Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment WIAT and DYS

DS6 recently took the WIAT and I am trying to figure out whether I can apply to DYS with his current scores. His recent WISC scores appear to be qualifying. He is going into 1st grade this fall.

I see the following subtest scores for the WIAT III:..... I also see "composite" scores for Total Reading, Basic Reading, and Mathematics. All of these scores are >145, so do I even need to worry about the fact that I see no "total written language" or "total composite" listed?

I am just a bit confused, as I had expected to see more subtests and more "total composites." Perhaps it is an age issue? Perhaps, however, in light of the scores I have, it does not matter? Has anyone applied to DYS with similar subtests? TIA for any help understanding this!

It appears that the examiner chose not to administer the written expression subtests: sentence composition and essay composition, which are necessary for a Written Expression Composite, presumably because of your child's age. (There are no age norms for six yos on the essay comp subtest.). Consequently, the Total Composite also could not be calculated.

Thanks, aeh.

Whoops!!! Do I need to ask for these? Can these be done for a 6-year-old, who has not started 1st grade? Is the testing considered "complete" for a 6-year-old without them?

Is the "mathematics" composite the same is "Total Mathematics"? Does anyone know if the "Total Reading" and "Mathematics" subtests that are both >145 will be adequate for achievement testing for DYS?

This is our second round of achievement testing. We felt like we couldn't use the WJ from when he was 4.5-years-old because of the problems with low "Broad Scores" for 4-year-olds (subject of a prior thread). His subtests for reading on the WJ were very high (190+,160+), but as another poster pointed out, all Broad Scores for this age range top out below 140 - no matter how high the subtests.

No, you do not need more subtests. The essay comp has no norms for six yos or first graders. (Norms begin with 3rd grade.). You could have sentence comp given, if you like, but it still won't give you a composite score. The composites you have are the equivalent of Total Reading and Total Math. The only other "Total" you could get would be Oral Language, which others more knowledgeable about DYS would have to comment on the value of.

Thank you, aeh!

Has anyone had experience with the WIAT for a younger child and DYS? It does seem as though there are some challenges with obtaining all of the DYS achievement composites for the younger set.

UPDATE: (In case this helps someone else) I asked a question of the YS Application Team and just heard back - they are very kind and helpful. They advised that they only require one of the approved scores to be listed (I was concerned because some composites would be missing), so I think that our current testing should be sufficient. HTH!