Anonymous wrote:

As someone else already noted several posts ago, most of those are group tests, not individually administered. And I don't think any of them is targeted at the same age group as the WPPSI.

I understand you're agitated over this, and I can tell no one's going to change your mind, so I don't see much point in continuing this discussion. However, I'd really suggest you do some more reading on the subject. You might be surprised at what you learn.

Do you have a problem with group testing? When your 4 or 5 year-old is in the private school is group testing inappropriate and not age appropriate? Or do you prefer a test in which parents shop for the "right' tester and "score" that at the end of the day has no prognostic worth? The tests mentioned by other posts would have significantly more worth don't you think? Those exercises are not dictated by the gender or facial hair of the tester.

Don't you think the mandatory $400/child test used for admission purposes is a scam?

As someone else already noted several posts ago, most of those are group tests, not individually administered. And I don't think any of them is targeted at the same age group as the WPPSI.

I understand you're agitated over this, and I can tell no one's going to change your mind, so I don't see much point in continuing this discussion. However, I'd really suggest you do some more reading on the subject. You might be surprised at what you learn.

Anonymous wrote:

12:03, if you truly believe the WPPSI is only appropriately used to test for learning disorders, then that's your problem. The WPPSI is well recognized by PhD level researchers as a valid and effective tool for evaluating academic talent in children. If you think it's only for spotting learning disabilities, you ought to do some more research into it.

There are many, many, many more useful and much cheaper tests to evaluate academic talent if the schools are serious about spotting academic talent? (e.g., ERB, ISEE, SSAT, Explore, SCAT)

12:03, if you truly believe the WPPSI is only appropriately used to test for learning disorders, then that's your problem. The WPPSI is well recognized by PhD level researchers as a valid and effective tool for evaluating academic talent in children. If you think it's only for spotting learning disabilities, you ought to do some more research into it.

Anonymous wrote:My child did not have any signs or symptoms of a learning disorder and had a normal child development course. If the IQ test has no prognostic value why was it required by these schools in the absence of signs and symptoms of a learning disorder? The only conclusion -- a scam.

I think saying that I must believe a significant proportion of kids have disorders is a leap of logic. However, I'm confident there are valid reasons to evaluate a child of 4 or 5.

No the test is not a scam when it is used for the appropriate purpose. That is what you aren't getting. The private schools are using a pyschological test for reasons it wasn't designed to be used for. You need to focus on this as the problem.

I think saying that I must believe a significant proportion of kids have disorders is a leap of logic. However, I'm confident there are valid reasons to evaluate a child of 4 or 5.

Anonymous wrote:

I never said there was a good reason. That would be a question for the schools themselves. The test was designed to be used as one tool to help evaluate educational and developmental concerns. It wasn't designed for school admissions purposes. The only time it would be appropriate to include results of this test in admissions is if it is for a school who's mission is to serve a special population that could be identified with the help of the test like LD/GT, gifted, LD, and other special education programs for children with delays, etc. who need a specific learning environment.

My point was really to say that what the psychologists charge isn't the problem. It's the same price whether you get the test done for the appropriate reason or for admissions. It is the schools that you should be questioning.

If there is no good reason then the mandatory requirement (rather than selective use based on signs and symptoms) for admission rule makes the $400/kid test a scam unless you believe a significant proportion of the American population have learning disorders and pathology at the ages of 4 and 5

I never said there was a good reason. That would be a question for the schools themselves. The test was designed to be used as one tool to help evaluate educational and developmental concerns. It wasn't designed for school admissions purposes. The only time it would be appropriate to include results of this test in admissions is if it is for a school who's mission is to serve a special population that could be identified with the help of the test like LD/GT, gifted, LD, and other special education programs for children with delays, etc. who need a specific learning environment.

My point was really to say that what the psychologists charge isn't the problem. It's the same price whether you get the test done for the appropriate reason or for admissions. It is the schools that you should be questioning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think it is a conspiracy, but $375 for an hour or so to test and an hour to type the report is a pretty good living when you note that the kids are booked back to back 8 hours a day from Sept. through June. Some Lawyers in this town should be so lucky

Required School Admission Tests

PSAT costs $13 (2 hours)

SAT costs are a $49 (with writing) (3 to 4 hours)

ACT costs are $49.50 (with writing) (3 to 4 hours)

SSAT costs are $116 (3 hours)

WPPSI costs are $375 (1 hour)

What's the definition of a scam on the backs of 4, 5, and 6-year-old children?

All of the those other tests are taken in large groups as opposed to one of one with a licensed pysch. Also computers do most of the work on computing the results and the WPPSI results are done manually. The WPPSI is a much more labor intensive test to give and to evaluate. The SAT is $50 but there are 50 kids in the room and one person to oversee. That is about $2,500 for one afternoon of testing.

Also the other tests are usually mailed to schools and given in the schools with a school employee overseeing the test takers so there is very little overhead costs. There is very little this employee needs to do other than give basic instructions provided by the testing company. The pyschologists performing the WPPSI use their own office space and are responsible for maintaining the office (rent, computers, phone and internet bills, etc. etc.) The WPPSI test itself along with the grading materials are several thousand dollars for each new version. The pysch pays for the test from the testing company.

Give me one good reason why a $400 test with minimal prognostic value in 4 and 5 year-olds and administered by a psychologist be a mandatory requirement for admission to independent private schools in the area?

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think it is a conspiracy, but $375 for an hour or so to test and an hour to type the report is a pretty good living when you note that the kids are booked back to back 8 hours a day from Sept. through June. Some Lawyers in this town should be so lucky

Required School Admission Tests

PSAT costs $13 (2 hours)

SAT costs are a $49 (with writing) (3 to 4 hours)

ACT costs are $49.50 (with writing) (3 to 4 hours)

SSAT costs are $116 (3 hours)

WPPSI costs are $375 (1 hour)

What's the definition of a scam on the backs of 4, 5, and 6-year-old children?

All of the those other tests are taken in large groups as opposed to one of one with a licensed pysch. Also computers do most of the work on computing the results and the WPPSI results are done manually. The WPPSI is a much more labor intensive test to give and to evaluate. The SAT is $50 but there are 50 kids in the room and one person to oversee. That is about $2,500 for one afternoon of testing.

Also the other tests are usually mailed to schools and given in the schools with a school employee overseeing the test takers so there is very little overhead costs. There is very little this employee needs to do other than give basic instructions provided by the testing company. The pyschologists performing the WPPSI use their own office space and are responsible for maintaining the office (rent, computers, phone and internet bills, etc. etc.) The WPPSI test itself along with the grading materials are several thousand dollars for each new version. The pysch pays for the test from the testing company.

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think it is a conspiracy, but $375 for an hour or so to test and an hour to type the report is a pretty good living when you note that the kids are booked back to back 8 hours a day from Sept. through June. Some Lawyers in this town should be so lucky

Required School Admission Tests

PSAT costs $13 (2 hours)

SAT costs are a $49 (with writing) (3 to 4 hours)

ACT costs are $49.50 (with writing) (3 to 4 hours)

SSAT costs are $116 (3 hours)

WPPSI costs are $375 (1 hour)

What's the definition of a scam on the backs of 4, 5, and 6-year-old children?