Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment WPPSI questions-any advice appreciated!

I am brand new to this forum and looking advice/guidance.
My DS is 5.9 & in a regular kindergarten class now. Last year he qualified for the advanced work class kindergarten class but we opted out (many differences with the teacher who teaches it, was concerned that my child would develop a negative attitude for school off the bat). Now that he's settled/loves school, we want him in the GAT 1st grade class for next yr.
While not required, many are seeking private testing to secure a spot in the class (size of class is limited to 18--thus competitive). I know my DS is bright but am nervous on how he'll do for testing (now feeling remorse for keeping him out of AWC this year). He's scheduled to take the WPPSI in the next few wks with a seasoned psychologist who frequently does testing for gifted.
I've seen your recent posts re: ceiling is smaller/less room for error on the WPPSI, but I really don't want to wait until he's 6 (end of July), b/c I'm unsure the school will accept gifted results that late/that close to school beginning.
Obviously the test is expensive & I'm hoping we aren't wasting $$ but this is important to us. Right now our child is not being challenged at school. (now getting bored and not paying attn)
Any words of advice for those who have taken the WPPSI? B/c the WPPSI is only standarized up to age 7, isn't it an easier exam than the WISC? Are WPPSI results sufficient IQ scores to carry all through the school years or do you have to retest?
Any advice in general is appreciated.

I had posted my son's WPPSI test scores in another posting, he was five years eleven months when he took the WPPSI and he seemed to do well. After the testing was complete I looked at one of the problems towards the end of the test, and I had no idea what the answer was...my son jumped up and down and excitedly told me the answer. So, I'm not sure that the questions are easy by any means. Quite humbling, lol. I would tend to agree with Dottie, I think the WPPSI is probably designed to be geared towards younger kids, but mainly to hold their attention. We tested at the time to rule out other issues that teachers seems to be leaning towards because of his disruptive behavior. We got our answer, and the test served its purpose. Since then we moved back home (we were living internationally) and he is doing very well academically, however, he still "talks too much". I guess it depends on what you need the results for. We tested with a psych that works with a lot of gifted kids, you might want to look for a tester experienced with that population that can help you advocate or give you suggestions, as ours did. How nice to have the option of GAT classrooms. Our school district is one that sees all children as having gifts, and does not grade skip. They are accommodating him OK for now with pull outs, but we are cautiously optimistic long term. Our district is known as one of the best in the State, so it's hard to advocate when they continue to say that their results speak volumes. Good luck with whatever decision you make re testing.

FL runner,
You may want to consider the Stanford Binet 5 instead of the WPPSI.

My (now 14-year-old) son tested at 5.0 years on the prior version of the WPPSI, and found it insultingly easy at one year below the age limit. I heard the entire session as I sat in a room adjacent to the testing area. I too, was astonished by the �baby questions� the school psychologist asked my kid during a GIFTED evaluation (I guess he either didn�t make it to the tough questions or the current test is more difficult). Of course, it was not the retired school psychologist�s fault as ds was not old enough for the WISC and she wasn�t certified for the SB.

Although the results read moderately gifted (which surprised me given his lack of interest/effort), I knew they would be inaccurately low before the test ended. He asked at least as many questions of the tester as she asked him while alternating one and two somersaults before answering her simply questions only in order to continue with his follow-on questions for her! She was annoyed and determined that he was bright but immature. He was bored and confused by the lack of challenge (since I had told him it would be hard, but to do his best�.).

He was tested on the SB-4 by a PhD nearly a year later as we were seeking documentation to support a K skip. He landed DITD qualifying results then, which were validated approximately one and a half years later with WIAT scores (for inclusion with his YS application).

Anyway, that was our experience with the earlier version of each test. Best of luck with your decision.

I had a similar experience as delbows when dd 4 took wppsi right after turning 4. I was around the corner so could pretty well hear just about everything.
---, but otherwise it seemed like a lot of pretty 'obvious' stuff, for her, but then again I guess that's the point, the stuff she knows is pretty different than what other 4's know. For instance she didn't get anything wrong at all in vocab.
I did notice one question that really made me want to come around the corner and say 'she really knows that???'...towards the end of the math-y bit.
If she took it now, at 5, I am not sure it would hold her interest, as well, but perhaps there are alternate questions for that age (?).

She did really well, but I understand that test scores later might dip a bit, but it did line up with what we were 'seeing at home', so all in all, it seemed relatively accurate.

hi chris,
thanks for the input as my dd4 is set to take it soon
i also pmed you a question
amom

We were out of earshot so I have no idea of the content of the test, except for one section I saw where you had to say what the common thing/theme for all items. I'd like to think I could pass a test where the maximum age is 7.2 years old....maybe I was having an off day, lol.

Hi,

Dd5 tested on the SBV - we seem to use that much more commonly here in Australia that you do in the states - I've not come across many here who have used the WISC or WPPSI (though no doubt there are many who have). Dd was 4.25 when she was tested, almost to the day and I had asked the tester (who specialises in gifted kids) how accurate it was likely to be at that age. They said that while it was not quite as solid as testing a little older, in their experience when kids were re-tested the results from the early test were, as a rule, supported by their later testing (where the SBV is used in both instances). I'd already booked and paid, so it wasn't a mater of trying to get me through the door. Completely get that this is one psychologist view - but it is one who has seen a lot of gifted kids.

DD really enjoyed the SBV, and as I understand it, they can mix up the order of the questions a bit in a way that other tests can't (might be wrong on that), which means that younger kids don't get bored as they move through the easier questions.

Anyway - just my very unqualified 2c worth!

DS5 was also tested on the SB5. I wouldn't say he enjoyed it-- in fact it seems to have been somewhat traumatic for him, especially since it ran long-- but I don't think he would have enjoyed any test. I recall doing IQ testing when I was a kid, and also hated it, so that may be inherited.