Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment WISC IV subtests and labels

We just received the draft report for our son. On several subtests he hit the ceiling. On one, he received a 19, on one an 18 and on one a 21. She labels these as exceptionally gifted. Does anyone know what the subtest scores would need to be to be labelled profoundly gifted? My understanding was that 21 was the highest one could really get and I thought anything 18 or over was profoundly gifted.

(Not that I really care or it matters what it is called, I am just more intellectually curious.)

Thanks.

I think that the problem is that there is no universal definition as to what constitutes highly, exceptionally, or profoundly gifted. Some of us here have switched to highly gifted+ (HG+) for everything in the 99.9th or close.

As far as the highest scaled score one can receive, it is a 19 without extended norms. With extended norms, which it looks like your tester used, a 28 is as high as it goes. None the less, your ds appears to be very, very gifted and I'd feel free to call it whatever appears to fit the child you have .

I love your response to this Cricket2

I suspect too there is a significant range of variability once you reach those high end scores. I know half a dozen kids that sit around 145 - 150 fsiq - all of whom have completely different skill sets, levels of academic motivation etc. One, a 9 yo, is fascinated by maths and working 7 years ahead, another 9yo (same scores) loves history and reads university history texts for a hobby, but is only working a few years a head in maths, has no interest in science. Yet another is cruising along with a single grade skip, but is very focused on competitive swimming. Another has had achievement testing showing they are capable of working at least 5 years ahead across the board, but they have no academic motivation whatsoever. All of which I guess makes me wonder whether there is any real meaning to 'profoundly gifted' anyway.

I completely understand the need to differentiate between different levels of giftedness, but once you reach a certain point it seems it becomes a bit meaningless - which is why I like HG+ too.

Our tester used words like "very bright" until we got the report with a definitely PG result. And, from memory there were only two 19s and an 18? Or maybe two 18s and a 19? So I don't think you're necessarily off the hook there.

I think that the specific tests may have their own terminology. On an SB-V report, there are Descriptive Classifications next to scores-- 99.9->99.9 interval percentile -Highly Advanced (Profoundly Gifted), 99-99.9 interval percentile - Very Advanced (Exceptionally Gifted), 95-99.7 - Highly Advanced (Highly Gifted). Not sure if that was the tester's terminology or if that comes straight from the test.

Also, I believe age will make a difference in whether a score of 19 is less than or greater than 99th percentile. The older you get, the more likely you are to have company at the top.

Agree x 1,000... I think you've summed this up beautifully.

Thank you for the responses. Next to each it says greater than 99.9% and then exceptionally gifted, btw.

Nerdnproud - I agree there is such variability. Thanks again for the good summary.