – regardless of previous experiences. The TTCT is recommended as the best standardised measures to use because of the preponderance of evidence of their reliability and validity over time and in different cultures.  These tests can be used not only for identifying the gifted, but also for discovering and encouraging everyday life creativity in the general population.