Examples of Test Ceilings
For example, a child might have to miss three questions in a row before the tester quits asking questions. However, the tester runs out of questions before the child can miss three in a row. This does not mean that the child hasn’t missed any questions. they may have missed one, answered a couple more, missed two, answered more, and so on until no more questions are available. Of course, the score could also be correct, but when children hit the ceiling of a test, all we can know is that the score they received is their lowest possible score. Their actual score could be a little or a lot higher, but it is impossible to know by using testing as the only means of measurement.
Are Advanced Students at a Disadvantage With Test Ceilings?
The National Association for Gifted Children suggests that standardized tests that have built-in ceilings actually put advanced students at a disadvantage, especially if English is their second language, or they have a learning disability. While tests can be used as effective benchmarks for student performance, it’s advisable that other assessments be taken as well, in order to determine a student’s giftedness.
