Huge variation in WPPSI

[Anonymous]

I just received my five year old child's wppsi score and it indicates a large discrepancy (30 points) in verbal and performance. The overall score is good (95%), but the writeup is distinctly negative focusing on the much lower performance scores (which were 70th percentile-high average). I am a bit alarmed. I am not concerned about school admittance. Just whether there is something wrong with my child's analytical abilities. Have others had this experience? I am not sure how to interpret this.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

My five year old child's scores were different this year also. I'm curious if there's a scale somewhere to show how his Wechsler scores equate to IQ. He blew the top off the test this year, which actually freaks me out a little because now I'm wondering if he's in the right educational environment to challenge him. Maybe we were too laid back about this whole school thing?

[Anonymous]

The issue is not difference from year to year. The poster with the higher scores this year should go with that as the indicator. There is a concern when WITHIN the test there are different scores. Discrepancy is a red flag in this area and could indicate some learning issues. They like to see even, albeit, high scores. WPPSI is an IQ test, by the way.

[Anonymous]

This means different things for different kids, BUT can be an indicator of how your child will best learn and can help choose the best program for him. Then again,many people belief that at this young age, the WPSSI tells you nothing.

Don't freak out but it can also be a sign of learning disability (LD) issues--but that's not certain and is, again, dependent on the child.

It's worth asking the test giver for a follow-on meeting at least to describe her observations. Frankly, I surprised the narrative was so negative.

Then you can talk to his preschool teacher/head of school to find out their observations of your child's classroom performance,
--Is he learning unevenly
--Are fine motor skills developed
--Does he have difficulty with visual/spatial issues
--How is he doing on the developmental checklist for his age
--Has he had an eye exam? Hearing test?
--and what steps other they recommend, if any.

FWIW. My son took this test in Nov. and he had a 29 point spread. I'm going through this now too.

Don't worry, just advocate and insist that your concerns be addressed by the test givers and the school.

[Anonymous]

Wide variations within the test could indicate some learning disabilities and merit further investigation (which the tester should have indicated to you). My older two, while their overall scores were 98% and 97% respectively, had wide variations (99% - 30%) in the scores and have since been diagnosed with ADHD and learning disabilities. They are both in an independent school (mainstream) and doing very well with a few accommodations and supports in place. BTW, they are now 10 and 7.

[Anonymous]

OP here, Many thanks to those who responded. My fear is that there is a learning disability. I will do as you suggested and follow through with the tester as well as the school.

[Anonymous]

Hang in there - we went through this a few years ago. Our son had a 30 point spread when he was 4 that grew to 50 points a few years later. Long story short, he def. has learning differences that make certain educational settings unsuitable. It took awhile to figure everything out - he needed some OT assistance for writing, but is now going full throttle academically, and loves school. In his case, when it comes to academics, the harder the better - he was in public school TAG, but it was too structured, so he's now at a great private progressive school and thriving. Take things one day at a time and trust your instincts - I had to speak up for him on many occasions because the differences are subtle. He was not accepted at any private schools for K (and we were devastated - he did so well in class, but motor skills and the tests probably raised a red flag). He applied to 3 more schools for 4th grade this year - was accepted at all three top schools. Go figure - and good luck.

[Anonymous]

My child had almost the same spread, but overall 97th percentile. The report noted the spread and DC was not admitted to any of the Big 3 that year. I do think schools see that wide of a spread as a red flag.

DC was tested the following year (different tester) and had 98th percentile with much smaller spread (within a standard deviation so the tester didn't note it in the report). DC was accepted to 2 of the 3 "Big 3" we applied to that year.

[Anonymous]

My DS had balanced scores the first time he took the WPPSI (age 3) and a 30-point spread the second time (age 4). My DD had balanced scores. Guess what, my DD is the one with a (mild) LD, and my DS is the one who has had no difficulties so far. So I'm skeptical that the WPPSI really tells you much about the potential for LDs. Kids develop different abilities at different rates, and they can be inattentive or balk at an activity for inexplicable reasons. If the test is consistent with other concerns/observations, then maybe there's something to look into. But a spread by itself is not something to be alarmed about.

[Anonymous]

To the last poster. Do you think my DC has a chance to get in if the spread was 30 points less on the perfomance and the school recommendation (which I saw --long story I shouldn't have seen but I did) was contray to the WPPSI? The school recommendation actually stated great fine motor skills yet the WPPSI would tell a different story. The verbal was great. I don't think there was a processing speed given. The write-up was okay it just simply stated that the verbal was more developed than the performance. The overall wasn't that great since the performance really lowered the overall (overall 75th percentile)? I beleive the playdate's went okay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the last poster. Do you think my DC has a chance to get in if the spread was 30 points less on the perfomance and the school recommendation (which I saw --long story I shouldn't have seen but I did) was contray to the WPPSI? The school recommendation actually stated great fine motor skills yet the WPPSI would tell a different story. The verbal was great. I don't think there was a processing speed given. The write-up was okay it just simply stated that the verbal was more developed than the performance. The overall wasn't that great since the performance really lowered the overall (overall 75th percentile)? I beleive the playdate's went okay.

Sorry, I'm new to all this. Is there any reason to have your child take the WPPSI if they will be in charters and DCPS the whole time? I'm not really sure what the WPPSI is for? Is it just a score that only the private schools look at?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

No, no real reason. The vast majority of people who have their kids take the test do so because it is required by many private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the last poster. Do you think my DC has a chance to get in if the spread was 30 points less on the perfomance and the school recommendation (which I saw --long story I shouldn't have seen but I did) was contray to the WPPSI? The school recommendation actually stated great fine motor skills yet the WPPSI would tell a different story. The verbal was great. I don't think there was a processing speed given. The write-up was okay it just simply stated that the verbal was more developed than the performance. The overall wasn't that great since the performance really lowered the overall (overall 75th percentile)? I beleive the playdate's went okay.

DS's overall score was 94th percentile, despite the 30-point gap. He got in as a sib at DD's school, but was waitlisted everywhere else. Really hard to say what your chances are, as WPPSI isn't everything. (IMO, it weighs more than it should, tho!) Irony on our end is that DS is a much stronger student than DD, but DD had much better admissions results.
Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

OP here, Thanks to all of you for offering your helpful insights. It is really useful to know other's experience. After a sleepless night worrying about this, I feel better about the situation. I had a long conversation both with the tester and my child's teacher. Neither of them saw any reason for alarm or any sort of follow up. The tester said that while this spread was unusual, the fact that she was above average on everything seemed to indicate that she was progressing. That coupled with the teacher's input that she was doing great in class seemed to indicate that for now, there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about.

The tester noted that I may want to encourage my daughter to draw pictures, play with puzzles and other spatially related activities which I will do. She also said that I should keep an eye on how she is doing in math (especially geometry) when the time comes as that MIGHT be in issue.

One real outcome though is that I was considering applying to one of the big three next year, but have concluded it would be fruitless with these scores. My daughter seems happy where she is so maybe that is for the best!

thanks again! :

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the earlier posters - and I'd say don't rule anything out if she is doing so well. My son was def. challenged in the motor skill area in Pre-K, but thanks to some OT, by K had beautiful handwriting and read way above level. (we were rejected for K everywhere and then got into all schools we applied for 4th - including 2 of the big three.). I'm almost certain it was the gap in the scores because the recommendation, play dates and his overall profile was very good (for K) - at the time, the fine motor was a big deal and the AD even told us so. They also cautioned about geometry, and he's in the top level math - aced geometry.....I was pleasantly surprised ..... I agree with the other posters concerning what this test truly measures....