Overview

Psychological and Educational Testing can be confusing, so this guide helps to answer the question – what happens during testing?There are several components to testing here at The Life Change Group, but the process flows very smoothly since Dr. Wright has been testing for more than 15 years.

We administer our tests in a relaxed environment. For educational testing, our dedicated testing room has a table and two chairs – one for the administrator and one for your student; it looks and feels like a comfortable version of a normal classroom. There’s nothing that you or your child need to study or prepare for the night before, so don’t worry. The testing itself is simply a series of questions, puzzles, drawings, games, and stories. Most of our students and adults report that testing is actually “fun.”

First Steps

You should encourage your child to do his/her best, and please remind them that there is not a pass/fail challenge, so again, no need to worry. Testing is simply an organized process to help us gather the necessary information to evaluate your child’s particular situation. While we follow a defined protocol to administer each test, the actual experience will be unique for each child.

Dr. Wright has been testing students for more than 15 years, so you can rest assured that she will make every effort to provide a thorough and accurate evaluation while making your student feel as comfortable and secure as possible. Unlike the majority of testing centers, Dr. Wright conducts her own tests instead of hiring outside contractors. This way she can evaluate the specifics that occur during testing, such as difficulties with attention and focus or speech issues.

Most testing days begin in the morning and it usually takes approximately 1-4 hours depending on the type of assessment. We will have breaks as needed to ensure that your child doesn’t get tired or distracted. Generally, we try to test in the morning and complete testing by noon or 1:00pm.

Easing fears about testing

Easing fears during psychological and educational testing is a paramount concern at The Life Change Group. We try to make every child feel as comfortable as possible during the entire process because just the phrase “psychological testing” or “educational testing” seems to summon up a fear of the unknown. 

Still, there are a few things that Mom/Dad/Guardian can do in order to make the process even more comfortable:

Parents can leave

You do not need to stay during the actual testing period. While we have a super comfortable waiting room, you are encouraged to leave during the actual testing; it could last up to three hours in some cases, and we’ve found that if the child knows you’ll be back only at the end, then there aren’t as many issues usually. Plus, we’ll just ask for your contact info in case there is an immediate question, so you’re never more than a call away.

Review the agenda

Before you leave the office and we start the testing process, we encourage you to ask for a quick overview of the day so that your child can hear the agenda and be reminded of what to expect. Even if you already have read and understand what’s going to happen, we still suggest that you ask us to review the day in front of your child. We’ve seen that this really helps to ensure that we’re all on the same page and that we’ve agreed to do this together.

There is no pass/fail

One of the biggest misconceptions and fears is that your student won’t do well on the test. This is not true because there is no pass or fail. While the test will be scored, the goal is simply for your child to do his or her best. There are no wrong answers because the results are scored on a continuum. Some students excel at certain parts of the testing but have more difficulty with other parts. That’s totally fine and expected. The important thing is that you remind your student of this fact and put them at ease…there is no pass/fail.

Are there any breaks?

Yes, we will be taking breaks as often as needed. Students are also welcome to bring a snack. Dr. Wright and our testing staff are well-trained to spot a sleepy or tired student, and we will proactively take a break (sometimes just a quick stretch) to help keep students engaged and generate the most accurate results. We also use stickers and behavioral charts to help keep younger student motivated and giving their best effort.

Contact Information

For more details or to schedule a test, please contact Dr. Pam Wright directly at pam@thelifechangegroup.com or 770-486-4887.

 

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