Intelligence Testing – Gifted IQ Testing
Do you wonder if your child is gifted?
Do you need to have IQ testing done for your children for private school admission?
Are you considering IQ testing?
Have you tried googling IQ testing and gifted testing in an attempt to figure out what it is?
It’s difficult to find accurate information on the internet about IQ testing and gifted evaluations. Let me clear up some of the usual questions.
There are very clear distinctions between a bright child and a gifted learner. School districts typically follow very distinct protocols to identify children for gifted programs. Usually, the needs of the gifted child cannot be met in the regular classroom. Teachers often love the bright child, since they are wonderful, attentive students, whereas gifted students can sometimes be challenging in the classroom, and teachers may not easily connect with them. Click HERE to read about the difference between a child that is gifted versus one that is bright.
Teachers typically identify students they think might be gifted based on scores on standard tests such as MAP tests and state assessments, the type of work the child produces in the classroom and their characteristics. If the school has a gifted program, the next step might be for the gifted teacher to work with the child for a short period of time in order to observe and evaluate the child’s work and thinking process. Based on this, the school may recommend the child be evaluated by a school psychologist to determine whether or not they meet the standards for admittance to the school district’s gifted program. Every district has different standards and different ways to run programs for gifted learners. Some schoosl pull gifted learners out of their normal classroom to participate in gifted programming. Other schools create a classoom with all gifted children. Some schools require students score in the 99th percentile on a standard IQ test. Others have slightly lower criterion.
For children older than 6, schools use the results from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children®-Fifth Edition (WISC®-V) or the Woodcock-Johnson IV. Schools usually use something called a General Ability Index (GAI) for gifted determination rather than a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ). The GAI is derived from the core Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning subtests on the WISC-V. The GAI provides an estimate of general intellectual ability, with reduced emphasis on working memory and processing speed.
Sometimes, a gifted child is not identified through the usual process at school. In this case, parents may choose to have their child evaluated for giftedness by a trained professional. This evaluation includes a brief interview with the parents and administering an IQ test to the child.
I am very passionate about IQ testing and I test many children and adults. In fact, I invested a significant amount of time and money to earn a special license just to do testing (that’s why I’m a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist). I work very hard to minimize any potential anxiety when I do IQ testing and to make the process enjoyable. Although the actual IQ test is very objective, I deliberately structure the entire testing process to allow kids to score at their potential. I feel it is so important to ensure kids have time to warm up and become comfortable, are not rushed through the process, and can take breaks and have snacks. I also use iPads to do the testing rather than the bulky, boring method of using spiral books and pen and paper scoring.
This includes the testing, a comprehensive report that summarizes the results and a 15- 20 minute phone consultation to review the results. Often, I can score the test before you leave and provide you with the results and consultation at the end of our appointment. I provide you with the written report within 2 weeks. You likely already know this, but insurance typically does not cover IQ testing. I administer the WISC-V to children and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) to adults. It takes between 60-120 minutes to administer the test.
I like to be very transparent about IQ testing as it’s often so difficult for parents to get answers to questions about gifted programming. Each district in our Kansas/Missouri area has its own protocol regarding requirements to be identified for the gifted program, and some have additional hurdles the child needs to achieve in addition to a qualifying IQ score. As a result, I cannot guarantee whether or not a school district will place a child in gifted programming even if they score in the gifted range on their IQ testing.
If you believe your child is gifted and you want them to be evaluated, or you are interested in adult IQ testing, please contact me HERE. As a parent of a gifted child, knowing whether or not my child was gifted vs. bright helped answer many questions I had and gave me peace of mind that I was advocating correctly for my child.