Gifted Testing in Calgary: Your Top Questions Answered

When should I test for giftedness? Anywhere around age 6+ is common, especially when you start noticing your child is far ahead in some things but maybe bored or frustrated in others. Testing early can help your child get into programs or supports before the school work feels frustrating.

What Does “Gifted” Mean? Giftedness is more than just being a quick learner. Gifted children often show advanced reasoning, strong problem-solving skills, and creative approaches to challenges. Most gifted programs, including Westmount Charter School and the CBE GATE Program, define giftedness as having a Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) or General Ability Index (GAI) at or above the 98th percentile (standard score 130 ± 5). That said, each child’s unique strengths and potential go far beyond what a test can measure.

What happens in a gifted assessment? Usually: an intake meeting (parents share your child’s learning history), then cognitive testing (child works through engaging tasks), possibly academic testing (reading, writing, math) especially if applying to certain programs like GATE, and then a feedback summary.

Will testing for giftedness include an academic portion? It depends on the program. For example, Westmount Charter usually requires only cognitive/IQ testing; GATE (Calgary Board of Education’s Gifted & Talented Education program) requires both cognitive and academic testing.

Does a parent need to prepare the child (practice IQ tests)? No, and actually, practicing IQ or “brain game” tests ahead of time can interfere with getting accurate results. The goal is to see how your child naturally solves new problems. A good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, calm surroundings is the best preparation!

What are the main gifted programs I might apply to? In Calgary, two big ones are Westmount Charter School (K-12 gifted charter school) and CBE’s GATE Program (for public school students). They each have their own deadlines and testing requirements.

What are the requirements when applying to Westmount Charter School? Requires cognitive / IQ testing by a registered psychologist. The report is submitted with the application.

What are the requirements when applying to Westmount Charter School? Requires both cognitive/IQ and academic testing. The academic portion helps GATE determine how a child performs in reading, writing, and math relative to peers.

What if my child shows signs of giftedness but isn’t “perfect” everywhere? That’s actually pretty common (e.g. strong reasoning, large vocabulary, but maybe slower processing speed or weaker writing). A full psych-ed assessment helps highlight those strengths and the areas that need support, so you can get accommodations or enrichment tailored to your child.

What do I get at the end of the assessment? A clear, parent-friendly written report that meets program application requirements and gives practical recommendations for supporting your child at school and home.