EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW About Intelligence Testing that No One Would Tell You
By Marcia Eckerd, PhD I FIND MOST PARENTS ARE CONFUSED BY THE INTELLIGENCE TESTING ADMINISTERED TO THEIR CHILDREN. IT’S EASY TO MISUNDERSTAND THE RESULTS IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW THE TEST IS STRUCTURED AND YOU OVER-FOCUS ON THAT MAGIC IQ NUMBER. IN ADDITION TO UNDERSTANDING THE TEST ITSELF, YOU NEED TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT SCORING AND STATISTICS AND SOMETHING ABOUT PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
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he Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children (WISC-V) is the “IQ” test for children six to 16. It’s considered the “gold standard” by most evaluators. It gives an overview of strengths and weaknesses in multiple areas and generally provides reasonable expectations of the child’s school performance.
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For children over 16, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test can be used (WAIS-IV), and for children two years and seven months old through seven years and seven months old, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Test of Intelligence (WPPSIIV) can be used. There’s an age overlap; a bright six-year-old might get the WISC-V while a child suspected to have some
