The Benefits of Gifted Testing and Evaluations

If you suspect your child is gifted, gifted testing and evaluations may benefit them! This testing will identify your child’s specific learning needs, strengths, and weaknesses. With this information, you can determine whether your child is fit for advanced classroom or program placements.

 

What is Gifted Testing and Evaluations?

Gifted testing and evaluations are designed to determine whether a child is intellectually gifted and performing higher than expected for their age group. These tests look at a number of things:

• Academic mastery
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Math
• Language skills
  • Comprehension
  • Sentence formation
• Learning abilities
  • Memory
  • Concentration
• Cognitive skills
  • Processing 
  • Problem-solving
  • Reasoning

 

Why Do Parents Have Their Children Tested?

The main reason parents will have their children tested is for entry into gifted or advanced placement courses. For the majority of school districts, gifted testing is a requirement for enrollment in these advanced courses.

School districts require a minimum score for entry. This score varies from district to district, but most gifted programs require an IQ score in the 98th percentile or higher and academic mastery to be above average.

 

How Do I Know if I Should Have My Child Tested?

If you suspect your child could be gifted, gifted testing and evaluations could be beneficial. But what are the signs of a gifted child? Gifted children often:

• Reach developmental milestones before other children
• Appear bored in class, as the material does not challenge them enough
• Become frustrated if someone is speaking slowly or not “getting to the point” quickly enough
• Exhibit an eagerness to learn
• Enjoy reading and writing
• Absorb information quickly and have great memorization skills
• Have a big vocabulary and advanced reading skills
• Are very creative
• Are very self-aware and independent
• Are very observant and curious
• Have exceptional reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Make great leaders 

 

If you believe your child is exhibiting behaviors like these, schedule an evaluation with Geo Psychological Testing today! 

Geo-Anna Q. Hirshenbaum PhD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, provides extensive gifted testing in The Woodlands, Texas. Through careful analysis, Dr. Hirshenbaum’s assessment process allows for diagnostic clarity and individualized recommendations to move forward in pinpointing issues of distress, planning effective treatment, and reaching personal goals. Interested in learning more? Contact us today!

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