Assessment Information
Purpose of the Assessment
Current professional, comprehensive cognitive skill testing is generally expensive or difficult to obtain. Private professional testing typically costs $600 to $1500 or more. If a child is in school, it is very difficult to get a school to do this type of testing. The Gibson Test of Brain Skills was created to provide anyone access to a professional, comprehensive cognitive skills assessment that is easy to take and affordable. The primary goal of The Gibson Test of Brain Skills is to identify whether any key cognitive skills are weak which likely will explain some aspect of why learning may be more difficult than necessary for a given student. For the sake of brevity and ease, the test is not designed to test the higher end of the scoring spectrum with a great deal of fidelity. The purpose is to quickly identify if there are any weak skills and if so, which ones.
Not an IQ Test
The Gibson Test of Brain Skills is not an IQ test. It contains many subtests commonly used to generate an IQ score, but it contains additional subtests that assess key cognitive skills that impact learning. It is possible to have an average or better IQ score yet struggle with some aspect of learning. IQ scores represent an average of several skills. That average can mask weak skills because the average can be offset by some high skills. Imagine a car with a great engine and aerodynamic design but a flat tire. One flat tire can keep even the hottest car from performing well.
Dr. Gibson evaluated a variety of industry standard tests and devised a comprehensive selection of subtests not commonly found in one battery that can affordably and conveniently assess the key cognitive skills that impact learning the most.
Taking the Assessment
The Gibson Test of Brain Skills contains seven sub sections. It takes about 35-40 minutes to complete the assessment. The assessment should be taken in one sitting. A computer with high-speed internet connection and Flash 9 is required. The instructions and many of the questions are auditory. The computer has to be equipped with good speakers or a headphone. If the assessment is being taken in a computer lab, headphones are a must.
Used as a screening tool
This assessment is not intended to diagnose any learning disability. However, it will provide you with a measure of eleven core cognitive skills and provide you with an indication of relative strengths and weaknesses. It should identify problem areas that may require more extensive testing to achieve a proper diagnosis if required.
One of our key supporters whose organization works with over 50,000 kids in urban schools calls the test his Red Light / Green Light test. If the score is low, the school knows they need to strengthen that child’s cognitive skills before expecting academic programs to work properly. If the score is high and the child is under performing, the school should look for other causes.
What cognitive Skills are measured?
The Gibson Test of Brain Skills measures 11 different core cognitive skills.
1. Processing Speed
The speed with which the brain processes information.
2. Working Memory
To temporarily retain information while processing or manipulating it.
3. Visual Memory
The part of memory that preserves some characteristics of our senses pertaining to visual experience. We are able to place in memory information that resembles objects, places, animals or people in a sort of a mental image.
4. Auditory Memory
Memory process that involves being able to take in information that is presented orally to you, process that information, store it in your mind and then recall what you have heard.
5. Short-Term Memory
That part of memory which is said to be able to hold a small amount of information for about 20 seconds. Estimates of short-term memory capacity vary from about 3 or 4 elements (IE, words, digits, or letters) to about 9 elements.
6. Long-Term Memory
Memory, stored as meaning, that can last as little as 30 seconds or as long as decades.
7. Word Attack
Word attack skills are the ability to convert graphic symbols into intelligible language.
8. Visual Processing
The sequence of steps that information takes as it flows from visual sensors to cognitive (mental) processing. To process and make use of visual images.
9. Auditory Analysis Segmenting
To determine the number, sequence, and which sounds are within a word.
10. Auditory Analysis Drop
The ability to understand the sounds that remain after you take a word and drop a sound. For example, take the word cat. What remains if you drop the c? This is tested by auditory means.
11. Logic & Reasoning
To reason, plan, and think. Often referred to as "executive functioning skills".
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