[Oz-gifted] tests in the public system

[Matthew & Tracey Wood]

Hi Ellen,

>Sorry -- I meant that the reliability of testing instruments for IQ is
supposedly lower at 5 than at 8.  I don't know >whether that's due to
ceiling issues, younger children's unfamiliarity with testing, etc, but it
would be interesting if >anyone here has any definitive answers.

I would have said the opposite was true...that they are more likely to be
affected by ceilings at an older age. The only problem I could anticipate
with testing at a young age would be if they were unable to concentrate for
long periods of time. Our DD was tested at 5.5 and we had no problems at
all. 

>DET's guidelines are for formal assessment to take place before skipping a
year, and they seem to be sticking to the >script.

I think that's reasonable and necessary and we certainly made sure that
happened before S was accelerated. I wouldn't consider acceleration without
a full assessment first.

Tracey
--
>Ellen Hrebeniuk
>Sydney, Australia