Is there any specific reason why you are seeking the SB5 test?
There are several reasons NOT to seek the SB5 test, including:
- SB5 is an older test.
- Other IQ tests have been developed, normed, and are in use.
- The SB5 results are widely known to reflect the
Flynn Effect.
- Unfortunately, there are many opportunities to become exposed to SB5 questions through
unethical "test preps," resulting in an inflated score which will not help you to better understand your child's relative strengths/weaknesses, or obtain the best academic/intellectual "fit."
Reliable test prep information includes:
- Aimee Yermish's
article, (2002) Hoagies' Gifted Education Page.
- Nadia Webb's
article, (2006) Davidson Database.
It is standard among all of the psychologists who regularly test HG and PG kids, to start the subtests above their chronological age. It keeps the testing from being tedious or seen as patronizing.
Beginning with questions above chronological age may be seen as
one important difference from the Yermish article which describes the test as beginning with easy questions (the kind which many describe as inspiring kids to give silly answers, negatively impacting their performance score).
This is not to detract from Aimee's article, as the purpose of the article is for parents to prepare children for what to expect during testing... even if a tester is choosing questions which are above chronological age, they may be seen by an HG or PG child as "easy"... therefore it may be wise to prepare a child that they may receive easy questions with obvious answers... so they can decide ahead of time not to be too silly if this occurs. Hoagies Gifted Education Page has information which may be helpful as
a starting point for locating a psychologist to administer an IQ test.
