IQ Testing in Calgary: A Guide
Calgary families frequently seek IQ testing and cognitive assessments for children and teens. These assessments are often used for application to specialized schools and programs in the city, such as Westmount Charter School and the CBE GATE Program. They are also used for programming in traditional classroom settings. This guide will walk you through all the “ins and outs” of IQ testing, including what an IQ test is and what you can expect during the assessment process.
What is an IQ / Gifted Assessment?
An IQ test is a standardized assessment that measures someone’s cognitive abilities. In Calgary, the Wechsler assessments are the most common but you may also find some psychologists who use the Woodcock-Johnson or Stanford Binet.
The Wechsler assessments typically measure someone’s verbal comprehension abilities, visual-spatial reasoning skills, fluid reasoning skills, processing speed, and working memory.
What IQ is Considered Gifted?
In Alberta, an IQ of at least 130 is considered “gifted.” This means that someone has intellectual abilities that are in the top 2% of their age group. Some schools may classify giftedness according to different criteria. For example, Westmount Charter School accepts giftedness with an IQ of at least 125.
What does it mean when people say an IQ test is a “Standardized Test?”
A standardized test is designed, administered, and scored in a consistent, predetermined way for all test-takers. It features the same questions and format for everyone and is given under the same conditions (for example, in one-on-one environment, with the same instructions, and the same time limits). It is also scored according to set rules. This allows an individual’s score to be compared to other, same-age peers. This is important for IQ testing because if we want to measure how well someone reasons and processes information, we need a way to measure these skills against set guidelines.
Why You Might Consider IQ Testing
As mentioned above, there are a number of reasons that families might choose to have IQ testing done for their child. While they may have noticed some signs of giftedness in their child, they may also have the gifted assessment to:
Make applications to Westmount Charter School or the CBE Gate Program
Obtain learning opportunities, such as accommodations or enrichment, in a child’s current class
Geta clearer understanding of a child’s learning profile, including their strengths and possible areas of concern
Make better informed decisions about post-secondary or career options
The Assessment Process
At Bluebird Psychology, our assessment process is simple to make is easy for families.
All appointments begin with a parent intake meeting where we review your child’s background and learning history.
Testing is done following this meeting and occurs in a quiet office that’s relatively free from distractions. It is done one-on-one with the child and psychologist, which prevents distractions and allows the assessment to proceed according to standardization. IQ testing usually takes around an hour and a half but can vary.
Once testing is done, everything is scored, and the psychologist reviews the results with you. If you want to proceed with obtaining a report, your psychologist will write up the detailed results, along with some recommendations for you and the school on how to support your child’s unique learning profile.
How to Prepare for IQ Testing
A common question we get from parents is “how do I prepare my child for a gifted assessment?”
First, we always advise against practicing any of the test questions in advance. This unnecessary and means that you will not get accurate results of your child’s true abilities.
However, what we do recommend is making sure that your child is well-rested, has had a nutrious meal ahead of time, and brings water and snacks with them to enjoy during breaks.
You can also tell your child that they’ll be doing a bunch of different brain games or you can let them know that they’ll be doing some activities to see how they learn best.
Our Final Thoughts
IQ testing and gifted assessments can be a helpful first step in accessing support for your child. Whether you are looking to apply to a specialized gifted program, want to access enrichment opportunities in your child’s current class, or want more clarity on how your child learns, they offer a wonderful overview of how your child reasons and processes information.
The assessment process itself is meant to be simple and easy for families, with the entire intake, assessment, and feedback scheduled over one or two sessions.
If you are interested in learning more about Bluebird Psychology’s gifted assessments, click here. You can also reach out to us here or schedule an appointment here!