While there are several published IQ tests, we only accept scores on the Wechsler intelligence scales which include:

• WPPSI IV: Ages 3 years 10 months to 5 years 11 months
• WISC-V: Ages 6 and up

The Wechsler IQ tests measure overall cognitive abilities, including language, math, reasoning, and perceptual-motor skills. However, they do not capture other key attributes such as motivation, curiosity, creativity, adaptability, and social skills, which are assessed through additional steps in our admissions process.  

Testing must be done by any licensed psychologist and the results must be submitted to the Admissions Office by the testing psychologist using  admissions@ows.org. Tests are valid for two years.

IQ testing gives us a snapshot of your child’s cognitive strengths and learning potential. While it’s just one part of our holistic review process, it helps us determine readiness for our advanced, fast-paced curriculum.

IQ tests measure verbal and non-verbal cognitive aptitude (learning potential). While we do not publish specific cut-off scores, in general, students who are a good fit for Open Window score in the top 95th  percentile and above.  

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, and their results are thereby invalid. Psychologists will report this prior exposure in their full report, and Open Window will not accept these scores. Children must wait one year before being re-administered the same cognitive test.  

We recommend that children be at least 4 years old for the assessment to provide the most accurate information. However, children as young as 3 years and 10 months are eligible to take the Wechsler IQ test. These scores are age-adjusted and based on extensive studies of children in similar age groups.  

Naturally, young children show variation in their ability to focus and perform tasks. Some might not yet be ready for the hour-long assessment. Additionally, for multilingual children with a primary language other than English, an early assessment might not fully reflect their cognitive abilities. If you have any concerns about your child's readiness, please contact our Admissions Office for further information.  

We recommend taking the IQ assessment the summer before applying (June–August) or by mid-November. This timeframe ensures that your child can fully participate in all aspects of our admissions process.  

If English is not your child’s first language, please inform the psychologist conducting your child’s IQ test when scheduling the assessment. This information is crucial for the psychologist to have in advance. While the administration, content, and scoring of the assessment remain the same, knowing your child's language background helps the psychologist interpret the results accurately. The Wechsler instructions are in English, and the scores are based on norms established for English-speaking children.  

At Open Window School, primary instruction is in English, and students need to be fluent in spoken English before joining us. As a result, the admissions process, including the IQ assessment, is conducted entirely in English.  

Students applying to fourth grade or higher must also submit achievement testing, specifically a reading and math score. While an IQ score measures aptitude and learning potential, achievement tests measure mastery of specific content. This is usually a standardized group testing from a current or previous school. Examples of tests that we accept are ITBS, MAP, and SBA. Your current school should be able to forward your most recent test scores to the Admissions office. If for some reason you do not have a group administered standardized achievement test, a psychologist can administer one privately. An example of a privately administered achievement test is the WIAT-4 (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test).

 
For applicants to fifth through eighth grade, we will accept, but do not require the Independent School Entrance Exam or the Secondary School Admission Test. Families can register for the ISEE or SSAT online, and include Open Window School to receive the results of the test. Our ISEE code is 481722 and our SSAT code is 5543.