Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WPPSI III, WISC IV) -

This page is in process of being updated for the 2011-2012 Admissions season.

How does my child get an IQ evaluation?
Will I receive a copy of the results?
What if I do not want to know the results?
Why do you use the IQ evaluation, and how important is it?
What if my child is unwell on the day of testing?
Can my child resit the test?
What does my child need to know for the IQ test?
Should I wait until my child is older to take the test?
What should I tell my child about the test?
How long is the IQ Test?
Can my child take the test before I decide to apply?
What if English is my child’s second language?
What is the deadline for submitting outside test scores?

How does my child get an IQ evaluation?
You can arrange this conveniently through the Admissions Office provided you submit an application and appointments are still available. We recommend you call as soon as you are sure you want to apply. Appointments fill up quickly and, by late November, they are booked through the spring.

Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment with a licensed educational psychologist in your area. Outside test results can arrive after the application is submitted; however, there are fewer available dates for scheduling a campus visit. We recommend you call the psychologist well in advance of the application deadline of Friday, January 13, and make sure she/he can mail, email or fax the results and narrative directly to the Admissions Office by the testing deadline of 5 pm on Friday, February 10, 2011. The psychologist will obtain your written consent to release this information prior to sending it out. The Admissions Fax number is 650-348-3642.

Please review the Nueva Guidelines for the Submission of the Weschler Intelligence Scales, and share this information with the psychologist prior to testing. You can download a copy from this website, or ask our office to email/mail a copy.

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Will I receive a copy of the results?
Yes. The results of evaluations done through the Admissions Office will be mailed to you with a cover letter, usually within two weeks. Along with the test scores, you will receive a general information sheet about each of the test measures, and the different cognitive domains that are assessed. You should call the Admissions Office if it does not arrive within two weeks. If you have consulted a psychologist privately, you will need to ask them when you can expect the results.

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What if I do not want to know the results?
If you prefer not to know your child’s scores, you can request that they not be sent to you. In that case, you will only receive a cover letter advising you of the next steps, as appropriate. Please inform our office on the day of testing of your wishes.

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Why do you use the IQ evaluation, and how important is it?
The IQ evaluation provides a "snapshot" of your child's cognitive skills at a particular point in time. It can also provide important insights about your child's approach to different types of tasks. Extensive experience with children attending Nueva indicates that children whose results fall within a specific range are most successful in Nueva's program. As a result, the IQ evaluation is the first step in the application process to help us determine if Nueva is a potential match for your child. The results of the evaluation will determine if your child continues in the application process for the year they are applying.

The IQ evaluation is not a single determinant of your child's academic potential. It must be taken in the context of many other data points such as developmental readiness, motivation, curiosity, social intelligence, resilience, and creative and divergent thinking. As a result, children who score in the range typical of Nueva students, and who move forward in the process, will be asked to attend a playgroup/activity session, and provide further information in the form of transcripts and a confidential student evaluation from their current teacher. These data points, along with the many others, hold equal value to the process. We find that careful consideration of all these factors lends itself to a more rewarding educational experience.

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What if my child is unwell on the day of testing?
If your child seems ill, call the Admissions Office at (650) 350-4528 as early as possible, ideally 24 hours in advance, to reschedule your child’s appointment. Families that give less than 24 hours notice will be charged a $50 late cancellation fee. If your child is even slightly sick, we stronly encourage you to keep him/her at home and reschedule the evaluation. The evaluation can only be administered once every 12 months, and it is important that children are healthy and feeling well for the one-time evaluation. A child's condition may worsen during the test, or he/she may be contagious and put others health at risk.

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Can my child resit the test?
If a child does not score in range for the current admissions year, please know the she/he is welcome to resit the evaulation after one calendar year has passed. If your child recently received an educational evaluation, you should check to see if you already have results from the Weschler evaluation. If the results are less than two years old, you may submit them along with the completed application. If you have any questions relating to previous testing, please call the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office may request or recommend additional testing if deemed appropriate.

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What does my child need to know for the IQ test?
Your child does not need to study for the assessment, and should not have prior exposure to test materials as they will invalidate the test results. The Wechsler is not an achievement test that measures how much information your child has mastered. While it touches on a general fund of knowledge, it focuses on a range of underlying cognitive skills such as memory, fine motor coordination, reasoning ability, and the ability to evaluate abstract visual information and relationships. These skills relate more to how a child thinks than what they know, and provide insights into cognitive ability and learning style.

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Should I wait until my child is older to take the test?
Nueva requires children to be at least 3 years 10 months old to take the test and apply. We do recommend children be at least four years old, as at this age the evaluation begins to yield more information with additional subtests. The Weschler assessment takes age into account and scores are based on your child's birth date as well as extensive studies of children in the same age category. There is variation in the ability of young children to perform and focus on tasks, as one would expect of any age group. Some young children may not be ready to sit for an hour for the assessment. If you are unsure of your child's readiness, feel free to contact the Admissions Office for more information.

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What should I tell my child about the test?
With young children in particular, we encourage parents to downplay the notion of “test” and explain that it is a time to help one of the adults at The Nueva School with little jobs like completing puzzles, and sharing what they know. Tell them you will be meeeting with someone in a nearby room talking with another adult. The psychologists will also help at the beginning of your appointment to make sure your child feels relaxed and engaged. We strongly recommend that parents do not discuss the results of testing with a young child because they lack a context for being able to process the information.

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How long is the IQ Test?
The WPPSI-III (for children under 6 years of age) takes approximately one hour to complete. The WISC-IV (for children 6 and older) takes approximately two hours and includes a 15-minute break, if needed. Please make sure your child arrives well rested and well fed, and bring snacks for your child in case he/she becomes hungry.

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Can my child take the test before I decide to apply? How recent does the test have to be?
Yes, but only if you decide to do the test privately. If your child is being tested at Nueva, your application must be on file prior to the test. Children who do not have an application on file will not be able to test at Nueva.

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What if English is my child’s second language?
If your child’s first language is not English, it is important for the psychologist and the Admissions office to have this information prior to testing. Please be sure to inform the Admissions Office when scheduling your child’s appointment.

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What is the deadline for submitting outside test scores?
Test scores for all grades must be submitted by 5 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012.

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If you have any additional questions, please call 650-350-4528.