Testing Gifted Students

Programs for gifted and talented students use various different measures to identify gifted and talented students. Each identification process is designed to work with the program’s goals and needs. The identification process usually includes one or more of the following: ability testing, achievement testing, letters of recommendation from teachers, letters of recommendation from parents, portfolio assessments, and more. Before you spend the money and time on any test that claims to identify gifted students, check with the programs that you are applying to.

Ability Testing

Achievement Testing

Ability Testing

The most common ability tests are ones that test for General Ability, or IQ. These tests can be administered in group or individual settings.

Individual Assessments (IQ Testing)

Individually Administered IQ tests are the most commonly accepted assessment used to identify children as gifted and talented. IQ tests may be administered by a school psychologists, privately licensed psychologist, or a neuro-developmental psychologist.

Stanford-Binet
The Stanford-Binet measures five factors of cognitive ability: fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing, and working memory.

PROs-

has a slightly higher celing (164) than the WISC.
It can be administered to students as young as two years old, however, it is advisable to wait until a child is at least 5 years of age.
more animated than other tests, making it great for visual learners

CONs

The Stanford-Binet is more reliant upon verbal skills than the WISC.
doesn’t compare different age categories because each category gets a different set of tests
very young children may do poorly because of the amount of concentration required

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
The WISC-V tests students between the ages of 6 and 16. It measures five indexes: verbal comprehension, visual spatial, fluid reasoning, working memory, and processing speed.

PROs

Provides you with five sub-scores including: Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Fluid Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed
can be used to diagnose ADHD and other learning disabilities

CONs

The amount of time it takes to administer is variable, between one and four hours.
Slightly lower ceiling than the Stanford-Binet(160)

Group-Administered Ability Tests

Group administered cognitive assessments are often administered in your local public or private school as a screening process to determine eligibility for gifted and talented services. These tests are NOT IQ tests but rather focus on cognitive abilities as related to academic success.

CogAT

The CogAT, or Cognitivie Abilities Test, is a group administered multiple choice test of cognitive abilities.

PROS

Quick and affordable administration
Can be used to screen all students at the same time

CONS

Not a true test of abilities, relies more heavily on acquired skills than the Stanford Binet or WISC

Otis-Lennon School Abilities Test

Achievement Testing

The most common ability tests are ones that test for General Ability, or IQ. These tests can be administered in group or individual settings.

School Administered

The NWEA MAP Test
The NWEA MAP Test is an adaptive achievement test that allows educators and parents to measure student performance and growth. The test creates a personalized assessment experience by adapting to student responses. The NWEA MAP test is offered in more than 7,400 schools nationwide. Unlike many tests, the NWEA MAP test provides each student with a unique set of questions based on their responses to previous questions. If a student answers a question correctly, the questions become more challenging. If a student answers a questions incorrectly, questions become easier. Thus, the test can determine what level a child is at, regardless of their age or grade level in school. For example, if a child is in third grade but is reading at a fifth grade level, MAP can tell us that.

The NWEA MAP test provides a RIT score. This score represents student achievement. We require that students take the NWEA MAP test each year so that class placement can be re-evaluated. We want to ensure that your child is always in a class that is appropriately challenging. In addition, this allows you to track your student’s growth.

STAR
The STAR test is an adaptive achievement test, similar to the NWEA MAP test. The STAR test originally only included a reading assessment. However, it has since expanded to include early literacy and mathematics. Reading assessments can be administered to all students in grades K-12. However, the math assessment is only available for grades K – 8. Each section takes about ten minutes to complete, somewhat shorter than the MAP Survey tests. STAR does not offer more in-depth testing.

The STAR reading assessment pairs with the Accelerated Reader program, a goal driven reading program that requires students to read within their AR level and answer questions on each book to gain points before advancing to more difficult texts.

Test reports provide a grade equivalent, nationally normed percentile, and curve equivalents.

PARCC Test

Many states now administer their own version of the PARCC test; for example, NJ administers the NJSLA.

Psychologist Administered Achievement Tests

Peabody Individual Achievement Test

The Peabody Individual Achievement Test can be administered to individuals between the ages of 5 and 22. The test results yield grade range equivalents between Kindergarten and twelfth grade. It covers mathematics, reading recognition, reading comprehension, spelling, and general information. Scores are available for individual sections; a general score is also calculated.

Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement Test

Wechsler Individual Achievemnt Test (WIAT-111)

Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement

Testing Gifted Students

Ability Testing

Achievement Testing

Ability Testing

Individual Assessments (IQ Testing)

Group-Administered Ability Tests

Achievement Testing

School Administered

Psychologist Administered Achievement Tests

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Testing Gifted Students

Ability Testing

Achievement Testing

Ability Testing

Individual Assessments (IQ Testing)

Group-Administered Ability Tests

Achievement Testing

School Administered

Psychologist Administered Achievement Tests

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