Hi Dude,
The scale that I worked from is from the Hoagies website for the WISC IV (attached). Highly gifted (on that site is 138+ FSIQ). There is a lot of explanation about the General Ability Index, but 2 main points 1) it includes only the verbal and perceptual scores (both considered most closely associated with gifted) and 2) is recommended when the processing and/or working memory is far below (20 something points or more) the highest score. My son received a low processing score in relation to high verbal score. The National Association for Gifted Children wrote a position statement about the WISC IV.
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/highly_profoundly.htmhttp://nagc.org/index.aspx?id=2455Labels aside, the subtest results are the most telling when it comes to strengths and challenges. In our house, my son's verbal reasoning operates like a Ferrari, and his processing operates like a Honda (good and reliable but not fast).
That 146 GAI has been important because it explains some of DS's frustrations (and he's six:). For instance, he took a timed math test on our computer this morning (for fun!) and had 2 meltdowns because he couldn't spit it out quickly and get the "high" score. This kind of thing happens three times a week, and he hasn't started formal homework yet!
As the years pass, I think the 141 FSIQ and high subtest scores are close to accurate- his educational psychologist was highly experienced both in testing and in public school gifted programs. His lower processing speed is probably accurate, and not "performance anxiety" based on what I see at home.
Additionally, DS has exceptional reasoning skills - taught himself how to do 2 digit to 1 digit multiplication in kindergarten (at 6AM because he woke up excited about math), was able to do double digit addition and subtraction in his head by age 4 and can read virtually anything that interests him (anywhere else this would be obnoxious bragging- here, it's considered "average!"). He's not teaching himself calculus, or writing symphonies, or inventing something to fund his early retirement plan. So, 150+ is probably off the table.
