Welcome!
wondering if I ruined my kid's chances of a true score.
In a word, no.
More info: Many placement tests tend to be either IQ/ability tests or Achievement tests. It is ENCOURAGED to practice for achievement tests, such as ACT, SAT, etc. However prior exposure to IQ test material can give an artificially high or inflated score, resulting in a poor "fit" and/or inappropriate placement. These old posts may be of interest:
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List of tests for ability, aptitude, achievement -
How much error can there be in test scores?are there cases of bright (but not neccessarily gifted) kids getting into gifted programs?
Yes, unfortunately
many programs are designed for high-achieving, not for gifted.
Many programs teach one or 2 years ahead, and look for students who will be a good fit for that curriculum. This is matching the child to the program.
Fewer will determine where a child is at in each subject, based on readiness and ability and then custom fit instruction, pacing, and grouping for that child, for each subject area. This is matching the program to the child.
Do you know what the gifted program at your child's school consists of?
Is the COGAT/ITBS combined score a good indication of being gifted or not?
CogAT/ITBS are typically considered screeners. Group-administered tests can provide some indication of giftedness... and/or of which children test well, were prepped, etc. Each test is a snapshot taken on a particular day. Multiple indicators of giftedness provide a more complete picture.
