Expert: Annette Revel Sheely, M.A. - 3/24/2000

Question
At what age is it appropriate to have your child tested to assess giftedness?  What tests do most public schools administer to assess this, and how accurate are these tests?

Answer
hi Rebecca : )
    This is a great question.  In my opinion, the ideal time to test is at age 6 because the test used for ages 6-16 (WISC-III Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition) is much better than the tests used for younger children (WPPSI-R  Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Revised).  And also, that's an age when parents are making decision about the child's education.  
    If the child is younger than 6 and there is a program you want the child to get into and they need a test, you can give the WPPSI-R, but I've seen children who were gifted score low on that, so I'd advise retesting on a WISC-III when the child is 6 if you do have to use the WPPSI-R.
    The WISC-III is the most common individual IQ test that public schools use.  The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is also used in public schools a lot.  As for accuracy, it depends.  It depends on how the child feels about being tested, how the child feels about the person administering the test, how the child feels that day as far as getting enough sleep or having allergies or a cold that might distract.  Overall, the tests are fairly accurate, but individual testers who don't understand the subtle differences in testing gifted children might not do a good job.  If your child is tested by someone at your local school but you don't feel that the score or the report or whatever they give you reflects your child accurately- have your child retested privately by someone who understands gifted children.  At the www.hoagiesgifted.org website, they list testers who know how to work with the gifted.
Sincerely,
Annette Revel Sheely
Gifted Development Center
CounselingGifted@aol.com