Should we IQ-test in K or wait a year or two?

loraxc · 11-05-2009, 07:46 AM

DD is 5 and in K at an arts charter school. She loves it. Her class is not very academically focused (in this case, yay!) and she adores all the extras (art, drama, music, Spanish). She is not having any behavioral problems.

She is, however, reading on at least a fourth grade level, and her math skills could be a great deal more exercised than they are.

We received a notice saying that an initial screening had ID'ed her as eligible for further testing to possibly place her in the gifted program. On the one hand, I like that they are doing this so early, but I'm a little concerned about how she will handle a formal test at her age and maturity level. However, we were going to go ahead and sign the papers and proceed.

It has just now occurred to me to wonder if this is her only shot. Like, maybe this is the one and only test, and if she doesn't get placed, then that's it (school is K-5). DH is signing the forms today and will ask this. If the answer is yes, I wonder if we should delay testing till she is older and more mature, especially since she's quite happy in K.

Thoughts? I don't know what the gifted program entails yet. I suspect not much--the school is very small and the gifted "teacher" is also the principal.

FWIW, I suspect DD is MG, perhaps right on the border between gifted and bright. Her verbal skills are very strong, but her spatial skills are average or below.

chrysgee · 11-05-2009, 08:18 AM

Whoever does the testing should take into account her age, down to the month. If the schooll is bring it up, it may be time. Its always nice to have those score tucked away if something comes up. If you are at all concerned that her scores may not be reliable, I would encourage you to consider private testing. Then dd can have the rest of the day off from school - it may be spilt over 2 days. If you do it privately, you only have to share the results with the school if you think they are accurate. Hopefully the school wouldn't be put off with you choosing private testing as it would save them a lot of time and money. HTH.

loraxc · 11-05-2009, 08:30 AM

We have taken a cursory look at private testing, but we really can't afford it.

I know they will take her age into account, but I'm just not sure if she will sit and answer all the questions. She might also give silly answers, and she might also just not take it seriously (why would she?)

loraxc · 11-05-2009, 01:23 PM

Nobody else? Would love to hear from those who did IQ-test a K-aged kid and find out how it went.

ETA that this is the test they are using: http://www.prufrock.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=128

eepster · 11-05-2009, 04:16 PM

I haven't been there yet, but I know what you mean. I'm pretty sure DS is gifted, but then again I'm also pretty sure that there would be days he would simply refuse to participate in testing do to his lack of maturity.

I would ask a few questions before agreeing. If she does poorly can she retest next year or the year after? If we don't test now, can she test next year? These seem to already be on you mind.

I would try giving her the "5 minute IQ test" at home. It should give you some idea of how she will handle the test.

joensally · 11-05-2009, 04:30 PM

But if you don't test now she may not be able to access whatever resources they have.

DS was given similar tests by the school at 5.25, and full testing a couple of months later by a private psych. He's a pita (very self-directed), and so the test results are all over the place. We don't have a FSIQ because there was too great a discrepancy between scores for statistical validity - he blew the top off of some of them and clearly did not attend to others. He did much better with the psychologist than with the school staff person, and both testing processes were done one

ne, not in a group.

If your DD is generally pretty cooperative in class she'll probably do fine. Is she demonstrating in class the skills she needs for testing - listening, following instructions, remaining attentive? They do take breaks, and a skilled or experienced tester should know how to take activity breaks when attention wanders. I think some also may introduce a candy treat in a pinch.

**Ellien C** · 11-05-2009, 04:56 PM

do you know what sort of testing they are doing?

The "tested" my daughter in Kindy with the result being they put her in GATE. That was it. I never received any kind of score and I don't really know how "formal" it was. It's not like she could read or write at that age. It sounded like they told her stories and asked her questions about them or asked her to draw a picture. This is all good with me - I don't need any score and I'm not all that concerned about what "tests" they gave her. She has enjoyed the 1-day/week pull-out GATE program last year and this, and will continue to do so through Grade 6. To me there was NO downside to whatever testing they did.

loraxc · 11-05-2009, 05:33 PM

Good news: if she does not qualify next year, she can retest next year.

So I think it's fine and we will proceed.

I actually did give that 5-minute IQ test (an approximation thereof) and she did it in 10 seconds, got everything right, and said, "Now I'm making one of these for you."

I could see her insisting on constructing a test for the tester! She also makes me worksheets!

The initial test, the SAGES-2, is group administered, which seems weird. But it's a test specifically for IDing giftedness, which seems cool. It will be followed by an individual test with a psychologist if she scores high enough.

bec · 11-05-2009, 07:43 PM

We got Emily tested at 5.5 years old. We were hoping to use it as a tool to advocate for her with her school (not that it has helped all that much.

). We went to the Belin Blank Center for the testing. It was reasonably priced, and they did a fantastic job with her. They are well experienced with working with little ones, allowed her all the breaks she needed, when some of the initial results seemed off or not what they expected, they gave secondary tests to validate (or negate) their initial testing. They understood that she had not been exposed to this kind of testing before, and took that into account. They understood that there might be reasons behind why her attention span may lag (hunger, needing to go to the bathroom, or just be 5 for a bit). Anyway, we had a VERY positive experience with them. She had a good time, the report has been invaluable for our understanding of where she's at. And, the Center is willing to advocate with our school on her behalf.