Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Test Scores

Hi, I posted this in another thread, related, but I figured maybe it belonged here...

just wondering about these test results for ds8...not as 'hoped', but not entirely unexpected as I have been seeing more and more on tests he is moving away from 'looking' gt and more towards 'completely not to be understood'.

Just some quick background -
Stanford Diag. Math test in 1st where he got a very high (maybe perfect, iirc) score in 'concepts' and a 3 out of 20 in computation...I was told not to worry about it.
K-bit in 2nd where he got verbal - 95th percentile, math - 87th percentile. He was able to get into the k-3rd gt program with these scores and some additional work samples, plus his reading was about 2.5 years above grade, per some testing done in 2nd.

He took a SCAT in the fall this year, I'll have to dig up those scores, but again verbal ahead of math, verbal was very solid but not quite qualifying for most jhu-cty programs. These scores were a little confusing as it seemed his verbal percentile might be way off the %95th for age/grade, but I figured maybe I was just interpreting it incorrectly. Anyway, it made me think ok maybe he's more verbal than I thought, always thought he was mathy or at least very visual/puzzle whiz/patterny.

I am ok with all of this, even his not being in the school gt program for next year, but I really think he would benefit from it and does seem to really really love it and is doing well in the 3rd grade program.

Next year's program eligibility relies partly on the CogAT and Naglieri scores, just received, not ideal...

Naglieri: 114, broken out: Pattern completion: 6/6, Reasoning by Analogy: 6/10, Serial Reasoning: 5/8, Spatial Visualization, 6/14. Seems like he was just going downhill there...
A respectable score, just not immediately qualifying him for this program, I think they need to see 130. (98th percentile)

Cogat (at least this shows a number attempted)
area....number....number attmptd...number correct...Percntl
verb....65........61 ................52.............73
Qnt.....60........36 (???)...........30.............35
NonVrb..65........57.................57.............88

comp: 64%ile

Although I was hoping for higher scores in nonverbal and on the Nag., the proportions seem to fit my ds as I have always understood him.

I am still interested in his trying for the gt program for next year (they won't really decide until May) so I will get with the school to see about more testing, possibly address the massive 'off' score in Quantitative with something untimed.
They might not do more testing this year, however. At least I have more of a leg to stand on for the ld investigation, maybe? Hm.

Suggestions? Interpretations?

My pendulum is swinging between complete confusion, and 'ok, these are screening tests, and not necessarily a real picture of ds' ability', etc.

PS, he just got straight A's for this grading period, including math (geometry, of course!)

I will likely end up getting thorough testing at the neuropsych that has been recommended to me, but now that the dev. ped. has said she would not pursue it, maybe ins. won't be so inclined to pay, but I will probably give it a go anyway.
I am curious if I call the dev. ped. with this info if she might more readily make a recommendation for further testing (outside school)

Thanks for the response Dottie - yes, I do think he *needs* this, I guess when I said I am ok with the scores, I mean that I am not doing this for my own gratification (of course! )- he was really miserable before we started on this whole thing and has just been so excited about school since he has been in the program.

I think it is interesting on the non-verbal too - considering he typically scores higher on verbal areas, I am hoping with a non-timed test he could really let loose with the non-verbal. I wondered if he ran out of time on the naglieri too, but they don't show an attempted number.

Sounds like you are saying WISC-IV is non-timed. I will try to speak with the psych today and see what she thinks about this, and also get back with the dev. ped. about the very low number on quantitative. He's actually very good with computation, given plenty of time.
And yes, I am still pursuing the possibility of the ld/capd, especially after the low quant. score...I believe that is an area affected by capd, but again I need to double check that.

At least I've got the 'obstinate, head-strong girl' thing going for me...

Yes Dottie, that set up does sound good, especially if there is some movement between levels possible.

I have gotten in touch with the instructor for the gifted program for 4th grade +. She was pretty optimistic that instead of being outright denied eligibility for next year that my ds would probably be routed for additional testing by the school.
I guess factors for that would be his school grades, reading level, the fact that he's already in the first program.

She definitely said it wouldn't be a WISC, however, but similar testing that shows both areas of strength and areas of difficulty (possible lds, possible referral for more testing). I think they use Woodcock Johnson (something or other) and maybe some other testing for individual testing.

That itself is a relief however I don't want to wait until August, which sounds like the earliest they'd do more testing. Mainly because if there is an ld it just seems obvious to me that we'd want to start dealing with it sooner rather than later. Also, it sounds from Dottie that a WISC-IV is a pretty good test for looking at both sides of the equation and I would like to see those numbers.

After looking at these scores, there were a few minutes when I thought, oh ok, very bright, some serious muff-up on the quantitative, not gt, no big deal. But then ds himself just really fits everything I've read about gt kids, and in pulling together some work samples which I had been promising myself I would send to the school/gt program, just going through page after page of robot designs, comic book concepts/pages, complicated ideas for clubs he wants to start, detailed drawings of body armour to be built with his dad....I've got to go with my gut on this and get the testing done.
No need to respond on this post...just my musings.