Why Get an IQ Test for Your Kid?
The first thing that most people think of when they hear about IQ testing is the SAT and ACT exams. These standardized tests have been around since the 1950s and are used by colleges all over the country to determine which applicants should be accepted into their schools. The tests measure how well students read, write, solve math problems, and so on. And while they are designed to measure aptitude and therefore “fit” for any particular college, they do not measure intelligence, more generally.
But what if your child is younger? What if he/she just wants to have a better experience in school? Well, there are many reasons why parents might want to consider getting their child tested. Here are some of the top reasons to seek out IQ tests for kids in Chicago:
Find Out If They Have Learning Differences
If your child has trouble learning, then it may be time to get them tested. There are several different types of learning disabilities, but one of the more common ones is dyslexia. Dyslexic children often experience difficulty reading because they don't understand the sounds of letters or they have visual difficulties with the letters themselves. This leaves them struggling with spelling words and understanding sentences. It's not uncommon for people with dyslexia to have other learning difficulties as well. It's also not at all uncommon for people with dyslexia to be highly intelligent but seen as underperforming, all the same.
It’s better to know sooner rather than later if your child has a learning difference or disorder, both for their academic success and their psychological wellbeing.
Help Them with Their Schoolwork
If your child is having trouble with their homework, then it might be time to get them tested. Many times, teachers will suggest that parents get their kids tested before they start teaching them new material. That way, they'll know whether the student is struggling with a given subject matter or if they simply aren't interested in the material.
What Can an IQ Test Tell Me?
IQ tests for kids can be a good indicator of whether or not your child is gifted. IQ tests differ from other cognitive tests because they measure a person's intellectual and cognitive ability, rather than memory recall or subject understanding.
Getting your kid tested can additionally help them learn more effectively. If you know your child is gifted, then you can find them educational programs that better fit their needs rather than putting a lid on their potential.
Finally, IQ tests for children, as part of a more comprehensive academic assessment, can provide insight into your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Knowing these will allow you to make changes to your child’s learning environment to best suit their needs.
What to do After an IQ Test?
After taking an IQ test, you'll receive a detailed report with your child’s results, and a review of the report’s findings with your examiner. You’ll be able to ask clarifying questions about the findings and what they mean. This report will help you determine your child's intellectual ability. It will illustrate this using percentile ranks. Ranks range from 0 to 100th percentile, which provides a comparison of where they line up with other children who match their age. You can use this information to see if your child is ahead or behind others of the same age, and to what degree, more importantly.
If your child scores high enough to be considered “gifted,” you can look into enrolling him/her in special classes or gifted programs. Some schools offer extracurricular activities for gifted students such as art, music, or sports.
Get Started on an IQ Test for Your Child with WCG
At Wellington Counseling Group, we offer many different types of assessments including adoption evaluations and IQ tests for kids in Chicago. We also provide mental health screenings so that we can help identify any issues that may be affecting your child.
Contact us today to learn more about our gifted and IQ testing in Chicago.