Do testers ask whether child has seen the WPPSI before?

[Anonymous]

To all those whose kids have had the WPPSI: did the tester explicitly ask you or your child whether she'd had the test previously? We're in a situation now where our child has been tested by someone who is not an accepted tester; and I believe that we had poor advice on the timing. I am trying to figure out what to do at this point.

[Anonymous]

What do ou mean by accepted tester? The schools just provide a list of testers that you could you. They don't endorse any particular tester. You aren't obligated to use one on their lists. If you're finding that you need to have your child retested for some reason, I recommend speaking with the admissions directors at the schools you are considering about your situation.

I have heard from several parents that testers do ask the parent and the child if the child has been tested within the last year. Results are invalid if the test has been taken before and a full 12 months hasn't elapsed between tests.

[Anonymous]

They will ask, and the PP is right that the results would be invalid if your child is retested within a year (because of familiarity with the materials). It's better to be direct with the admissions director about the previous WPPSI test and results. If something happened on the testing day that you feel does not accurately reflect your child, you can talk about it with the admissions director. In terms of timing, you know the results are always normed by the child's age group, so taking it early or late shouldn't really affect the results (insofar as children don't get "smarter" as they get older).

Having said that, I understand this anxiety. Everyone is looking at that test score and you want to know whether you can just have your child retested so that the result is different. But it honestly is better to just move forward with the results you have, rather than go down this slippery slope of ethics (even if in your mind those first results are not valid). IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Yes they do ask. Also, our child was tested 18 months later than the first test date and in the narrative the tester mentioned the child's familiarity with one of the component's of the test.

[Anonymous]

Option 2: wait until the last possible cut off date, retest, but do not tell the tester that you have been tested before.

[Anonymous]

Option 3: Buy a copy of the WPSII exam and prep your child on it so his/her score will be REALLY high, and also prep him/her on how to say "No" when asked if anything looks familiar.

Seriously, the reason that you should not retest is that it simply isn't valid, and the way in which it isn't valid is that your child's score will be HIGHER than his/her true score. You can play this game of not telling the tester, but is it worth it? The tester is going to ask the parents directly. Do you think the OP should actually lie? If so, you seriously have your priorities out of whack.

[Anonymous]

Your child will give you away if you are not honest with the tester. The activities on the WPPSI/WISC are pretty unique and inevitably your child will say to the tester, "Oh I remember doing this." If the tester finds out that your child has taken it within a year and you tried to get it done again early, they don't just say to you sorry, many will submit the test to your prospective schools with a note that they suspect that the child has taken it more than once in a calendar year. Now you present yourself as a cheat to prospective schools. Any advantage gained from higher scores are tossed out the window.

[Anonymous]

You will have to get your child re-tested anyway if you apply the following year. Maybe you should just not apply this year and then start the process over again next year.

[Anonymous]

What on earth are you trying to accomplish by prepping a pre-K kid for a stupid test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your child will give you away if you are not honest with the tester. The activities on the WPPSI/WISC are pretty unique and inevitably your child will say to the tester, "Oh I remember doing this." If the tester finds out that your child has taken it within a year and you tried to get it done again early, they don't just say to you sorry, many will submit the test to your prospective schools with a note that they suspect that the child has taken it more than once in a calendar year. Now you present yourself as a cheat to prospective schools. Any advantage gained from higher scores are tossed out the window.

If you are tempted to do what some may do - to retest and not mention the previous test - don't do it. First, it's dishonest. Second, you'll get caught. Third, your DC will probably figure out what you're up to, or at least sense it.