Gifted and Talented
In the United States, federal law defines gifted and talented children as demonstrating high-performance capability in one or more of the following five areas:
1. General Intellectual Ability
1. General Intellectual Ability
2. Creative or Productive Thinking
3. Visual or Performing Arts
4. Leadership
5. Specific Academic Areas
3. Visual or Performing Arts
4. Leadership
5. Specific Academic Areas
Intellectual Functioning Assessment & Specific Academic Area Assessment
There are many individually administered tests of intelligence and academic achievement. Dr. Tamargo utilizes the Wechsler Scales to assess potential areas of giftedness since these tools are considered the most contemporary and dominant tools available for understanding a child's cognitive functioning. The selection of the appropriate Wechsler Scale is determined by the psychologist using age and parent or teacher report of demonstrated abilities. These measures are very useful in identifying intellectual disabilities, identifying and diagnosing learning disabilities/disorders, evaluating cognitive processing strengths and weaknesses, assessing giftedness, and assess the impact of brain injuries.
1. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale -Third Edition (WPPSI-IV)
2. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V)
3. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV)
Average Administration Times
Intellectual Functioning Assessment
The WPPSI-IV is specifically used to assess preschoolers and young children aged 2 years 6 months through 7 years 7 months. The WPPSI-IV yields five primary composite scores - Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Visual-Spatial Index (VSI), Working Memory Index (WMI), Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI), and Full-Scale IQ. Additionally, ancillary index scores are available including Vocabulary Acquisition Index (VAI), General Ability Index (GAI), Nonverbal Index (NVI), and Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI). Children ages 2:6-3:11 typically take 60 minutes to complete while children 4:0-7:7 require 120-150 minutes*.
The WISC-V, appropriate for children age 6 years through 16 years 11 months, is composed of 10 core subtests. The most familiar measure is the Full-Scale IQ score. However, there WISC-V provides excellent interpretive clarity by yielding five Primary Index Scales including the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Visual-Spatial Index (VSI), Working Memory Index (WMI), Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI). Administration time for the core subtests is 120-150 minutes*.
The WAIS-IV is appropriate for ages 16-90 years 11 months, is composed of 15 subtests 10 of which are core subtests and 5 are supplemental. The test yields four composite scores including Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed along with a Full-Scale IQ. The General Ability Index may be derived as well. Completion time is 120-150 minutes for core subtests.
The WISC-V, appropriate for children age 6 years through 16 years 11 months, is composed of 10 core subtests. The most familiar measure is the Full-Scale IQ score. However, there WISC-V provides excellent interpretive clarity by yielding five Primary Index Scales including the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Visual-Spatial Index (VSI), Working Memory Index (WMI), Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI), and Processing Speed Index (PSI). Administration time for the core subtests is 120-150 minutes*.
The WAIS-IV is appropriate for ages 16-90 years 11 months, is composed of 15 subtests 10 of which are core subtests and 5 are supplemental. The test yields four composite scores including Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed along with a Full-Scale IQ. The General Ability Index may be derived as well. Completion time is 120-150 minutes for core subtests.
- 95% of Gifted Children complete the IQ testing in 3 hours.
- *Important Note - Students with Learning Differences and profoundly Gifted Children often require additional time.
Achievement Assessment
Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Fourth Edition (WIAT-4)
The WIAT-4 is used to measure individual academic achievement and identify any Specific Academic Area of giftedness or to identify learning differences and is composed of up to 16 subtests. The clinical instrument is used to assess children aged 4 years, 0 months through 19 years, 11 months. Specifically, the listening, speaking, reading, writing, and mathematics skills are evaluated to contribute to 7 composite areas. A child's grade and equivalent will be reported in each academic area.
- Pre-K – Kindergarten students typically complete the Achievement testing in 1 1/2 hours.
- 1st through 6th grade students typically complete the Achievement testing in 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
- 7 th through College graduate students typically complete the Achievement testing within 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours.
- Gifted students typically achieve approximately two grades above traditional grade placement; therefore, it is expected that the time requirements will be at the upper limits.
- Students with Learning Differences are expected to require additional time.
Parents should plan for their child to spend a minimum of 5-6 hours of face-to-face time with Dr. Tamargo if they are completing both the Intellectual Functioning and Academic Achievement assessments. After the assessment, the parents will be scheduled for a 1-hour follow-up appointment to review the test results. A full report will be provided to the parents at the time of the parent meeting.
Dr. Tamargo does not utilize graduate students to administer gifted assessments and highly recommends that both the Intellectual Functioning and Academic Achievement tools be administered to fully understand your child's strengths and weaknesses and to appropriately plan for their education.
The fees for administration, scoring, data analysis & interpretation, written report, and one-hour parent feedback session are based on the hourly rate of $300 per hour.
For your convenience, you may pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, check, or cash at the time of the evaluation.
Insurance companies rarely pay for this evaluation; however, if they do, they typically require prior authorization. Please contact your insurance carrier directly to determine coverage and/or the need for authorization.
The fees for administration, scoring, data analysis & interpretation, written report, and one-hour parent feedback session are based on the hourly rate of $300 per hour.
For your convenience, you may pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, check, or cash at the time of the evaluation.
Insurance companies rarely pay for this evaluation; however, if they do, they typically require prior authorization. Please contact your insurance carrier directly to determine coverage and/or the need for authorization.
