WPSSI average score v average in DC

[Anonymous]

So the WPSSI operates on a bell curve, with the 50th percentile being a FSIQ of 100. Obviously that would be a national curve. DC is probably the most educated region in the country, with self-selected private school applicants being even further to the right of the curve. That said, it seems on this board that most kids in the area are scoring in the 80s or 90s on this test, if not in the 95th+. I wonder if part of this might just be the generous nature of many testers, in addition to the fact that most kids sitting for it are objectively bright due to genes and environment. Does any kid ever score in the 50th percentile and have it NOT explained away as a bad day, horrible tester, etc?

[Anonymous]

I'm sure all those factors you cite push up the scores. Also, add in that someone who posts here about her child's is likely proud of that score, and so the scores posted here are more likely to be the high ones. Someone who's less excited about her child's score is less likely to disclose it. Other similar self-selection factors also probably push up the average score reported here.

All that said, I do recall a couple posters from last year asking about options for their children who scored in the 70s.

[Anonymous]

My child scored in the 70%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child scored in the 70%

Mine scored even lower than that and is doing well in a "top" private. We didn't go with one of the popular testers, which was a big mistake on our part. The admissions folks at schools are very aware that certain testers give everyone a 90% or above. And if you talk among your friends, you can see a definite pattern. Also know that a top score is no guarantee of admission and a mediocre score won't get your shut out either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the WPSSI operates on a bell curve, with the 50th percentile being a FSIQ of 100. Obviously that would be a national curve. DC is probably the most educated region in the country, with self-selected private school applicants being even further to the right of the curve. That said, it seems on this board that most kids in the area are scoring in the 80s or 90s on this test, if not in the 95th+. I wonder if part of this might just be the generous nature of many testers, in addition to the fact that most kids sitting for it are objectively bright due to genes and environment. Does any kid ever score in the 50th percentile and have it NOT explained away as a bad day, horrible tester, etc?

The WPPSI is heavily influenced by an enriched early childhood environment; exactly the type of environment most people applying to a private school would provide for their children. These effects tends to fade out over time, and later IQ testes are more indicative of the child's real IQ. I would expect a lot of these high scores to be lower later on in life if they were retested. Of course based on the educational attainment and demographics of the area I would still expect them to be significantly above average.