Beginning September 2022, I am no longer offering the Peabody because of the demand for the WJIV and WJIII tests. You may contact my trusted colleague, Kim Jaworski to schedule Peabody testing online:
Learn About the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT-R NU)
The Peabody is a standardized, nationally norm-referenced achievement test. The Normative Update was published in 1998, based on 1998 results. It is individually administered by a trained examiner, with assessment completed in the following content areas: General Information, Reading Recognition, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and Spelling (see below). The subtests and composite scores are calculated immediately with derived scores indicating grade level equivalents and percentile ranking. The test is oral in format and almost conversational in tone. I strive to keep the test experience casual and non-intimidating for your child. It takes 60-90 minutes to administer the test, but the exam is not timed. The Peabody can be administered year round and will assess K-12 grade levels.
Individual Testing
This test is non-bracketed, which means a child can rise to his or her ability level, rather than being confined to questions at their chronological grade level. Each child is assessed using the material appropriate to age and level of accomplishment, working toward higher material until he/she answers incorrectly for 5 out of 7 consecutive items. This stopping point establishes the learning threshold, and errors in the critical range are subtracted from the peak score.
You are welcome to join us for your child's testing session, but please refrain from commenting, rephrasing questions, taking notes, or reviewing incorrect answers after the completion of the test. We want your child to be at ease and feel a sense of accomplishment upon completion of our session.
Testing Environment
It works best if we can work at a table. I bring all accessories needed for administering the test, but kids are welcome to use their own writing utensil & paper for Math computation, if they have preferred ones. Although the home environment doesn't need to be perfectly silent, unless your child likes it that way, other siblings should be occupied in another area of the home to prevent interruptions and overhearing of the test content. It's always nice to have water provided for the child testing.
Peabody Subtests and Scoring
General Information: This subtest measures the child’s general encyclopedic knowledge in the content areas of Science, History, Humanities and Social Studies. Questions are read aloud and the child responds orally. Both reasoning and factual knowledge are needed to answer the items, but names and dates are not emphasized.
Reading Recognition: This is an oral test of reading skills. At the pre-reading level, the items measure the child’s ability to recognize the sounds associated with printed letters. In later items, the subject reads words aloud from an increasingly difficult vocabulary list.
Reading Comprehension: This subtest measures the child’s understanding of what is read. The child reads a sentence silently or out loud and then chooses the one picture out of four that best illustrates the sentence. Vocabulary level increases through the upper grade material.
Mathematics: A multiple-choice format is used to test knowledge and application of mathematical concepts and facts ranging from recognizing numbers to solving geometry and trigonometry problems. The problems are straightforward and do not require paper and pencil to calculate.
Spelling: This multiple choice subtest measures the child’s ability to recognize standard spellings by choosing the correct spelling of a word spoken by the examiner.
Scoring: The subtests and composite scores are calculated immediately with derived scores indicating grade level equivalents and percentile rankings. You will receive a scoring sheet that is separate from your receipt for payment.