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Hi, everyone -

I was wondering if anyone knows how the WISC-IV IQ test is typically administered? Is it a test that is usually conducted over several days or in one sitting?

Thanks!

jaytee

I don't know what is typical, but for my kids it was one sitting with a few breaks. Total time was 2 hours.

My dd has done it twice, once in one sitting, once in two

Thanks.

The reason I ask is because my son's school administered this test to him a couple months ago as part of his IEP triennial review, but they broke it up into half hour intervals over several (non-consecutive) days. I was never told this test was being conducted, and he was pulled out of class for each testing session. The psychologist indicated that there were a few days when he complained of being tired and was reluctant to leave his class, which may have affected his performance. At least once, he had to miss part of recess as a result of the testing, which also made him unhappy.

He scored just under the cusp to qualify for the Davidson Young Scholars program, so I was wondering if it was worth pursuing having him retested? If his test was representative of how they are typically conducted, I'm happy to let it be and consider his results accurate. But if there is a chance that a more clinically compliant evaluation would yield more accurate scores, I might be interested in requesting a reassessment.

Thanks again!

jaytee

But he can't be retested with that test so soon. It would have to be a different test.

Oh yes, I know he's spoiled for the WISC-IV. They'd have to use another test. But again, I'm wondering if this is something that would be worth pursuing or if most people would consider his test valid.

It does seem like private psychologists often do a better job, I guess it's a question of whether/why you need to know if he's capable of more under better circumstances? He could well do better, he might not? Is it worth the money to find out?

jaytee, I suspect that there will always be a chance you'll have a question with any one set of testing. When my kids were first tested (dd10 and ds13 were both tested privately at 5), the tests were spread out over multiple sessions so they wouldn't get tired etc. They've both been tested privately again since then, and ds has had a test through school - each of those tests have been conducted at one sitting in the same day, with a few breaks in between subtests. When ds was tested at school I wasn't given any advance notice of the date, he was pulled out of a once-a-YEAR class that he'd been looking forward to for months, was extremely unhappy, and on top of all that he'd hit his head in a fall while ice-skating the night before and still had a horrendous headache from it which he'd refused to take pain meds for. To cut to the chase, his IQ results have always been very consistent no matter who tests and what the situation is and how well he likes the tester. My dd10, otoh, scored much higher on her original testing which was spread out over a few days with a psych that she really REALLY liked. Did that make a difference? I'm not sure I'll ever know.

The one thing I would consider before deciding when to test again is will other people/groups/teachers/whoever consider the results reliable? The factors that played into that for us were reputation of the person doing the testing *and* age... we've had the early IQ tests (given at 6 years old and younger) questioned by our kids' schools and gifted programs. The tests they had when they were 7 and older haven't been questioned. NOTE - this includes ds' testing that at 5 that was given through the school district - was in fact questioned later by the SAME school district lol!

So - unless there is a compelling reason to retest now (other than curiosity), I'd suggest waiting a year and then re-test if you want to know. I wouldn't pay to do it now to get into DYS, simply because you're taking a risk that he still might not qualify, plus you'd spend $ on a test that you might not be able to use for another program later on. FWIW, and this is not a dig at DYS in anyway at all - there are other programs out there for gifted kids with admission bars set lower... you might find that a different program offers the type of help you're looking for for your ds without having to retest now.

Best wishes,

polarbear

That is how the school handled testing my son, but not the private neuropsych. She did it all in one day, with a few breaks thrown in. The school did it in short sessions over the course of 2 weeks. However, for my son, the scores were very close (one was the Weschler, the other was the Kaufman), so I would consider both valid. I can see how easily the disruption could effect the child though.

Ask for the GAI. Odds are that it will be much higher than the FSIQ, and if he was just under qualifying for Davidson that might push him over the edge.

And for mine the WISC and WIPPSI were about an hour? Under two for sure.