Gifted Testing & Testing Accommodations in the South Bay

Is this evaluation right for you?

Families and adults usually come to us with a specific question. A school or program wants scores, or a big exam is coming up and the usual test format doesn’t show what the person knows. This evaluation may help if one of these fits:

• Your child is applying to a gifted (GATE) program or a private school that asks for testing
• Your child seems twice-exceptional (2e): gifted, but also dealing with a learning difference or ADHD
• A student needs extended time or other accommodations on classroom tests
• You or your teen are requesting accommodations on the SAT, ACT or AP exams
• You are applying for accommodations on a college or graduate admissions test, such as the LSAT
• You need documentation for accommodations on a professional licensing exam

We see children, teens and adults. Dr. Maddison Paul was born and raised in Redondo Beach and works with families across the South Bay.

There is no single definition of “gifted.” Each district, school and program sets its own rules and cutoffs. We can measure abilities and explain the results. The program makes its own decision about who is accepted.

What does the evaluation look at?

The questions you bring shape what we test. Most evaluations look at some or all of these:

• Cognitive and intellectual abilities: reasoning, verbal skills, visual-spatial skills and memory
• Academic achievement: reading, writing and math skills compared with others the same age or grade
• Processing speed: how quickly and accurately someone takes in and works with information
• Attention and executive function: focus, planning, organizing, and starting and finishing tasks
• Test-taking impact: for accommodations, how a diagnosed condition affects taking a test, such as reading speed, writing speed or sustained focus

Twice-exceptional learners are easy to miss. Strong abilities can hide a learning difference, and a learning difference can hide strong abilities. A full profile shows both.

We use a dynamic, individualized assessment approach, with current, evidence-based psychological assessment tools selected for each person’s needs and questions.

How do testing accommodations work?

Accommodations are changes to how a test is given, such as extra time, breaks or a separate room. They don’t change what the test measures.

Each testing organization sets its own rules. That includes the College Board (SAT and AP), ACT, LSAC (LSAT) and professional licensing boards. Each one reviews requests and makes its own decision. In general, documentation needs to:

• Be recent, as each organization defines it
• Show a diagnosed condition
• Explain how that condition limits the person’s ability to take the test

An evaluation can’t guarantee approval. What it can do is give the reviewers a clear, well-supported picture. Reviews often take weeks, and some requests need more information before a decision. Apply as early as you can, and check the organization’s current guidelines before testing begins.

Accommodations at school work differently. They usually come through an IEP (individualized education program) or a 504 plan. Our school testing vs. private evaluation guide explains how that process works.

What happens, step by step

The fee depends on the testing needed. We confirm it at your free consultation. See fees and insurance for how payment works.

What you receive

• A written report in plain language, with scores explained
• A feedback session to go through the results and answer your questions
• When you are applying for accommodations, documentation written with the testing organization's requirements in mind