Please Explain WPPSI-III Retest...?
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Anonymous
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Hi -
My child took the WPPSI-III last year, did well (99 overall, not 99x3). He was waitlisted everywhere we'd applied and ended up being shut out. We went through the process again this year and took the same test as part of the application process. My question to any psychologists out there is why this retest is needed? I'm not a statistician but from what I can figure out the test is considered 'highly reliable' and I take that to mean that year -to-year the results will be nearly the same. Is this correct? If it is correct, then what is the logic of forcing parents to spend hundreds of dollars on a retest that will provide no new information to the schools to which we've reapplied? Thank you.. |
Anonymous
| The test is said to be only somewhat reliable - so there may be significant year to year changes. This said, it seems as if it would be tough to do much better than 99. I am not sure why you had to take the test again. You might have been able to use to the scores from last year. |
Anonymous
| Did each school tell you to take it again? That seems odd. I don't see a reason to take it again, unless there were big gaps in the subsets, but with a 99 overall, I don't think those gaps (if any) would be significant. Did you ask if it had to be retaken? The first one, even if your child didn't duplicate it exactly, served the purpose of saying s/he was bright enough to do any of the work any of the schools will ask, and there were no major gaps in subsets which could suggest -but not guarantee!!!- some learning issues. |
Anonymous
| OP, what was your child's age at original test and later test? I think I remember reading that the test changes some around age 4 (and probably at some other ages too). So maybe some schools want a current test to make sure it is applicable. |
Anonymous
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PP - you're right. There are 2 different levels of the WPPSI and then there's the WISC which is given at age 5/6 and gives even more information.
As a previous poster said, it's possible that there was a low enough sub-test score discrepancy that concerned the school. When testing young children, there are so many factors that can really make a difference so maybe the school's were trying to give your child a second chance to increase the concerning sub-test score? Just a thought |
Anonymous
This is a racket. It's about the dollars. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Child took the test at 4 and again at 5. All the scores were 95+, no issues anywhere.
The schools both require a recent WPPSI through age 6, they dont allow us to use the test from the previous year. Either the testers believe the results are reliable (as the studies show, in my laymans reading), or this is a racket as previous poster said... (my initial thought).. Anyone else? |
Anonymous
| If you had called the ADs I doubt any of them would have required that as a wait list candidate from the previous year your child take the test again. However, if there were discrepencies either within the test or between the test and what was observed in the playdate they may have recommended it. |
Anonymous
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OP again. We don't live in DC. Each of the schools here in Dallas require waitlisted kids to repeat the entire process each year. No exceptions. That's the mantra that was repeated by both schools regarding the WPPSI retest.
After reading the statistics on reliability, the more I thought about this, the more I think this is just a moneymaking gimmick. Either the test is predictive of the future, or they wouldnt use it. If it is, then why retest? If a child already achieved a top score with no red flags, then forcing parents to retest, 365 days later, seems to me, a situation not unlike an MD forcing unnecessary tests on patients which have been scientifically and statistically to provide no useful information. Am I getting something wrong? Either the test is stable and consistent under these circumstances, or these monopolistic testing groups (in some cities you're forced to use an examiner from a specific group) are just enriching themselves. |
Anonymous
| If you call the schools they will likely say you don't need to retest especially with scores that high and that consistent. |
Anonymous
I think it's the norming. Say your child was 4 years and 6 months when he first took the test last year; the psychologist used the norms for that age group. This year he would be 5 years, 6 months, and the psychologist would use the norms for that age. The WPPSI covers a wide range of ages and a child's performance must be compared to the norms for his specific age group. |
Anonymous
| And then you'll be the PITA parent who thinks that er child - unlike the others who scored lower - is above their procedures. You may be making sense, but if the competition (if this absurd process can be called that) is as tough there as it is here in DC, I don't think you'll be doing you child any favors by making waves about anything. Especially if the schools decided against admission last year. I think the tests are problematic for many reasons, but this is not a battle I would fight. |
Anonymous
| Agree with PP - wouldn't make waves on this, but agree that it probably was unnecessary (a 99%ile isn't going to become a 67%ile one year later. Plus they have the observation assessment.) It's screening but it's also a big profit center. |
Anonymous
| OP - I am in Dallas - can you tell me what schools WL then rejected? |
Anonymous
| Absolutely no rational or ethical reason to retest after a valid 99 perentile within a year. |