Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Odd Testing Question-Retest or Not?

I've been lurking here for a while and am finally ready to post my questions. I apologize for the length of this post but I had to put it all out there. Hope you understand.:)

I had my DC 6yrs tested this year on a WISC IV and WIATT for gifted placement. A little background...
He taught himself to read at 4 (we think he could read earlier but didn't demonstrate - I know it sounds weird), obsessed with science, builds lego and knex structures for 10yrold. His current obessesion is teaching himself how to play chess. He is upstairs right now playing against his lovey. He simply has many of the identifiers. My other "identified" 1st child seems to lag behind him in ability.

His teacher flagged him the first month of Kindergarten as "gifted"; yet when the test results came back they indicated high average (see below). We had a reputable test performed but I can't personally shake the dicrepancies we see at home/school vs scores. I know there isn't a lot of meaning in a # from a test taken on one day. Yet I say that with an edge when you consider he wont qualify for gifted services. He complained a lot last year of boredom.

After seeing his math WIAT scores at the end of the year, his principle did allow to take advance math modules (3rd grade level which he gets mainly b's on). However, they won't teach him anything on that level since it is against district policy to bring down curriculm. He missed things like > or< since he didn't know the symbols meaning.

We were given these test only written feedback report. I since learned it was computer generated. I guess I'm trying to find help on what I should do? I don't have unlimited funds to test over and over. Yet, I can't see him spending another frustrating year so far in front of the class. You guys seem to have been through the system and I would be very appreciative of any advise you can lend.

WISCIV
FS118on WISC IV.
VCI and PRI = 121
WMI 102
PSI 103

WIATT
Mathmatics >99% (I'm not sure how to interpret this)
Oral Language 98% ( it appears that his spelling and listening scores brought the avg down - his word reading was >99%

I just want to ditto the remark about not relying on test scores from one day. We recently saw 2 kids who were "mis-identified" as NG back in Kindergarten, re-assessed in 4th & 5th grade as HG (over a standard deviation difference in scores!)--only after at least a year or two of desperation by parents/teachers. In other words, you will need to re-test, but when? Maybe Dottie has a suggestion. I wouldn't go more than a year, during which keep challenging him with afterschool or differentiation in class.

I have also seen that kids with LDs or ADD will test better (significantly) once those issues are being addressed.

Thank you so much for the feedback. I don't remember being given the detailed subtest info on the WISC. However, I do know that he did score some high numbers and some lower on the subtests (not sure actual #s or section). This was really glossed over by the tester. I feel like once the tester realized he didn't score in the gifted range...we were just taking up her valuable time. Prior to that she couldn't wait to get her hands on him to test him. I kept hearing about how bright everyone thought he was/is at school.

His WIAT score was >99.9% on the math portion. I left off the .9. He also had >99.9% of word reading. I don't quite understand how he did so well on the wiat but not as strong on the wisc.

I am curious about what the WISC technical report states on his WMI/PSI. Do you know if this can be accessed by anyone; or do I have to go back to my unhelpful tester (I doubt I can get a hold of now that school is out)?

This kid has come alive this summer since he doesn't have the restraints of school(projects, knex bldg etc),so I keep thinking what if I'm missing something.

Thanks Again!

Your quick Dottie!:) He was 6yr 4mo at the time. I will have to pull the report back out and see if I overlooked the missing information. However,I doubt it. I read it more than once in disbelief.

Who knows the test could be correct, but watching him just doesn't feel right. My other "identified" child wasn't able to do 3rd grade math in K or read at his level (non-fiction space books and Spiderwick). I started thinking he is the 2nd child and exposed to more so maybe that accounts for his apptitude. However, it doesn't account for so many other things about him. This chess obession especially considering that none of us play. He offered today to trade chores for chess games (I'll sweep the floor if you play me - what a riot).

Thanks again for your help! If nothing else it is great to have a sounding board.

Dottie, thank you again for your help!!! I'm reading the technical report now.

My son is almost 7, and we tested him at 6y, 7 mo. I don't remember all his scores (and I'm too lazy to look them up at the moment) but his WIAT scores were "significantly higher than anticipated" based on his WISC scores. His IQ was 131 (barely gifted, according to the school). He was >99.9 in math and 99.8 in reading. So, I understand your confusion. I don't have any advice, but I do understand.

Mine, too, loves chess. He just finished chess camp today at the local college. He started learning it about 1 1/2 years ago. Fortunately, for me, he is usually happy playing against the computer, especially since someone gave him the LEGO chess software, which is actually pretty cool.

I know he had a subtest score of 9 on comprehension, which Dottie tells me brought down is overall IQ score quite a bit.

Oh, and I meant to say "welcome"!

I think you have to trust your gut, TXMom. You see your child every day. The testing was one sample on one day, so if the tester doesn't know how to test GT kids, and/or if the questions start out too easy and the child is bored and uncooperative, and/or if the kid gets an ornery and imaginative streak that day and answers all the questions in Elvish or whale language or something (don't laugh--it has happened!)...then it's not going to be an accurate snapshot.

It really sounds to me like you ought to retest. Based on what you've said, he sounds like he's more GT than the tests are showing.

Would the school accept outside scores? Or do they only accept their testing?

P.S. Dottie is our resident testing guru. You're in great hands!

OK dottie, you've piqued my curiosity. Which two do you see lower more than the others?

Don't you have to wait a year to retest?

Thanks for the welcome. If I don't belong for my son then I guess I'm here by default on my daughter. Daughter tested in the mid 130s 3 yrs ago. We just don't have many issues with her. She seems to do well in any learning situation.

Thank you for giving me the best ammunition/motivation with my son possible. When he hears that Lego has a chess game; he will be through the roof! I should at least be able to get a few weeks worth of chores from him with this knowledge. Just kidding. He starts chess camp in 2wks. I put him in a beginner class since he just started playing.