Educational assessments for children, teens, and adults

Educational or learning assessments are designed to investigate ongoing difficulties in reading, writing, mathematics, and other areas of learning. Specific learning disorders (‘SLDs’) are persistent difficulties affecting an academic area, often referred to as:

  • Dyslexia – difficulties in reading (decoding words, reading fluently, comprehension) and spelling

  • Dyscalculia – difficulties with mathematics (understanding number sense, applying mathematical knowledge, recalling mathematical facts)

  • Dysgraphia – difficulties with language and writing (organisation and structure of writing, grammar and mechanics)

Why might someone consider an educational assessment?

An educational assessment may be helpful if you, or your child or teenager:

  • struggle with reading, such as slow or inaccurate word reading, difficulties decoding unfamiliar words, or difficulties with reading fluently

  • find it difficult to understand/comprehend written information

  • have persistent difficulties with spelling and writing

  • find it difficult to apply mathematical knowledge when solving problems

  • need to slow down to combine numbers together, or remember how to do calculations

  • have trouble following verbal instructions

  • are much slower than others to complete school work and tasks

  • find school or university effortful despite strong understanding or intelligence

  • are falling behind academically or becoming disengaged from learning

How can an educational assessment help me or my child?

Many children (and adults!) having an educational assessment are bright, curious, and trying their best to learn, even when results don’t reflect their effort. Learning difficulties like dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia are neurodevelopmental conditions that persist after targeted interventions, despite an individual’s efforts, adequate teaching and instruction, motivation, and intelligence. Without appropriate identification and support, individiuals with learning difficulties are at risk of underachieving their full potential.

An educational assessment can assist with:

  • providing insight into an individual’s capacity for learning, and their strengths and challenges

  • gaining a clear understanding of the current profile of reading, writing, mathematical, language, and phonics skills

  • tailoring recommendations and resources for further support, accommodations and adjustments, and strategies at school, university, or in the workplace

  • providing evidence-based recommendations for specific learning supports and interventions

What is involved in an educational assessment?

Our educational assessments are comprehensive and collaborative, usually involving:

  • An intake session to discuss reasons to undertake an assessment, the presenting difficulties, background information, and to form a plan together

  • Cognitive testing – a standardised psychological assessment to explore thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills

  • Academic testing – standardised assessments of reading, writing, mathematics, listening comprehension, oral langauge, and phonics

  • Feedback session and comprehensive written report including outcomes, strategies, and recommendations

The assessment is typically spread out over 4 to 5 sessions to allow for testing to completed at a manageable pace, and allowing for breaks.

What kinds of assessment tools or tests are used?

One of our educational & developmental psychologists will discuss your needs and form a specific plan with you for the assessment. Testing involves a range of different tools depending on the questions you would like to answer, the age of the client, and whether previous testing has been conducted. A referring paediatrician may also request that particular tests be undertaken. Some of the tools we frequently use are:

Cognitive Abilities

  • Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children, 5th Edition (WISC-V)

  • Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, 4th Edition (WAIS-IV)

Academic Abilities

  • Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 3rd Edition (WIAT-III)

  • Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Oral Language, 4th Edition (WJ-IV OL)

Tests of Executive Functioning

  • Trails-X

  • Comprehensive Trail-Making Test, 2nd Edition (CTMT-2)

Contact us to find out more.

Our admin team can discuss any further questions with you, or assist you with booking an educational assessment with one of our educational & developmental psychologists.