Yet another FFX GT question-just what this board needs, right?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
We had cognitive testing done for our daughter as part of a special ed evaluation. They used the KABC-2 test, which is an IQ test.
This was not in FFX County, btw. My husband thinks we can assume that dd will qualify to attend a GT center based on her IQ (which was scored at 150).
Anyway, it seems that none of the tests used by Fairfax are straight-up IQ tests (are they? I am not that familiar with the testing process.) Is there generally an IQ range or
cut-off? Is it safe to assume that she will likely qualify? We are moving and trying to decide between a few different neighborhoods. Thanks for any info.

[Anonymous]

The tests that FCPS uses are the CoGAT and the NNAT. Neither are IQ tests, they are tests of ability that tend to be correlated with IQ.

They have a list of accepted tests and the KABC-2 is not on the list.

http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/gt/identificationntc.html

Your best bet is to call the AAP office and ask their advice.

[Anonymous]

Two of the tests Fairfax County accepts, the WISC IV and Stanford Binet, are IQ tests

[Anonymous]

I think what you are asking is whether your child is likely to get in, given that she tested at 150 on an IQ test. I would say the odds are very good.

As a PP pointed out, however, the tests that the county administers to 2nd graders are ability tests, not IQ tests, so even a very high IQ kid could conceivably score lower than you'd expect on those tests, for whatever reason. There's really no way to know until your child takes those tests in 2nd grade.

There really is not an "IQ cutoff" for getting in. There IS a cutoff score for the tests administered by the school, but that does not mean you are in or out. It only determines who is in the automatic screening pool. Some kids test into the pool but then do not get into the Center; and some kids do not test into the pool, but do make it into the Center via referral. The cutoff for the CogAT and NNAT is usually around 130-132, but those scores don't necessarily correlate with an IQ of 130-132.

And as another PP mentioned, you cannot submit the scores from the test your DD took, but there are 2 IQ tests that you can have administered (WISC & S-B) if you choose to do so, either at George Mason or by a licensed psychologist elsewhere. What grade is your child in now? If it were me, I would wait and see how she scores on the CogAT and NNAT and then determine whether to do any additional testing. But I think what you were asking is, based on her 150 IQ score on this test, is she pretty likely to get in? I would think so. Unfortunately though, with this process, there's no way to know for sure until you have the letter in your hand in May.

[Anonymous]

op-Thanks for all the info!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...based on her 150 IQ score on this test, is she pretty likely to get in? I would think so. Unfortunately though, with this process, there's no way to know...

not to stir the pot but if an IQ150 kid doesn't get in the process is the problem and indeed, unfortunate. say all you want but that kid is exceptionally gifted (not genius), and it's not even worth arguing about. yes there's the appeal process but that process could fail too.