WPPSI Test Experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is young and unwilling to part with you, then you can stay in the room

Really? I had no idea. Has anyone done this?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I had to sit with my DC because she wouldn't separate. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but it was included in the report how DC did not separate and agreed to work with examiner when mom was allowed to sit next to her. I would not recommend this as this portion of the report only hurt my child or at least confirmed that she is not good with strangers. She did poorly on all the play visits as well.

[Anonymous]

So you should just traumatize a child who has difficulty warming up to strangers by telling them, "you have to stay in here and work with this person now, bye"??? Good idea, I am sure they will do well.

If your child truly has separation anxiety, or difficulty with strangers/new situations, then he or she may not get in to schools that require playdates, but he or she has strengths and weaknesses that will be valued at a school--you just have to find it by calling around, etc, or being willing to sacrifice "name" for your child's experience and success, you could do a coop, etc.

[Anonymous]

We also used EAA on MacArthur - our DD had Maria and our DS had a man (Peter?). We found the meetings after the testing to be very valuable and informative. Both of our children liked their testers/the environment. We went the route of the advice given earlier - morning appts, good breakfast (a little Starbucks hot chocolate too!), and told them they would be doing games and puzzles with a teacher. Our DD was 4 1/2 and our DS was 7 for the testing so different tests were given.

[Anonymous]

Do you think there is a correlation with the high percentiles of the kids in this area and certain testers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you think there is a correlation with the high percentiles of the kids in this area and certain testers?

PP here - I don't think so - we had our son re-tested by Arlington County this past year and his score went up a bit from his test from EAA but it was still the same range. Schools would quickly see through inflated test scores and take those testers off their rec. lists. We picked EAA because the fee includes the post-test meeting which we were very interested in having.

[Anonymous]

I am a STRONG believer that the tester plays a huge role in the outcome and performance of the child. My son was tested two years ago by a fabulous, energetic tester who made the whole dull experience fun--like a real game. He performed VERY well because he was completely at ease. A few months ago, he was tested by a 'highly recommended' practice, and got stuck with a PhD student, who seemed to have never even given the test (oh, and I was allowed to stay in the room part of the time) When I was in there, she couldn't find certain sections of the test, kept pausing saying, "oh, wait a minute...no, I meant..." and at one point yawned, sighed, said, "Oh, excuse me...' and keep taking my son off track. I'll put it this way, he would have performed much better if he had at the least had a tester who was focused, experienced, and not tired...

[Anonymous]

SO.....who was the fabulous tester?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son was tested two years ago by a fabulous, energetic tester who made the whole dull experience fun--like a real game. He performed VERY well because he was completely at ease.

PP...please share...who WAS the Fabulous tester?

[Anonymous]

To answer part of OP's question ... do everything you can to make sure DC is well-rested; well-fed with nutritious brain food, and generally feeling self-confidence on the day of the test. Not the day to practice shoe tying, if that causes frustration in the a.m. If there's a squabble with a younger sib that morning, side with the test taking child this time.

If your DC is sick and therefore slow (head cold?) on the scheduled test day, personally I would reschedule last minute and eat the cost if necessary.

The test is very short, and there's really no way to cram IMO, and so at the margins it all comes down to optimal conditions to enhance performance.

That, and the skills of the tester.

If you're reading and posting in this forum, I suspect you're already doing everything you conceivably could to prepare DC (reading, talking, puzzles, blocks, thoughtful toys in the house and so on).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If you're reading and posting in this forum, I suspect you're already doing everything you conceivably could to prepare DC (reading, talking, puzzles, blocks, thoughtful toys in the house and so on).

pp...what are thoughtful toys in the house? I am new to this and unaware of the test.

[Anonymous]

by "thoughtful toys," I meant toys that encourage open-ended, imaginative and creative play, vs. push-a-button-and-stare-at-a-screen-with-flashing-graphics toys.

so, dress-up clothes, art supplies, a play kitchen or workbench, manipulatives. that sort of thing.

[Anonymous]

I hired a tutor for my son...she was skilled at "playing" with him while familiarizing him with all the different skill sets on the WPSSI. He LOVED their "playtime" and she was amazing. I got this idea from my crazed friends in NYC who fought tooth-and-nail to score well and "get in". In the end, I decided to put him in our public elementary school....but will do it again when/if we apply at a later stage.

[Anonymous]

Oh. My. God.

[Anonymous]

I recently saw a man trying to get his young WPPSI-aged child to play with a "thoughtful" toy at a coffee shop. It was not something the child was interested in doing at the time and it looked as though the father really wanted the child to continue. I don't think it's worth trying to prep your child for the actual test other than getting them used to sitting with a stranger and paying attention.

If you have a child who won't separate, then you should hire a babysitter or someone you can mimic the separation with. You could do it with a neighbor your child doesn't know well. Have her go over there and do a couple of puzzles for 10-15 minutes so she gets used to leaving you and staying somewhere w/someone. I wish we'd done this, but we didn't.

Our shy child hesitated to go in, but very easily went in, to see the tester. She was mainly concerned, I think, because the tester's home had a dog which barked like crazy when we rang the bell. However, the summary which accompanies the test results indicated that she initially had some hesitation, but then separated easily. No mention of the dog. They will definitely mention how your child separates as part of the summary!

We had our child tested elsewhere the following year, as we applied again, and the test score was exactly the same overall score. The summary mentioned that she separated easily AND that she was familiar with a certain part of the test. It was no secret that she'd been tested a year earlier, we'd put it on the form where they ask if they've been tested before. But, they will make note if any unusual familiarity with the test and put it in their report.