Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment DYS - WISC V Scores & alternate qualifying

Are there alternate qualifying criteria that can be used? My 8yo qualified on the WISC ***CORRECTION, NEARLY qualified. She had FSIQ 139, GAI 141, Verbal Comprehension 146 and Fluid Reasoning 140. She did not qualify on the WIAT though some scores, including Fluid Reasoning, were 99.9th percentile. She has written a cohesive, inventive novel a little over 100 pages. She dictated it onto audio files and I transcribed it. Can this be submitted along with her scores to qualify for DYS? If so, has anyone done that and know what the process would be.

If he qualified on the Wisc there is no need to also qualify on the Wiat. You only need one or the other now.

Sorry, I just corrected an error. She did not qualify on the WISC V. She got the Verbal Comprehension and was close on the Fluid Reasoning and GAI.

Can you have her take the EXPLORE test?

I wasn't familiar with EXPLORE, but will check it out. We live rurally and are homeschooling (not that well, yet) after her 2nd grade classroom wasn't teaching anything and she fell behind, might not be a good time for the EXPLORE.

I guess I was hoping the numbers weren't hard and fast. I think she's been drastically under challenged, almost neglected and the scores under-represent her abilities. She's getting bored and disillusioned and lazy (at 8!!). I am hoping the involvement with Davidson might help steer her in a better direction. I thought the book she worked on sort of shone through what's been a murky period, and I thought it might help her application but if it's strict numbers then I suppose it won't. I heard something about portfolio... I wasn't sure what it was and thought it meant I could highlight an accomplishment to bolster her scores.

Her lowest scores were 2nd percentile on the WIAT and her high scores on that test were 99th - 99.9th. Maybe that shows she's been underdeveloped and is stagnating. Or maybe a disability that the tester failed to recognize. I will pursue the application and would love any suggestions that might make it work - or to know that it can't work would also be helpful to hear.

From what I understand, they are not hard and fast if your kid is extremely close. It can't hurt to apply as it's free and not that much work to do so.

They changed the criteria in July of 2015. I really cannot comment upon applying under the new criteria, as my 2 DYS qualified under the old criteria. The old criteria required 2 of 3 qualifying parts: IQ score that meets or exceeds, achievement score that meets or exceeds, or a portfolio. We used scores and never the portfolio.

The new system requires only one score. My understanding is that you can still submit "portfolio-type" material to round out the application (just as you fill out an application to give a better understanding of the applicant - but ultimately, the applicant meets their criteria or does not. I don't think that my writing abilities played a part! ), but you only need the single score. HTH!

Really, that is good to hear. So I guess we'll just apply and attach her book with it. Please let me know if anyone knows of anything else we might add or do. Wishing a fruitful, joyful year to all!

Thanks Loy, just saw your post now. Hmmm... so maybe not a good chance of success then. I wonder if the WISC V was a disadvantage, given the Flynn effect, and it being a matter of 4 points. Thanks for the thoughts.

I think that Davidson will adjust their WISC V criteria if they find that scores are coming in low (criteria are periodically adjusted, it seems). They seem to have very specific things that they are looking for with each individual test, though, as I would have to guess that they see many, many scores. I seem to recall that the same concerns were expressed over the WISC IV and WPPSI IV when they first came out. I simply cannot comment on how they would interpret her scores, as our situation was different. Perhaps someone here who has applied more recently has better insight. The good news is - you only need to qualify on one test, and the WISC V is not the only test available. If she took the EXPLORE or SBV (or any of the other listed tests) and the scores qualified, my understanding is that you would not need to submit anything additional.