Assessing for Giftedness

$1100 for IQ test or $1925 for both IQ and achievement test

For students in kindergarten through grade twelve, Alberta Education defines Gifted And Talented (Code 80) as "exceptional potential and/or performance across a wide range of abilities in one or more of the following areas: general intellectual ability, specific academic, creative thinking, social, musical, artistic, & kinesthetic."

To assess the intellectual and academic aspects of giftedness, individually administered cognitive and academic tests are completed with your child. The cognitive tests used at this clinic are the WPPSI-4, WISC-5, or WAIS-4. The achievement test used is WIAT-4.

As part of their application requirements, the Gifted and Talented Education Program (GATE) requires assessment of both intellectual and academic development. Westmount Charter School requires only a cognitive assessment.

🪧 A small minority (approximately 2%) of the general population has an IQ high enough to be considered intellectually gifted. Currently in Alberta, each school authority establishes its own process for identifying giftedness. Cut-off score criteria varies between districts and these criteria may also change over time.

It is possible for children to have a dual exceptionality and be both intellectually gifted and have a neurodevelopmental disorder such as a learning disability (e.g., dyslexia). If you or your child’s teacher notices a disconnect between your child’s intelligence and their achievement, a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment is strongly recommended.