Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment WPPSI-IV vs WPPSI-III

Wondering if anyone has seen any differences in the scores of the WPPSI-III vs WPPSI-IV. The WPPSI-IV has been out a couple of years now - are scores still coming in "lower"?

I could be wrong but last I heard it is still a work in progress. Much lower scores.

Is there a consensus on a gifted cutoff score for the WPPSI-IV? Is it still 130? IQ scores are very confusing since it it misleadingly easy to compare numbers - even when they are really apples/oranges.

In general IQ scores will be slightly lower for newer revisions of the same test. It's called the Flynn effect, and there is an ongoing discussion in the field about the explanation for it. On face value, it would suggest that people are actually getting smarter over time, but more likely it has to do with what constitutes common experience and how that changes from decade to decade.

As to cutoffs for giftedness, that is also a subject for ongoing discussion in the field. There are some who hold to 130+ (e.g., Mensa), while others, looking at it from a more psychometric view, rather than a membership perspective, have proposed that the cutoff be as low as 120 (all these scores are assumed to be mean = 100, and standard deviation = 15; the cutoffs would be different with different standard deviations). Some practitioners/school systems consider a score at or above the cutoff to be relevant for classification only if it is the global (Full Scale IQ) score, while others would accept one of the Index scores, or the General Ability Index (which combines the measures with more high-level thinking and reasoning on them, and excludes the cognitive proficiency scales - working memory and processing speed).

In any case, cognitive scores below the age of about eight or nine are notoriously unstable. I wouldn't sweat WPPSI scores too much; wait until the child is nine, and test with the WISC-V (out this September).

Does anyone know how this factors in to applying to DYS?

DD6 (age 5 at the time) took the WPPSI-IV last August, and missed the minimum qualification by 5 points (145 vs the minimum of 150).

I don't think that Davidson distinguishes between the WPPSI-III and WPPSI-IV. A verbal, FQIQ or Performance > 150 is accepted.

"Standard score 150+ (99.9th percentile) on at least one of the following sections: Verbal, Performance or Full Scale"

I am not sure either how much weight to put in WPPSI-IV scores as early IQs are not stable as aeh has pointed out.

A WPPSI score means something I guess - but what?

So, with a portfolio, do you think it would be worth applying to DYS, since her IQ is close to the minimum? Or would that be an automatic denial? We haven't done achievement tests.

She is reading on a 5th grade level, math is 2 grades above level, and she also has a piano talent (for example, I could include a video of a few piano pieces she has memorized).

I am pretty sure you must have one qualifying test (either IQ or achievement) to submit with the portfolio in order to be considered. Others may know better.

Yes. You need one qualifying test score (either IQ or achievement) to submit with a portfolio. If it's close, but no cigar, they'll ask you to re-test.

That's what happened to us last year. I submitted the portfolio last year with close, but not qualifying scores. DYS said to re-submit once ds had one qualifying test score. I have plenty of work samples on the pgness, but not a minimum test score yet.

Okay, thanks for the info!!

Looks like we'll be holding off, since I don't plan on re-testing her anytime soon.

She is in a charter school. I am not entirely sure of her rights (i.e. can I ask the school to administer an achievement or IQ test?).

She is at a school that is not overall academically rigorous, but differentiates quite well for DD and other gifted kids, and in all other ways is a perfect fit for DD. She also has an amazing K teacher, and the school loops, so she will have the same teacher next year. Since things are going well at school, it is not an issue I have ever pushed.