When applying to gifted schools, parents are asked to submit an intelligence test for their child. These tests aim to show the ability to learn, with subtests measuring different aspects of intelligence. I am not a neuropsychologist, so I write as a layperson whose children and clients have applied to schools asking for these assessments.
What is an IQ Test?
An intelligence test seeks to measure the capacity to learn, in other words, potential. It is not (supposedly) a measure of knowledge, but rather an assessment of strengths and weaknesses when learning new materials. Most IQ tests are split into Verbal and Nonverbal sections. The verbal sections are (obviously) mostly oral tests, and the nonverbal are mostly paper and manipulatives (like blocks). The tests also assess memory and processing speed. IQ tests were not created specifically to find gifted people, and due to the small populations at extreme levels of giftedness, the tests are less accurate as they get into the extremes.
The most commonly required IQ tests in the Bay Area are the Weschler, produced by Pearson. The WISC-V is given to children ages 6 and up, and the WPPSI-IV is given to children ages 2 to 6. An interesting article on the tests can be found on Wikipedia for the WISC-V and WPPSI-IV.
The Preparation Controversy
Gifted schools often use an IQ test to identify giftedness in their applicants. A common requirement can be an IQ above the 90%, 98%, or 99.9th% to enter a program. Given these requirements, parents worry that their child will barely miss a cutoff, and seek out preparation materials. However, prepping before an IQ test has ethical and practical issues.
First, psychologists are instructed to invalidate the IQ test if they learn that your child practiced with test materials. The tests were designed and tested on subjects who had no prior exposure within the past year, if at all. If you signed permission for them to share the results with the schools you are applying to, and this would allow the psychologist to notify the school that the test was canceled due to test prepping.
In one example, in the Nueva School IQ assessment guidelines, they state, “Prior exposure to assessment materials and/or use of practice questions invalidate results. The Wechsler is designed to capture current cognitive abilities. Your child should not study for this assessment.” Psychologists interpret this to include using materials purchased from websites intended to prep a child for the IQ test.
Second, if your child’s IQ without prepping is below the level to gain acceptance at a school, consider how they would feel attending the school. By example, say your child has a 95% IQ, which is incredibly smart, but this is below the 98% required by the school you’d like them to attend. If by prepping, they are able to enter the school, and the materials are targeted to children who are at the 98% and above IQ, they could feel frustrated and struggle. Simply put, instead of feeling like a brilliant super star, which they are, they could feel inferior.
What to Tell Your Child
My advice for younger children, explain that they are meeting with a nice person who is curious what kids their age know. They will complete some fun tasks with paper and blocks, and will chat, too. They will try to remember things. Some tasks will be easy, and some will be challenging. They can ask the grownup questions, like whether they are being timed. You will be in the waiting room during the test.
For teens and tweens, assure them that the assessment is not a judgment of who they are, but rather a way to find the best fit school. That they should do their best but not worry about getting anything wrong. Note that most high schools do not request IQ testing, including Nueva and Tessellations.
Options for Smart Children
In addition to gifted schools, which only teach to those above a specific IQ score, there are schools which are gifted-friendly, in other words, that are flexible enough in their approach to adapt the curriculum, as needed, to each child’s capacity. I describe criteria for selecting a gifted-friendly school in this article. These schools would not require an IQ score and would be more likely to meet the needs of a child who is spiky (gifted in one area but not all areas).
Bay Area IQ Testing Options
I have direct experience with the following psychologists for performing both IQ testing, as well as educational and neuropsychology assessments.
Shelley Sinclair, Los Altos, CA, regularly performs IQ tests for students applying to Bay Area gifted schools, such as Nueva and Helios. She also performs educational and neuropsychology assessments to diagnose learning disabilities and ADHD. Her availability is reasonable, reports come back quickly, and she offers sliding scale for low income families.
Rebecca MurrayMetzger, San Francisco, CA, performs IQ tests, as well as educational and neuropsychology assessments. She returns the reports quickly after the assessments are completed, though there is a wait for the initial meeting. She has colleagues in her group practice when families need a nearer term availability.
Donna Douglas Griffith, San Francisco, CA, performs IQ and achievement tests, most often for application to Nueva. Her availability is excellent, and she returns the reports quickly.
Role of a K-12 Consultant
A consultant can help you craft your school list to be sure of a balanced list offering a match of services with the student and parent’s interests. A consultant can also review all admissions materials, in particular student and parent essays, to help focus them to each school’s admissions goals. A consultant can directly work with your child to brainstorm, draft, and edit their own essays. The consultant can provide feedback on whether the essays read as genuine and how to shine during the application process.
Want more input on K-12 schools?
Vicky consults with families to help select, apply to, and communicate with public and private schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Vicky maintains a principle of non-judgment. Hourly, VIP, and Season packages include a discussion to review school options, applications, essays, and key decisions. Vicky offers a limited number of packages each year to assure her availability.
Vicky’s own children have attended both public and private schools, and have received both accommodations and curriculum changes; her elder is in high school, and her younger in middle school. New clients can email to learn more about her services, or see her website to learn about her packages.
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