Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment SCAT testing

My DD9 has never had formal IQ testing done. We have been relatively happy with her school's ability to differentiate in the early grades but I felt like 3rd grade was not challenging for her overall (she was accelerated (grade skip) in math and that helped for the first 3 months or so). I'm trying to be a better advocate for her entering 4th grade, but am struggling.

Her grade level assesments all showed 99%, so I felt like an out of level test might help. I just received her SCAt results from the IY2 form (spring 6 norm)back which showed:
Verbal 443 69%, Quant 464 87%

The question is - now what? She's currently in 4th grade doing 5th grade math, does the Quant score indicate a need for another skip? I thought the verbal would be higher (in general I'd say her strength is that area, not math) but the analogies strategy might have thrown her.

Can anyone offer any insight. The new scores aren't up for other CTY talent search kids, but comparisons to last year showed she was in the 56% in verbal and 85% in Quant

This is tricky. I'd say now is a good time to request (in writing) that the school do an IQ/Achievement test or start whipping out the end of year assesments to see if she scores over 80% without even seeing the material.

Or consider suplimenting afterschool, or partial homeschooling.

She needs more.

Love and More love,
Grinity

Thanks so much for the response. I know you're right that she needs more. We've resisted the whole IQ test as it's expensive. When she was entering kindegarten we spoke to a center that quoted $1,500. I suspect that she's highly but not PG, so have resisted spending the money particularly as I'm not sure that it will make a bit of difference to her school.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond

Does your district use MAP scores? Because the MAP lets the school know what the child is ready to learn next, requesting to have your child grouped with others who have very similar MAP scores is frequently an effective (and cost-effective) form of advocacy when IQ scores aren't available and out-of-level talent search testing is not making an impression.

aculady - thank you for the suggestion, unfortunately we don't use MAP scores, the only in school assessments are the ITBS, although we're moving to the ERB this spring.

We're at a private school. In some ways was a great fit, small classes - operating at a high level and the teachers in the early grades were pretty responsive. The biggest issue is they don't have the in house resources that the public schools have, so testing will have to be at our cost. We'd certainly be willing to do it. But I really don't think they know what to do with it. If I walked in showing an IQ test, I don't think it would really help them figure out where to place her.

I think pushing for the end of year assessments that are part of the math curriculum could help.

You might want to call back and ask how much it costs for an IQ test alone, without the 'interpretation' -

I don't know what area you are in, but I have recently called two ed psychs in my area (Chicago suburbs) who are known for gifted testing and they both quoted me $500 for the WISC-IV and a report.

Also, at least one gifted school in my area will test any kid (whether they are applying or not) also WISC-IV I believe for $450.

Still pricey, but much better than $1500. I would call around and maybe try to find a private practice Psy.D. with experience with gifted kids.

Thanks for the tips - I do think the $1,500 also included achievement tests. I did find a local team that does the WISC IV for $525. They also offer the WIATT III for $550. Would one or the other be better, or should we do both?