Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment What are the right tests for 6.5 yr old?

I've been talking to an educational consultant and it appears that my DS7 was tested with the wrong IQ tests when he was 6.5 months old. I am told he was tested as a 7 year old and that it does make a difference.

Can anyone tell me what the "right" tests are and if the "older" tests really make much of a difference?

Thanks so much!

Thanks for the response. The WISC-IV was used when my son was 6 yrs. 5 months. The consultant believes this was the wrong test for his age, and that it should not have been used until he was 6 yrs. 9 months or more.

We used WISC-lV at 6 yrs 3months and it was fine, although I suspect as much depends on the tester as the test. Ours has a great reputation and we had no problems.

Just to add another data point - my son took the WISC-IV at 6 years, 5 months and it went fine. (Like lulu, I believe a lot depends on the tester.)

Thanks for the replies. I may have more questions after I share all the test results with the consultant. Stay tuned!....:)

I'm confused too, because I thought I was finally beginning to understand testing/levels, etc.

Adding one more data- my son had IQ tests every year starting 3 till 6 by the same educational psychologist. He was tested on the WPPSI-III at age 3,4 and 5. Then the psychologist switched to the WISC-IV as soon as he turned 6. He took the WISC-IV at 6.2 and it went fine. In fact, his score on the WISC-IV was much higher.

i actually thought the WISC-IV was preferably to a WPPSI at the age of six, due to higher ceilings. So i also vote that its fine.

Yes, we just had him tested on the SB-V by a private psychologist who specialized in gifted children this summer at age 8.

He is in a special education, and those yearly evaluations were a part of the IDEA regulations I think....

I may be able to provide some insight here - I am a school psych (but here because I believe my own child is gifted and I'm not the psych his district).

Some of us believe that we shouldn't use certain assessments on the extreme ends of the age ranges, just as a precautionary measure to avoid extremes. I believe the WISC can be a little overwhelming for a kindergartner, but your kids are all advanced and it shouldn't matter. However, they have been normed on those ends and it is totally acceptable to use the WISC-IV for a child as soon as they turn 6.

My own personal philosophy is to not to use the WISC-IV until the child is in first grade, with some exceptions on a case-by-case basis. If a child is still in K, I use the WPPSI-III. It's more of a developmental readiness question regarding what they've been exposed to. Again, children of those on this board don't really apply to these average guidelines.