Those dreaded words, “It’s a test!” Even after being out of school for many years, the idea of a test still makes us nervous. So, if it has been suggested that your child needs to have an IQ test done, here are some things that you need to know.
What are they?
There are all kinds of IQ tests. Each type has some strength in terms of what they measure and some weaknesses. Often, a psychologist will ask you to outline your concerns and then will pick the test that will best answer your questions. In a separate blog, I will review a number of these tests to give you an idea of what each one is like.
The tests themselves are made up of sub-tests. What psychological researchers and test developers have done is to identify each kind of “cognitive” skill (meaning thinking skill). Then they have analyzed school success and determined the most important cognitive skill that is related to good school performance. Then, they try to find tasks for those cognitive skills and include them in the battery. Parents often ask me specifically how each task relates to schoolwork, and the truth is that it is a statistical relationship. IQ tests don’t test reading or math, for example. Sometimes, parents are confused by this and don’t realize that the tests are developed to predict overall school success. For example, an IQ Test could be used to predict how well a student will do overall in high school.
On some of the IQ tests, we can look at some patterns in the sub-test scores and answer some other questions about how your child learns. Some of them can help us identify if your child is a verbal learner or a visual learner. On some, we can measure how efficiently your child works on specific kinds of tasks. Some of the newer tests have included more sections on reasoning.
The sub-tests that are included are designed to give us information about how successful your child is likely to be in school. Remember, they do not measure life success. This is a common misconception.
What information can we get from them?
IQ tests help us get a general idea of what our expectations should be about school performance. Other factors may be involved, but IQ test data can help us make good academic choices for our children.
Students with ADD sometimes have a specific pattern of sub-test scores that helps make that diagnosis. IQ tests can identify some specific types of learning disabilities.
What can’t an IQ test do?
It can’t diagnose reading disabilities, dyslexia or math disabilities. Other tests, in addition to an IQ test, are needed. It can’t diagnose autism or autism spectrum disorders. It can’t diagnose emotional difficulties such as depression or anxiety.
So, if your child needs an IQ test, no worries!!
- Most of the time, children think they are playing “games.” It is far less stressful than the tests you remember.
- The results should help you plan for your child. They provide a road map for school services, not a “life sentence” of any sort. I advise parents to use this data only for what it was designed to do—to plan for school.
DON’T FORGET!
IQ tests can’t predict life success. IQ data must never be used to judge a child’s value. Even though in popular use, it is implied that high IQs are better or more valuable, that just is not true. Your child’s worth should never be linked to a number!