Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Results! Tested at 3 yrs. 11 mos.

(aeh I was very wrong, she used the WJ-iii Cog)

My DS was tested at 3.11 with the Woodcock Johnson-III Cognitive Test, The Beery Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration.

WJ-3 Cog:
GAI 138 99.55%ile
Verbal Ability 130
Thinking Ability 132
Cognitive Efficiency 132

Visual-Motor Integration:
Above 99.98

It was noted that on some of the subtests, he took so many breaks (especially during memory portions) that he is score is an underestimate. I don't know if we will retest for DYS, since it looks like he wasn't close to the cutoff. I am part relieved that it wasn't 99.9%ile-giving us a better chance of a positive public school experience (or is that delusional? I have some hope.) and a little disappointed that we cannot recieve help from DYS.

He loves to create books, writing the story and drawing the pictures, so the Visual-motor makes a lot of sense.

How do you get a GAI of 138 with scores of 130,132,132?

He's burning through 1st grade math independently right now, I am at a total loss of what to do next. I postponed the IEP because I need to sink my teeth in the report more. He scored "clinically significant" in the areas of depression, anxiety and aggression on the social/emotional assessments completed by us and his teachers. To me that's a redflag for a school diagnosis for emotional disturbance later on (hearbreaking). I feel that sending him to K at 5.5 is not an option that is healthy for him and there are no gifted and talented schools in my area for elementary level students.

Thank you to everyone on these forums who has helped us in the past two years. You are a virtual part of the puzzle that helped fuel my strength to fight for an assessment.

Because it is unusual to have all three scores be that high, the "combined" score is numerically higher than any one of them.

Thank you, so it's not an average.

In addition, the clusters are not equally weighted in the GCA on the WJ, which is why it cannot be handscored. The TA and VA have higher g-loadings than the CE cluster does (in that order). Since the GCA global composite is supposed to be an indicator of g-general intelligence, the clusters with higher g-loadings are differentially weighted into its calculation.

GGG, my original comments on preschool testing are still applicable. I wouldn't rule out re-testing in a few years, when the scores become more stable. The new WJIV is a significant improvement over the WJIII, in terms of its assessment of general intelligence, and its ceiling, and also has the capacity to calculate scores without speed and memory (like the GAI on the WISC). The WISC-V is also a technical improvement over the WISC-IV.

The social-emotional indicators should not be considered measures of trait (intrinsic qualities), but state (current conditions). That he appears to be experiencing psychic distress right now is highly significant, but certainly does not mean 1) that his long-term prognosis is poor, or 2) that sending him to kindergarten would be an unhealthy choice. There are services for social-emotional needs in kindergarten, as well, and it might be an avenue for accessing additional services. I would definitely prioritize looking for solutions to the anxiety and depression (aggression often is a manifestation of the anxiety and depression, especially in children), keeping in mind that poor academic instructional fit will contribute to those symptoms.

Did you get the full report? We got a copy of the computer scoring summary showing all the tests and it swas quite interesting.

This is a tough age for gifted kids I think as a lot public schools (and even camps) have pretty strict age cutoffs. Single age groups can be really difficult for a child who is advanced I think.

It may be helpful to explore activities where there is some age mixing (maybe a Montessori with a 3-6 year old classroom?) or some way where a very bright 3 year old can do activities with older kids. When DS was 3 his friends were mostly 5 year olds.

Like PPs, I wouldn't rule out future testing based on WJIII cognitive taken at such a young age.


I can understand why you'd be concerned. Are you seeing the same types of behavioral problems at home and at school?

We apparently have gotten a spot with a charter school that supports homeschooling families. Maybe that would be an option for your DS as well? I also read around here that smaller private schools might be more willing to work with parents. I have no idea how my DD did on her tests and we won't find out until after May but regardless of her IQ score, I know a typical K curriculum would not work out for her. She'd rebel and no one would be happy.