Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WPPSI IV, WISC IV) -

How does my child get an IQ evaluation?
Will I receive a copy of the results?
What if I do not want to know the results?
Why do you use the IQ evaluation, and how important is it?
What if my child is unwell on the day of testing?
Can my child resit the test?
What does my child need to know for the IQ test?
Should I wait until my child is older to take the test?
What should I tell my child about the test?
How long is the IQ Test?
Can my child take the test before I decide to apply?
What if English is my child’s second language?
What is the deadline for submitting outside test scores?

How does my child get an IQ evaluation?
You can arrange this conveniently through the Admissions Office after the beginning of September, 2013, by completing our online inquiry form or by stopping by the office after touring the school. We recommend you call as soon as you are sure you want to apply. Appointments fill up quickly, and by late November are usually booked through to the end of the Admissions process.

You can also schedule an off-campus appointment with a licensed educational psychologist in your area. Off-campus results can arrive after the application is submitted, but not later than February 3, 2014. Please note that the application is still due before or by the 5 pm deadline on January 16, 2014.

We recommend you call the psychologist well in advance of the appointment, and make sure she/he can mail, email or fax the results and narrative directly to the Admissions Office by 5 pm on Friday, February 3, 2014. The Admissions fax number is 650-3548-3642.

The psychologist needs a copy of The Nueva Guidelines for the Submission of the Weschler Intelligence Scales, as well as the Authorization for Release/Exchange of Confidential Information form. Links to these forms will be activated during the summer. If you need these for an off-campus evaluation over the summer, please contact the Admissions Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Will I receive a copy of the results?
Yes. The results of evaluations done through the Admissions Office will be mailed to you with a cover letter, usually within two weeks. Along with the test scores, you will receive a general information sheet about each of the test measures, and the different cognitive domains that are assessed. You should call the Admissions Office if results do not arrive within two weeks. If you have consulted a psychologist privately, you will need to ask them when you can expect the results.

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What if I do not want to know the results?
If you prefer not to know your child’s scores, you can request that they not be sent to you at the time of the evaluation. In that case, you will only receive a cover letter advising you of the next steps, as appropriate.

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Why do you use the IQ evaluation, and how important is it?
The IQ evaluation provides a "snapshot" of your child's cognitive skills at a particular point in time. It can also provide important insights about your child's approach to different types of tasks. Extensive experience with children attending Nueva indicates that children whose results fall within a specific range are most successful in Nueva's program. As a result, the IQ evaluation is the first step in the application process to determine if Nueva is a potential match for your child. Once an applicant has scored in the range of candidates considered for admission, he/she moves forward to one or two campus visits.

Supplemental materials are also due in by the time of your child's campus visit, or no later than 5 pm, January 16, 2014, whichever comes first.

The Admissions Committee carefully considers all factors in a child's profile such as developmental readiness, motivation, curiosity, social intelligence, resilience, and creative and divergent thinking in addition to the information yielded on the IQ scores and subtests.

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What if my child is unwell on the day of testing?
If your child is even slightly sick, we strongly encourage you to keep him/her at home and reschedule the evaluation. The evaluation can only be administered once every twelve months. It is important that your child feels well. A child's condition may worsen during the test, or he/she may be contagious, and put the health of others at risk.

If your child seems unwell, call the Admissions Office twenty-four hours in advance to reschedule your child’s appointment (see contact information below) Families that give less than twenty-four hours notice will be charged a $50 late-cancellation fee.

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Can my child resit the test?
If a child does not score in range for the current admissions year, please know the she/he is welcome to resit the evaluation after one calendar year has passed. If your child recently received an educational evaluation, you should check to see if you already have results from the Weschler evaluation. If the results are less than two years old, you may submit them along with the completed application and application fee. The Admissions Office may request or recommend additional testing if deemed appropriate.

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What does my child need to know for the IQ test?
Your child does not need to study for the assessment, and should not have prior exposure to test materials. Prior exposure invalidates the test results.

The Wechsler is not an achievement test that measures how much information your child has mastered. While it touches on a general fund of knowledge, it focuses on a range of underlying cognitive skills such as memory, fine motor coordination, reasoning ability, and the ability to evaluate abstract visual information and relationships. These skills relate more to how a child thinks than what they know, and they provide insights into cognitive ability and learning style.

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Should I wait until my child is older to take the test?
Nueva requires children to be at least three years, ten months old to take the Wechsler test. We recommend that children be at least four years old, because the evaluation yields more information at that age. However, the Weschler scores adjust for age, and are based on your child's birth date, as well as extensive studies of children in the same age category.

As one would expect, there is variation in the ability of young children to perform and focus on tasks - some young children may not be ready to sit for an hour for the assessment. If you are unsure of your child's readiness, feel free to contact the Admissions Office for more information.

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What should I tell my child about the test?
With young children in particular, we encourage parents to downplay the notion of “test” and explain that it is a time to help one of the adults at the Nueva School with little jobs, as well as sharing what they know. Tell them you will be meeting with someone in a room close by. The psychologists will help your child feel relaxed and engaged.

If your child is sitting the evaluation off-campus, a similar approach is recommended.

We strongly recommend that parents do not discuss the results of testing with a young child because they lack a context for being able to process the information.

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How long is the IQ Test?
The WPPSI-III or WPPSI-IV (for children under six years of age) takes approximately one hour to complete. The WISC-IV (for children six and older) takes approximately two hours and includes a fifteen-minute break, if needed. Please make sure

• your child is healthy, well rested and well fed
• you bring nut-free snacks in case he/she becomes hungry
• you bring eye glasses/hearing aids if your child relies on them

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Can my child take the test before I decide to apply?
If your child is being tested on the Nueva campus, your application must be on file prior to the test for the evaluation and parent interview to take place. If you want to have your child sit the Wechsler and get the results before you apply, you will need to make an appointment with an off-campus licensed psychologist. Please provide them with a copy of The Nueva Guidelines for the Submission of the Weschler Intelligence Scales, as well as the Authorization for Release/Exchange of Confidential Information form.

If you decide to apply after receiving the results, they must be submitted with an application, and the application fee of $90.

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What if English is my child’s second language?
If your child’s first language is not English, it is important for the psychologist and the Admissions office to know this prior to the evaluation when scheduling the appointment. The Weschler instructions are given in English, and the results are normed on an English-speaking population. If you have any questions about the process as it relates to your child's linguistic profile, please contact the Admissions Office (see contact information below).
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What is the deadline for submitting outside test scores4
Test scores for all grades must be submitted no later than 5 pm, Friday, February 3, 2014. Please note that the earlier the results are sent in, the more options there are in terms of campus visits if your child scores in the range of candidates considered for admissions.

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call 650-350-4528,
or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Admissions FAX line: 650-348-3642
The Nueva School, Admissions Office, 6565 Skyline Boulevard, Hillsborough, CA 94010-6221

The Admissions Office is always delighted to received applications
well in advance of the deadline!