How many rounds of the admission process? Or just the first round and the appeal ? thanks,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone who has used the WISC have a sense of where the cutoff is? My DD just missed the cutoff on the NNAT and CogAT by 1 point so she took the WISC. Got a 124 which is the 95th percentile. All 3 tests are 94-97th percentile. Just wondering.

I'm not sure 125 is a "bright line", but if my child had a 124 WISC I wouldn't submit it in the first round. See if your child is admitted without it. If you need to appeal, I'm not sure the 124 will be enough unless you have other new information to go with it.

New other information such as :

- Stanford Binet test
- Achievement scores on other tests
- Very strong work samples (DCUMdom will say that work samples are useless but I think they were helpful)
- Recommendation letters that cite specific examples (Again, DCUMdom will say that they are useless... )


If you are not sure that your 124 will be enough, I'd definitely put all other supporting information to support why your child should be considered.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone who has used the WISC have a sense of where the cutoff is? My DD just missed the cutoff on the NNAT and CogAT by 1 point so she took the WISC. Got a 124 which is the 95th percentile. All 3 tests are 94-97th percentile. Just wondering.

I'm not sure 125 is a "bright line", but if my child had a 124 WISC I wouldn't submit it in the first round. See if your child is admitted without it. If you need to appeal, I'm not sure the 124 will be enough unless you have other new information to go with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone who has used the WISC have a sense of where the cutoff is? My DD just missed the cutoff on the NNAT and CogAT by 1 point so she took the WISC. Got a 124 which is the 95th percentile. All 3 tests are 94-97th percentile. Just wondering.

The 120's are the gray area and they rely more heavily on teacher and school recommendations.

Yes. That could go either way.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone who has used the WISC have a sense of where the cutoff is? My DD just missed the cutoff on the NNAT and CogAT by 1 point so she took the WISC. Got a 124 which is the 95th percentile. All 3 tests are 94-97th percentile. Just wondering.

The 120's are the gray area and they rely more heavily on teacher and school recommendations.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone who has used the WISC have a sense of where the cutoff is? My DD just missed the cutoff on the NNAT and CogAT by 1 point so she took the WISC. Got a 124 which is the 95th percentile. All 3 tests are 94-97th percentile. Just wondering.

My friend's kid did not get in last year on appeal using a 124 WISC score after her DD was not admitted the first round even though she was in the pool.

A WISC-V is out and being used in many school systems.

Does anyone who has used the WISC have a sense of where the cutoff is? My DD just missed the cutoff on the NNAT and CogAT by 1 point so she took the WISC. Got a 124 which is the 95th percentile. All 3 tests are 94-97th percentile. Just wondering.

Anonymous wrote:This sample report gives an idea of what the WISC-IV measures - http://www.child-testing.com/images/pdfs/gifted-testing-sample-report.pdf
I seem to recall it takes about 2 hours, but could take longer if the tester decides to go into any of the subtests.Depending on where you have it done, it could take a few weeks to get an appointment and a week or so to get the results. If you decide not to spend the money right now, there's enough time to get it done between a denial and the appeal due date, if necessary. On the other hand, if you're an information junkie like me, it can be interesting reading to learn more about how your child thinks.

This link is great! After reading these posts, I am leaning towards scheduling my child to take the WISC-IV. I would love to get some feedback on my child's strengths and weaknesses. Even if my child does not get chosen for AAP and we decide not to appeal, this information could help us as parents. I would love to know more about my child's abilities and more about how he thinks. Than you for the link and for sharing your opinion.

Anonymous wrote:I called GMU and was able to get my DS tested within the week. It cost me $380. They give you a 3 hour time slot, but the test is a little shorter, maybe 2 hours? The person giving the test first has a meeting with you to discuss your child and why you want to have the test done. Then there are 3 sessions where your child takes the test with 2 10-minute breaks in between. The first to sessions are around 45 minutes and the last one is about 25 minutes. I have my meeting to discuss results exactly 1 week from the date of the test.

I decided to get the test done because I think the one-on-one format is better for my child.

Thank you for this information! I think this format would be better for my child too. After reading about it, I get the impression that this test gives a lot more information about a child. It seems as if the tests offered in schools do not always give the clearest picture of a child's abilities. And, kids can prepare for the tests given in schools. I don't think children can prepare for the WISC-IV, which is a good thing. Even if I decide not to continue the application process for the AAP, I probably still will schedule him for this test. The feedback from the WISC-IV probably would be very helpful in understanding my child's strengths and weaknesses.

This sample report gives an idea of what the WISC-IV measures - http://www.child-testing.com/images/pdfs/gifted-testing-sample-report.pdf
I seem to recall it takes about 2 hours, but could take longer if the tester decides to go into any of the subtests.Depending on where you have it done, it could take a few weeks to get an appointment and a week or so to get the results. If you decide not to spend the money right now, there's enough time to get it done between a denial and the appeal due date, if necessary. On the other hand, if you're an information junkie like me, it can be interesting reading to learn more about how your child thinks.

I called GMU and was able to get my DS tested within the week. It cost me $380. They give you a 3 hour time slot, but the test is a little shorter, maybe 2 hours? The person giving the test first has a meeting with you to discuss your child and why you want to have the test done. Then there are 3 sessions where your child takes the test with 2 10-minute breaks in between. The first to sessions are around 45 minutes and the last one is about 25 minutes. I have my meeting to discuss results exactly 1 week from the date of the test.

I decided to get the test done because I think the one-on-one format is better for my child.

WISC at GMU is $380. At GMU it's a week or two to get in, results in a couple weeks. The test lasts about 3 hours with 2 10 minute breaks.

It's a cognitive abilities test like the CogAT but it's an individual test. May be higher or lower but it is generally considered more accurate, mostly due to the individual testing, especially if your kid has attention issues.

Go to gmu-450$. A Wisc score is an iq test so if you believe in iq tests it is an indication of that. Stanford Binet is another test.

I keep seeing people mention the WISC-IV. I am considering scheduling this test for my son because I feel his most recent scores do not reflect his abilities. He had two sections that were very high and one that was closer to average. I know that he is capable of doing the work in AAP and that he wants to be challenged. He is bright, inquisitive, and has a creative way of thinking. If my son does not get into the program and we decide to appeal, I might schedule him for additional testing. Is the WISC-IV similar to the CogAt? How long does it take? What sections does it contain? Do you feel it gives a better picture of a child's abilities? Is it worth it?

I have been trying to find websites that give additional information on this test, but many of them require me to become a site member. So, I thought I would check here first before committing to anything. I don't know how long it takes to schedule the WISC-IV test or how long it takes to get results. I may schedule him for an appointment soon in anticipation of possibly appealing the committee's decision in a April. Thank you for any advice you can give me.