Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment Visual Spatial - testing differences

We did not do the SBV, but a modified SB that was required for a gifted preschool. The SBV is required for the Hunter application.

The music comments come as reinforcement of their assessment last January, when she wasn't 3.5 and they were insisting she should take piano twice a week. We just thought it was too much for her schedule.

The teacher called us last night and talked about what she was able to do. I am not looking for her to be a concert musician. The Special Music School is an attractive gifted school option so I hope this strongly enhances her chances of getting in.

As for her ability on "what is wrong" she is quite good with those. And mazes. And her big interest is placement. First the galaxy, then countries, states, cities. Trying to place everything in her head.

We are doing the test around Halloween so she is 4 years one month. It has to be done by early December. Last year they only had to score in the 98th percentile. They might up it to 99th because they had so many for the second round screening. DD should make the 99th but my fear is just a bad test day.

Ren

Before DS4 tested on the SB-V, I wouldn't have pegged him as Visual-Spatial, but that was one of his highest areas. He never really liked drawing and painting. Looking at the list of visual-spatial traits in crisc's link, I see DS does have most of these traits, except the drawing and doodling. So, although I didn't know it ahead of time, my V-S kid did well on the V-S subsets of the SB-V when he took it at 4.1. Your DD seems to most of these VS traits too, from what i remember.

I know telling someone to try not to worry never works, but really there's not much you can do about a bad test day. All you can do is make sure DD gets a good night sleep, is well fed, and try to hope that nothing messes with the otherwise normal routine the week before the test. Also, your DD likes the "princess" tests, doesn't she? My DS loved the SB-V, and hopefully your DD will too.

It's wonderful to have some good references for your school apps. The music teacher will be useful for both school apps, I would think.

Happy thoughts!

quote:
Visual Spatial Intelligence traits:

likes art, drawing, sculpture, painting
good at directions, reading maps
can visualise or imagine vividly
remembers in pictures (photographic memory)
appreciates colors
uses metaphor
often found doodling
speaks fast
thinks in pictures (...worth a thousand words)
tends to look at the "big picture"
likes to watch the video when listening to songs
uses language like "it looks good to me" or "I see what you mean!"

DD is not into art. Though directions is big. It is like she needs a "you are here" map in her head. Like when we were in the Lincoln tunnel, she says "those people are going to New Jersey. We have been in New Jersey and are going to New York". Always figuring out where she is.

Uses metaphor, yes. Fast talker, but is that from me?

We will see, but it is interesting that several people commented that their VS is not into art.

Ren

Mine is! He has always drawn LOTS of pictures of whatever he's interested in. And he loves to visit art museums. Even posters in a restaurant grab him.

Since i never knew about "visual-spatial" until learning about this giftedness business with DS, I always assumed just from the name that it had to do with being artsy. Guess not necessarily! I, on the other hand, do love art, and wished i had gone into something related to art, but at the time i thought "no this is too easy for me." Silly me! (not that i'm a great artist or anything, but i think i would have done well as an art teacher)

We do have a contender for grand-champion fast-talker here though! I keep trying to explain to DS that no one can understand what he's saying if he speaks so quickly, except me, because i'm a grand-champion fast-talk listener.

I believe DS6 is SV but he is NOT into drawing, on the other hand DS4 is very good at drawing and I don't think about him as SV. Hmm.

I remember worrying about DS6 being healthy for the testing. We had him tested last December and I could see how runny nose could mess up the results. I think that's the worst scenario. You have your child tested but you know that the circumstances were far from the best.