Why is VCI a better predicter of giftedness than everything else?

[Anonymous]

My kid's scores in WISC-IV are as follows.
FSIQ 130 ---
VCI 116
PRI 121
WMI 138
PSI 121

What does this mean? Is FSIQ of 130 not really indicating that my kid is gifted. Please expain as I am new to this test. He scored highest in WMI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's scores in WISC-IV are as follows.
FSIQ 130 ---
VCI 116
PRI 121
WMI 138
PSI 121

What does this mean? Is FSIQ of 130 not really indicating that my kid is gifted. Please expain as I am new to this test. He scored highest in WMI.

In my mind, that's still gifted, otherwise why are the other scores included in the full scale IQ? People do seem to think that VCI and PRI are more important. I'd post on the Davidson forum if I were you, lots of people on there have experience with WISC scores.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious, where did you get the idea that VCI is a better predictor of giftedness? I don't have much experience with the WISC, but I've never heard that before.

[Anonymous]

I also unfamiliar with the WISC and am curious about where it's administered how much it costs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's scores in WISC-IV are as follows.
FSIQ 130 ---
VCI 116
PRI 121
WMI 138
PSI 121

What does this mean? Is FSIQ of 130 not really indicating that my kid is gifted. Please expain as I am new to this test. He scored highest in WMI.

In my mind, that's still gifted, otherwise why are the other scores included in the full scale IQ? People do seem to think that VCI and PRI are more important. I'd post on the Davidson forum if I were you, lots of people on there have experience with WISC scores.

dated, but this shares that FCI and PRI should be weighted more strongly. I don't know how FCPS interprets WMI and processing speed.

Summary: The studies conducted to date on the WISC-IV suggest that two of the four indices, the Verbal Comprehension Index and the Perceptual Reasoning Index, provide the bestmeasures of giftedness. Therefore, it seems prudent to administer only 6 subtests of the WISC-IV for selection to gifted programs: Vocabulary, Similarities, Comprehension, Matrix Reasoning, Picture Concepts and Block Design. The General Ability Index (GAI) can be derived from these six subtests, and is recommended by both the test publisher and the new Essentials of WISC-IV Assessment by Flanagan and Kaufman (2004). They advise using the GAI, instead of the Full Scale IQ, if the 4 composite scores vary by 23 or more points, and if the Verbal Comprehension Index and the Perceptual Reasoning Index vary by less than 23 points. Dumont and Willis also advise that their DWI-1 and DWI-2 should only be calculated if the scores that go into them are relatively close. This shortform of the WISC-IV will be less expensive to administer, less time consuming, moreefficient and will yield more accurate estimates of the abilities of gifted students, without the confounding variables of Working Memory and Processing Speed.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDIQFjAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.giftedchildren.dk%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D1890%26d%3D1367748979&ei=_rI_VcP1I8yfgwTh1ICoDA&usg=AFQjCNEpdArxj7ro7OuhqNB_Wx4-2Msm7Q&sig2=rqIKMBv41AG860dUJXIEXg

[Anonymous]

Many school systems use the FSIC for entrance into gifted score depends on program. Some 125, most 130, others 132, and still other programs 135. Your child's score fits into most programs. It depends on what county and city. So for Fairfax this year that want a comp of 132 on CogAT or NNAT, they probably would like to see a FSIC of 132+. I believe kids tend to have a higher WISC than CogAT etc.

[Anonymous]

Shouldn't the psychologist who administered the test be able to explain it to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many school systems use the FSIC for entrance into gifted score depends on program. Some 125, most 130, others 132, and still other programs 135. Your child's score fits into most programs. It depends on what county and city. So for Fairfax this year that want a comp of 132 on CogAT or NNAT, they probably would like to see a FSIC of 132+. I believe kids tend to have a higher WISC than CogAT etc.

WISC scores do not tend to be higher than cogat scores. There is a selection bias on this board in that people who have their child tested generally do because their child did not perform as expected on the cogat and need a good score on the WISC to qualify them for gifted programs. Also keep in mind that people who have a kid that does not do well enough on the cogat/NNAT and then does not do well on the WISC are less likely to post on this board.

[Anonymous]

VCI and PRI are used to derive the general ability index (GAI). They are the actual problem solving portion of the IQ test.

Working memory and processing derive the cognitive performance index. That is, how well a person retains information in their short term memory (important for learning) and how fast/efficient a person can work.

Cognitive performance is extremely important for achievement, but GAI is your actual reasoning ability.

In truth, above average reasoning skills and a working memory in the 99th percentile, is going to take your son far in life. Working memory is a huge factor in test taking and executive function.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VCI and PRI are used to derive the general ability index (GAI). They are the actual problem solving portion of the IQ test.

Working memory and processing derive the cognitive performance index. That is, how well a person retains information in their short term memory (important for learning) and how fast/efficient a person can work.

Cognitive performance is extremely important for achievement, but GAI is your actual reasoning ability.

In truth, above average reasoning skills and a working memory in the 99th percentile, is going to take your son far in life. Working memory is a huge factor in test taking and executive function.

OP here- Thank you so much for explaining it to me so well

[Anonymous]

New poster here - thanks in advance for letting me piggyback onto this thread.

My DS took the WISC-IV and got:

GAI 139
FSIQ 130
VCI 134
PRRI 131
WMI 116
PSI 103

I was a bit surprised to see the drop in the bottom 2 scores, especially for PSI. Does this mean that he's a slow worker and have a little trouble remembering things? I don't mean to generalize, but I am embarrassed to admit that I couldn't understand all the psychology lingo explanations and trying to understand as a layman. And if I need to use these results for an appeal, then do I use the FSIQ or the GAI? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I can't find DS Wisc, but he had a super high VCI and PRI, average WM, and extremely low PSI. Fsiq was 130. Appealed with Wisc and mentioned 2e. He got in. He's very smart but easily distracted. Some kids with low psi struggle with reading; he doesn't. He struggles with repetitiveness and boring, to him, topics. Teachers in aap need more training with kids who process/learn differently. They need some new and/or improved strategies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - thanks in advance for letting me piggyback onto this thread.

My DS took the WISC-IV and got:

GAI 139
FSIQ 130
VCI 134
PRRI 131
WMI 116
PSI 103

I was a bit surprised to see the drop in the bottom 2 scores, especially for PSI. Does this mean that he's a slow worker and have a little trouble remembering things? I don't mean to generalize, but I am embarrassed to admit that I couldn't understand all the psychology lingo explanations and trying to understand as a layman. And if I need to use these results for an appeal, then do I use the FSIQ or the GAI? Thanks.

Your DS' scores are almost identical to my DD's scores, and she is in 3rd grade AAP right now and doing very well. According to our psychologist, the low PSI and WMI could indicate ADHD. She suggested having DD further evaluated for ADHD, but we declined. Yes, DD is highly distractable and easily bored. Any minutes she has, she needs to read. She is also very impulsive and hyperfocus. I work hard to make sure that she eats well (high protein breakfast, fish oil, no food coloring, etc). So far, I think her ADHD tendencies are under controlled. Will reassess the situation in one year or two. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the last 2 posters - appreciate your feedback!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New poster here - thanks in advance for letting me piggyback onto this thread.

My DS took the WISC-IV and got:

GAI 139
FSIQ 130
VCI 134
PRRI 131
WMI 116
PSI 103

I was a bit surprised to see the drop in the bottom 2 scores, especially for PSI. Does this mean that he's a slow worker and have a little trouble remembering things? I don't mean to generalize, but I am embarrassed to admit that I couldn't understand all the psychology lingo explanations and trying to understand as a layman. And if I need to use these results for an appeal, then do I use the FSIQ or the GAI? Thanks.

Your DS' scores are almost identical to my DD's scores, and she is in 3rd grade AAP right now and doing very well. According to our psychologist, the low PSI and WMI could indicate ADHD. She suggested having DD further evaluated for ADHD, but we declined. Yes, DD is highly distractable and easily bored. Any minutes she has, she needs to read. She is also very impulsive and hyperfocus. I work hard to make sure that she eats well (high protein breakfast, fish oil, no food coloring, etc). So far, I think her ADHD tendencies are under controlled. Will reassess the situation in one year or two. Good luck!!

First pp, if your child is not showing signs of ADHD, please do not worry based on this post. My Ds had a large discrepancy between his VCI/PRI and WMI/PSI, to the extent that his FSIQ was 144 and his GAI was 157. He does not have ADHD or any other leaning difficulties. He works quickly and efficiently in schoolwork. Your ds's scores in WMI and PSI are average/high average. If he is seeming to complete his work at a normal pace and with a normal memory ability, he likely is.