Where do I buy a copy of the WPPSI-III?

Anonymous
No, just kidding. I just wanted more people to look at my actual question which is about the WPPSI-III. Our DS took the test last year when he was 3. he did ok, not great, not bad. He still got into our 1st choice school where he's doing well so all worked out in that regard. In the last year he's really grown and blossomed (for lack of a better word) so I'm thinking of having him take it again, not for any school but just for my own knowledge to see if there is improvement. I realize that these tests aren't predictive of future achievement and we don't hang out with folks who talk about WPPSI scores. I just want to see where he's at and think that this test is one (small) part of assessing that. I'm wondering if anyone else has done this and if so, did you go back to the same tester? I liked the tester he had and she was great with him and with us. I feel like she gave us an honest assessment but wonder if her re-test results would be colored by her previous assessment? I know it's a weird question. Again, I don't care if he does better (though I would probably care if he did worse) and we're not school shopping so I just wanted to put this out there and see what ideas folks might have. I will, in the end, make up my own mind so don't feel obligated to tell me to ignore DCUM and do that. I'm just curious about other people's experiences. Thanks!
Anonymous
The same IQ test can't be replicated within 1 year. In general, they say that IQ is set at age 6. Doing it at 3 can yield results that do not tell the whole story. I would encourage you to wait a while longer and take the WISC instead of the WPPSI again. Good luck and good to hear your son has made progress.
SAM2
Member Offline
I think it's a great idea and should be very interesting. If it were me, I'd go back to the same tester and make it clear to her you're just doing this to learn as much about your child as possible and see how he's doing. She can best guide you on the most appropriate timing for the tests and any other considerations.

I seem to remember someone else posting a similar plan on DCUM a year or two ago. I don't recall how it turned out. You might check the archives to see if you can find her post, since it might include some good ideas.
Anonymous
IQ is never set. If your kid seems bright, regardless of the scores, and you think she might top out the test, have her tested at 8. Beyond that, she'll run into more celing effects.
Anonymous
To see if he is on target there are other test that might give you more information. Call the office where you had the testing done and just ask. Educational psychologists do a lot more than IQ test.
Anonymous
Or you could have him take the SCAT through JHU CTY talent search, once he reaches 2nd grade. Much cheaper than WPPSI, and it would provide you with information about academic aptitude, which would complement the info you already have. If he blows the SCAT out of the water, the old WPPSI scores probably didn't reflect his true ability, which is often the case at 3.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:The same IQ test can't be replicated within 1 year.


Interesting. My dd took the WPPSI last year during the admissions season, although I can't remember the exact month. She didn't do as well as I had hoped, in part because she got tired of the test and stopped trying half way through (totally age appropriate). We're considering applying to other schools this year and I want to have her re-take it, as being a year older, she has a longer attention span. But will that be a problem?
Anonymous
Won't be a problem, if it has been a full year. My son took it at age 3 and again at age 4. There was a 30-point drop in his performance score, which was alarming at the time but turned out to be indicative of nothing. He took the WISC last year at age 7 and those scores were more in line with the first ones on the WPSSI.
Anonymous
SAM2 wrote:I think it's a great idea and should be very interesting. If it were me, I'd go back to the same tester and make it clear to her you're just doing this to learn as much about your child as possible and see how he's doing. She can best guide you on the most appropriate timing for the tests and any other considerations.

I seem to remember someone else posting a similar plan on DCUM a year or two ago. I don't recall how it turned out. You might check the archives to see if you can find her post, since it might include some good ideas.


I think testing your child every year to get an IQ measure on them is unhealthy. I assume that OP has a son or daughter and not a science experiment and there are equally good ways to "find out how he is doing" , such as: play with him, read to/with him, take him on walks in the woods and see how curious he is, have anothe rchild over and see how kind and generous he is or NOT. This , BTW, is all free . It is called parenting. The WIPPSI is a necessary evil because of the private school process. Actually, that is not even fully true. THe WIPPSI is a determining factor for those of us who do not offer other determining factors, like great wealth to the private schools. Even the testers themselves think that it is inappropriate to judge a child's intelligence at 3 or 4 years old. Worse, many kids bloom late and it grossly underestimates their potential. Here's a question: If a mother of a 3 year old is told that her child's IQ is 104, will she put as much money into stimulating classes and educational toys as if she is told her child has an IQ of 145 or will she subconsiously lower her expectations for that absolutely wonderful child and wrongly so.

To give you an analogy that perhaps you can relate to: how would you feel SAM2 if your spouse ran your earnings over the last year by a forensic accountant to see if you were earning to your potential based on your IQ , your degree and your work experience and she wanted you to go for this testing yearly, just to be sure that you were "developing appropriately" and "reaching your potentai" . Would that feel like being loved, to you?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
SAM2 wrote:I think it's a great idea and should be very interesting. If it were me, I'd go back to the same tester and make it clear to her you're just doing this to learn as much about your child as possible and see how he's doing. She can best guide you on the most appropriate timing for the tests and any other considerations.

I seem to remember someone else posting a similar plan on DCUM a year or two ago. I don't recall how it turned out. You might check the archives to see if you can find her post, since it might include some good ideas.


I think testing your child every year to get an IQ measure on them is unhealthy. I assume that OP has a son or daughter and not a science experiment and there are equally good ways to "find out how he is doing" , such as: play with him, read to/with him, take him on walks in the woods and see how curious he is, have anothe rchild over and see how kind and generous he is or NOT. This , BTW, is all free . It is called parenting. The WIPPSI is a necessary evil because of the private school process. Actually, that is not even fully true. THe WIPPSI is a determining factor for those of us who do not offer other determining factors, like great wealth to the private schools. Even the testers themselves think that it is inappropriate to judge a child's intelligence at 3 or 4 years old. Worse, many kids bloom late and it grossly underestimates their potential. Here's a question: If a mother of a 3 year old is told that her child's IQ is 104, will she put as much money into stimulating classes and educational toys as if she is told her child has an IQ of 145 or will she subconsiously lower her expectations for that absolutely wonderful child and wrongly so.

To give you an analogy that perhaps you can relate to: how would you feel SAM2 if your spouse ran your earnings over the last year by a forensic accountant to see if you were earning to your potential based on your IQ , your degree and your work experience and she wanted you to go for this testing yearly, just to be sure that you were "developing appropriately" and "reaching your potentai" . Would that feel like being loved, to you?



OP here, I am pretty sure that I mentioned that I thought that the testing was a small part of assessing DS's progress. Thanks for defining "parenting" for me though, that was super helpful. I realize now that I should let DS out of his cell under the stairs (where I study the effects of sensory deprivation on him) more often. I do take him to the woods but that's only to force him to forage for roots that I make him eat as part of a long term experiment in human photosynthesis. They laughed at me at the Institute but they'll see! You'll all see! Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Thanks to the folks who took the time to give useful answers though
Anonymous
Wait for a few years to have him retested for a more accurate score. IQ is pretty fixed but testing a preschooler may not give you an accurate measure. The test should not measure progress b/c your IQ is fairly fixed.
Anonymous
Vulcan mind meld with a 4 year old.
Anonymous
Wait for a few years to have him retested for a more accurate score. IQ is pretty fixed but testing a preschooler may not give you an accurate measure. The test should not measure progress b/c your IQ is fairly fixed.


Yours, I'm sure of it.
Anonymous
While you were obviously annoyed by 19:59 she's actually on to something. This is not cost-free. You are, first of all, giving these tests more credit than they deserve. You say you want to see how your child is doing? There are a bazillion ways to do this, but taking this test again isn't one of them. But when you do see this as some kind of measure of something, it really can distort your view of your child. Even subconsciously.

You clearly want your child to get a better score. Why? So you can feel more confident in his intelligence? But this is a poor indicator. And what are you going to do with this information? Seriously, whats the point. Just to know? If its significant enough to pay to do it again and put your child through another round of testing, the "results" are obviously going to mean something to you, measuring your child in a way that is significant to you. As much as you say its just for the hell of it, you wouldn't do it if it was just for the hell of it.

This is a long way of saying that I also don't think it is a healthy thing to do. but your sarcastic response to the previous poster tells me you don't care and are going to do it anyway.
Anonymous
My sarcastic response was a reaction to the "It's called parenting" and the "science experiment" comments. I feel like I asked a pretty reasonable question and didn't feel that that level of condescension was deserved. I do not care if he does better. I think that testing is one way (Yes, out of bazillions) to gain insight into how best to support and enrich my child. We do the other 999,999,999,999 ways as well. I am grateful for the folks that suggested waiting or other assessment tools. Thanks for your time. I'll consider it all. This thread can be done now.
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