I am doing grade 7 and I am having huge difficulty with my staccato scales, especially the chromatic ones. I find it really hard to play them up to the required speed as as soon as I do so the touch sounds more like legato than crisp, dry staccato. How on earth do you develop a crisp, dry touch for playing scales at the required speed? Any tips appreciated.

I use a wrist staccato - are you using your whole arm to do staccato? If so, you won't be able to get it any faster and clearer.

Yes, wrist staccato is the right method.
Do not raise your finger to strike the key. This is a lot of movement, consuming time & impossible to go fast. Rather, begin with your finger already on the key itself and play staccato.
With patience, practise slowly until each finger is precise & strong. Try raising the speed daily, and soon you'll be there.

I agree with EstherClaire...

Start off with the wrist method s..l...o...w..l...y making sure you keep the staccato nice and crisp, then gradually build up the speed day by day so that by the time you can play it fast it will be just as staccato as before!

I've just posted something in the other scales thread that was actually meant for you!

I never totally got to grips with staccato scales either but I found it much more controlled to use fingers rather than wrist.
If I try to use wrist staccato I get too far away fro the keys to be sure of landing on the right note...

Do them slowly and then gain speed when you are more familiar with the notes/feel i would say.
And YES, wrist staccato is ABSOLUTELY right.

I found I was under more control with fingers as well... It has to be said, I never really have scales both fast enough *and* controlled though...is usually a compromise between the two!

I have managed to reach the stage of being a grade 7 candidate without ever knowing what wrist staccato was! I think I do use it although not perhaps for scales. I shall experiment at the keyboard to see what happens.

Thanks very much for the suggestions.

For some reason I've always used finger staccato and it's worked out fine. Using too much wrist just doesn't seem to have as much control.

I agree wrist is the best option but also make sure you keep all the muscles relaxed!