What If Your Child Didn't Pass the Test?

I have had friends who did have this happen, but I can only think of 1 that their child passed the second time. That mom had said, she did not feel her son had taken the test very seriously the first time. I guess she was correct.

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I have had friends who did have this happen, but I can only think of 1 that their child passed the second time. That mom had said, she did not feel her son had taken the test very seriously the first time. I guess she was correct.

My daughter just took the test in January I believe. The results aren't going to be in til almost June. If she passes, great, but they'll have another test to see if she truly belongs. If she fails, no biggie, I know her strengths and how smart she truly is and that not a label of 'gifted' is what truly matters.

Why would you want your child in the "gifted program" if they do not qualify? Wouldn't that be setting them up for failure?

My kids nailed 97 through 99 every year and never went into the "gifted program". Maybe it is just me but there is so much more than can be learned on their own when they aren't tied down to mounds of homework.

S.:

I agree with Jo - why would you want them in the program if they didn't qualify? The pressure that it on them is enormous!

Greg has dyslexia so he needs more time on tests. He actually does better if you verbally ask him the questions - that is ME - I had professors in college say - Cheryl - why did you fail this test? They would walk me over to the cadaver and say - what is that? I would say - x - they would show me the test and say - then why did you put y? URGH!!! Some people don't test well.

If they want to take the test again - then let them. Don't pressure them or force them.

My daughter (now 8) has taken the test twice because her teachers are SURE that she should be in the gifted program. However she did not pass it either time. I'm her Momma so I KNOW the reason she didn't pass it is because she gets major anxiety at test-taking. The label doesn't matter to me- and I certainly didn't place a big emphasis on it with her- because I know her abilities, and so do her teachers. We can cultivate those abilities without the label.

I don't have any experience with this, but I would consider the possibility that your child could be gifted, and may have anxiety when it comes to taking tests, especially standardized ones. My brother is brilliant, got all A's in school, took all AP classes in high school, but was a hot mess when it came to taking any standardized test and the results did not necessarily reflect how smart he was or how well he knew the material - he would just get all worked up and nervous about it, because he is such a type A perfectionist. Also, gifted can mean many things, and often kids can be gifted in certain areas and not necessarily all over. I know some kids who are gifted in reading or math, and they are still in the grade they are in because of age, but go to another classroom (1 or 2 grades ahead) for math or reading, because of where they are at.

I know one person - her oldest did not want to be 'gifted' and told her mom she would fail the test and did. When her younger sister passed the test and was loving her program, the older one asked to retake and passed. I think that would qualify as destructive peer pressure followed by constructive peer pressure.

My oldest took the test every year from Kinder till 4th and in 4th finally passed it. Everyone that knew him teachers and councilors felt he should be in it. My mom told me to get ahold of the school and see if they would be him in and see how he did. I did not. Once he passes it we talked and he said he really didn't fully understand what it was for when he was taking it so he really didn't try. My feelings were if he passes he passed if he didn't he didn't. He is not in middle school and qualifys for all Pre Ap classes so not being in it all through out grade school did not hinder him at all.

Good luck and God Bless!!!

If they are like me, I tend to get nervous when it comes to taking tests and didn't always do as well as I might have had I been more relaxed .. Can he/she do re-take? If it's a program worth getting into, then perhaps he/she can take the test again.. Where I live, they are phasing out gifted classes , so if they still offer it where you are and your child does well overall with the challenges, I would have your child try again. OR is there a chance he/she wasn't interested in in the program due to their not being with close friends or maybe something else is on the child's mind.. Did you talk it out with your child to see how they feel about it?
you may want to do that as well.. even if your child doesn't re-take it..

Good luck in whatever you decide!!

My daughter never made it into the gifted program, but had several teachers have her applied. I think it hurt her when her younger brother got in and she didn't. He took the test in first grade and they denied him, but when he did it in 2nd grade he was accepted. They both are very smart, and she brought home more A's and few B's. They never said why my son didn't get in the first grade, but they said they not only test academically, but socially and well rounded.
Maybe by my daughter not getting in, and knowing how smart she is and well rounded, being in the gifted program didn't mean as much. She's a junior at a high school with over 2000 classmates and she has a 3.76 GPA, in choir, speaks french, performs in plays, and is in dance. I'm very proud of her and too me, it doesn't matter if she got in or not, she's very gifted and talented.

The only time I "used" the gifted program, was when they told me my son would have to retake the test when we moved to see if he would qualify, this was in 5th grade. This lady made me mad, and I wished I would have spoke up more, because I wasn't quite sure if they were saying he wasn't smart enough because we came from San Antonio or if it was because he looks black, he's biracial... that burned me... By the end of the week they change classrooms, I never got my apology but that's okay, because she knew she was wrong...

If the child is bored like many are in public school, maybe they could do better the second time around. I think it's not a 'label' but if the child is wasting time in the classroom and could be doing so much better learning.

I am a former GATE coordinator for my school. If your child did not pass you can speak to the COORDINATOR not the principal. I would let students audit GATE meetings and classes. The prinicipal can give you the approval but the coordinator will feel you went over her head and your child will feel the resentment.

He will better pass the test if he knows how a group of GATE students think and reason as he will experience in the weekly meetings. The test is more reasoning than academic.

I am only 24 but when I was a kid in grade school I wasn't great in certain areas. When the state tests came that year when I was in 2nd grade I passed but barely so my parents decided that I should repeat the second grade. The are that I didn't do so well in was reading and repeating the second grade did help a lot. I am not sure what they do now seeing as my kids are only 1 and 2. Good luck though. :)

My son was tested in kinder and was moved to the more excelled classes. That was great and I was super proud until 2nd grade. He had a teacher that didn't follow their progress as she should of and he started falling behind in math. It was a snowball and it caused a lot of problems! If I had to do it again, I would of let him chose if he wanted to stay or not. It is a lot more work than the regular classes and it just wasn't a good match. You can request a new test but if it were me, I wouldn't push it. She has plenty of time to excel, let it come on naturally and at her own pace. Good luck!

My son initially had scores too low on the screening tests. However it was very clear he was gifted and also scored a 175 on an IQ test. The school district uses more than just one criteria to determine giftedness because some children, like my son, are gifted with learning disabilities. The standardized tests are only meant to screen for under served populations of kids who may otherwise fly below the radar. It should only be one facet of what the schools are looking for. Contact the gifted administrator to find out how to submit a package of other qualifying characteristics that are not test scores. There is also an appeals process, when all is said and done so be sure to exhaust all avenues if you feel your son would be best served by full time GT services. Good luck!

I have a friend who requested her son re-take it and he made it in the 2nd round.
And I have another friend whose son made it (VERY bright kid) and they are not interested in having the label applied to him.

Interesting the different perspectives!