An individual IQ test administered by a licensed psychologist is required of all applicants and measures verbal and non-verbal cognitive aptitude (learning potential). It is not an achievement test, which measures learned academic content. To be considered for admission to Open Window School, applicants must achieve a full scale or composite score at the 95th percentile or above. This score is an indicator of a child’s potential for success at Open Window. If your child does not score at or above the 95th percentile, please contact our office, if you would like to further discuss whether Open Window is the best match for your child.
Because the IQ test is cognitive, rather than an achievement test, children should not be prepped for the test. When children are exposed to test content, preparation exercises and testing tasks, they often exhibit test-taking behavior that indicates prior exposure. Psychologists are bound to report this prior exposure in their full report, and Open Window may be unable to accept the results as valid. Children must wait one year before being re-administered the same cognitive test. Some helpful advice about what to tell your child about an IQ test can be found here. Although it can be administered to younger children, we recommend waiting until your child is 4 ½. Test results are valid for two years.
For students younger than 6 years old we accept the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV). For students older than 6 years of age we accept the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V). We are also willing to consider the Stanford-Binet, V, the KABC-II NU, or the DAS-II. If your student attends a full-time public school gifted program, we are willing to accept the test results that qualified them for that program.
We suggest scheduling this as soon as possible, as many examiners book out far into the future. While it is our preference that the test be administered in-person, we are willing to accept virtual administrations of an IQ test. Families (especially those with younger children) should think carefully about whether a virtual administration will be able to capture their child's true cognitive ability.