Hello,

Our son turned five a couple months ago, and we're applying to DYS. I got a quote on the SB-V for $1300, and we can't really afford to do that at the moment. Does the SB-V usually cost so much? I called back for a quote on the WIAT because they said it would be cheaper. Now I'm looking it up, and it doesn't look like preschool children are usually tested with the reading and math portions. Is that correct? What happens if a person requests it? Is it possible to calculate accurate scores?

Anyone have a good test suggestion for a mathy five year old who will be in kindergarten this fall? Alternatively, anyone have a ballpark figure I should shoot for in negotiating down the price of an SB-IV or SB-V?

You shouldn't test with the SB-IV, as it's outmoded. The cost is dependent upon the geographic location and tester; there are no set ballpark figures, unfortunately. Our testing by a psychologist familiar with gifted testing cost $1000 for both the SB-V and WJ-III.

The odd thing is that we don't live in an expensive area. We're in Arkansas.

I'll see what some other places quote. I'm waiting on three other places to call me back.

Look for a university that will do it for less. Some in TX do it for far less.

DS had the WJIII when he was 5, at the end of preschool, though they had to norm it as if he were in K because that's as low as it goes. The school did it, so there was no charge.

My DS was tested at 5y3m when he was in preschool. We did our testing through the psychiatry department at the University. They accepted our insurance and we were only responsible for the copay of $25.

They did the WPPSI-III and the WJ-III

What tests cannot be done until age six? I found a tester I especially liked today and at a much more reasonable price, but he said that he didn't have tests for below age six. What does that mean?

Up until almost age 7 you can do WPPSI. You can at this young age do K-ABC or K-BIT and RIAS. I think people frequently wait until age 6 or so for WISC or perhaps SB, which most people don't seem to use anyway.

It means that he probably hasn't bought anything but the WISC-IV, so he doesn't have an ability test that is appropriate for a child younger than six.

After countless phone calls and incredible frustration, I finally found a highly recommended local tester who is going to do both the SB-V and the WJ-II Ach for $250! His first quote was $1900, but he changed it to $250 when he found out what it was for and that we didn't need a meeting with him to discuss the results afterward.

I could have hugged his assistant though the phone.

I hope that's the WJ-III for achievement...

I have heard of insurance covering or helping with testing. I would have never imagined but it makes sense.

Good job - the 'consultation' is where the biggest expensive comes in. Glad you got that figured out!

The Naglieri Nonverbal Abilities Test could work for you because it requires no reading and has a kindergarten level. It is also designed to be culturally neutral. Private testing centers can administer it for a couple hundred dollars if I remember correctly.

Just thought I'd check back in with an update. I think my son is a good example of early testing not being accurate unless the child cooperates with the test.

So that there wouldn't be any pressure, I told him that he was just going to go play some games and do some puzzles.

I could hear some of the testing and knew while it was going on that I wouldn't get back accurate scores. He was clamming up on things that I know he knows, going off on tangents, etc, and it took three solid hours. Today the scores came in the mail, and, as I suspected, they are all over the place. It looks to me like he paid attention when they did things he found interesting and didn't pay attention or ignored the questions when he wasn't interested.

So it goes. There is a qualifying Broad Math (155) in there, but I don't think there's any point in submitting it with the other scores all over the map.

We'll do it again in a few years when we can tell him to take it seriously.