WPPSI value to testing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The director of my child's school says that you want consistent scores across the board. This is even more important that having high scores (though schools are looking for that too).

This year everyone is anti-WPPSI but there have been many postings in past years by parents whose children had very inconsistent scores and later were found to have learning disabilities or other significant academic challenges.

Also, there are many studies out there that have revealed that the scores predict later academic success - but the verbal score is a more accurate academic predictor than the spatial part (can't remember the name of it).

If my child had a low score, or widely varying verbal/spatial scores, I would put a lot of effort into figuring out why.

At what point (age) would you try to figure out why? There may be inconsistencies with age that will smooth out over time, and the diagnostic process can be very costly. I would be inclined to get an evaluation, but how early is too early. Isn't it true that some LDs can not be easily identified before about age 8?

I don't know, I'm not an expert on these things. But here's what I think: I would only get my child tested if I felt in my gut that my child had a problem, eg: with sensory issues or something like that. It's interesting that you ask how early is too early because we spent several years worrying about my oldest child's issues with sensory issues - she would go crazy if a clothing tag touched her skin, and she was terrified of any new experiences. But now that she's six, these issues are gone. She's just somehow matured out of them. In her case, her test scores were high and consistent and she got into a good private school.

SO, I don't know the answer to your question. If her scores were inconsistent (at age 4) I would have pursued it. Since her scores were consistent, I tried to relax a bit, and sure enough she grew out of these traits. But from what I've read quite recently, the verbal scores do seem to predict academic success, so it's sort of a judgment call about what each parent wants to do. I always think about my own childhood and how my siblings and I did pretty well overall despite this sort of testing. And we're all pretty unique in our learning styles and career choices!

[Anonymous]

"verbal scores do seem to predict academic success."

NP here. This is interesting. Does anyone know what is measured by the verbal scores - sentence structure, vocabulary, articulation, etc?

[Anonymous]

Does the WPPSI involve any writing or drawing?

[Anonymous]

This is just my personal opinion, but OP I would not have your child take the test if you don't need it for admissions. I would suggest that if you trust the professionalism of his current teachers/care providers and you are actively engaged (which is sounds like you definitely are) the 30 minute test will not be very telling.

I don't mean any disrespect to the professionals that have developed or administer the test, but I get the sense that it has become a necessary evil for admission school offices. I really doubt the test's value beyond that.

I have no special insights as to what is involved in the test, other than what I have learned through internet research, talking to parents, and talking to my 3 year old child after completion of the test. I believe it IS a test that a child can prepare for. It also seems to me that the child's verbal score (which seemed to be based on vocabulary and comprehension) would be high correlated to parent's education level (perhaps that is why it more likely to be an indicator of future academic success?)

I personally am not going to even open my child's test results. I know his strengths and weaknesses, I talk with his teachers, I am ready to have him tested or tutored for any disabilities/challenges, but I don't need to have a number that sees how my child compares to other children- let alone one that is supposed to suggest a 3 year old's IQ. I'm competitive enough as it is, I don't need to add oil to the fire The scores are for the school's admission office.

If there was any value to the test at all, I found that in learning about what was tested, I discovered more educational age appropriate games that my child loves (i.e. sequencing... I knew it was a pre-literacy skill, but I didn't realize my child would enjoy putting photos in the proper order so much). If you're interested, you can just google for information on the test to get an idea of the activities. One website with free educational activities that I used was www.brainpop.com.

I greatly admire your love and commitment to do what is best for your child. I hope my post doesn't offend, but I just really think there is way too much value placed on these tests. Best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

The scores are forwarded to the Ivy universities, as they continue to track these students for recruitment purposes.

So if you must retest, please do!