Are Gifted Children Successful Because of Nature, Nurture, or Both? One of the longest-running debates in education is whether gifted children achieve at high levels primarily because of their natural abilities or because they are given opportunities, resources, and learning environments that help them thrive. The truth is that the answer is probably both. Children […]
Kim Hamer, L.A. Admissions Advisor, Interviews Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, About Test Prep for Young Children Karen Quinn, widely known as “The Testing Mom,” was interviewed by Kim Hamer, CEO and founder of Get Into Private School, to discuss private school admissions testing and how parents can help young children prepare in a healthy, […]
Karen recently interviewed Ashley Merryman, co-author of NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children. Listen to Karen’s interview on the 30-Minute Mom radio show. Or you can read the transcribed version of the show below: Karen Quinn: Welcome to The 30 Minute Mom on WebTalkRadio.net. I’m Karen Quinn, mother of two and your host. Like you, I’m […]
Karen Quinn, interviewed Dr. Bernardo Carducci, an expert in child shyness! Here is a transcript of the interview: Karen Quinn: Welcome to The 30 Minute Mom on WebTalkRadio.net. I’m Karen Quinn, mother of two and your host. Like you I’m too busy with real life to read all those advice filled parenting books. On this […]
How to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read (…And How to Help Your Struggling Reader) (You can listen to the 30 Minute Mom radio show, where Karen Quinn interviews Dr. Marion Blank, an expert in child literacy and one of TestingMom.com’s experts!) Here’s the transcribed version of the radio show if you prefer to […]
Listen to the 30 Minute Mom radio show where Karen Quinn interviews Dr. Kim Har, an expert in educational testing. Dr. Har has a PhD in education from UCLA, and she’s the Director of Early Childhood Education at Aristotle Circle, one of the premier test prep companies in New York City. Here’s the transcribed version […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Feb. 28, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-review-test-review-and-QA-jan12-2011.mp3 In this 33-minute audio teleseminar, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer a wide range of parent questions related to gifted testing, private school admissions, kindergarten readiness, speech development, motivation, and school interviews. Parents of preschool […]
Karen Quinn, founder of TestingMom.com and widely known as “The Testing Mom,” was featured in a 2011 Chicago Tribune story exploring the mystery and pressure surrounding gifted-and-talented testing in Chicago Public Schools. At the time, many Chicago-area parents were trying to understand the highly secretive testing process used to identify children for the district’s competitive […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Feb. 1, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-feb1-2011.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above as Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parent questions about private school admissions, gifted testing, interview anxiety, and preparing young children for academic evaluations. In this 48-minute teleseminar, Karen and […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week How to Review Questions with Your Child (Audio Teleseminar Jan. 12, 2011) https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-review-test-review-and-QA-jan12-2011.mp3 Click on the player just above to listen to the audio teleseminar hosted by Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, and Michael McCurdy, NYC Gifted and Talented Parent Expert. Topics covered during this teleseminar […]
Back by Popular Demand: Free OLSAT Teleseminar with Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy The response to our recent OLSAT question-and-answer teleseminars has been incredible, so we’re bringing them back! If you’re preparing your child for the upcoming New York City Gifted & Talented testing season, join us for another FREE live teleseminar on Thursday, January […]
Karen Quinn, The TestingMom, launches New Radio Show Congratulations to Karen on the launch of her new radio show! We’ll be posting Karen’s weekly episodes on TestingMom.com, so be sure to check back often for new interviews, parenting advice, and practical strategies to help your child thrive both in and out of the classroom. Here’s […]
The race is on! The OLSAT testing for the NYC G&T program officially launched today across the city. We’ll be getting updates from parents over the next few weeks over what happened at the testing sites. Stay tuned for more as we head into testing season! Michael ~ NYC gifted and talented parent expert.
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Jan. 6, 2011) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-jan6-2011.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above as Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parent questions about gifted testing, private school admissions, NYC gifted programs, and helping young children prepare for cognitive assessments. In this 53-minute teleseminar, […]
Can Parents Review the OLSAT After the NYC Gifted & Talented Test? One of the questions we’re asked most often by New York City parents is whether they can actually see the OLSAT after their child completes the NYC Gifted & Talented admissions test. Back in 2010, the answer was yes—and no. Parents were allowed […]
Our elementary school has informed us that they will be testing our son using a test called the MAP. Do you have any insight or familiarity with this test? Yes, the Measures of Academic Progress, commonly called the MAP test, is a very widely used academic assessment given in schools across the United States. Many […]
My daughter is having trouble with the verbal math questions for the OLSAT®. I keep trying to practice with her using the workbook we bought but she’s not getting it. What do I do? It’s completely normal for young children to struggle with the verbal math questions on the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test. These questions […]
Do you have any insight into what happens at Hunter round 2 of gifted and talented testing? One of the most common questions parents ask about admissions to Hunter College Elementary School is what happens during Round 2 of the selection process. Because Hunter is one of the most selective elementary schools in the country, […]
Can my child change her answer before the examiner moves on to the next question? One of the most common questions parents ask before a gifted and talented assessment is whether their child can change an answer after responding to a question. The answer is: sometimes, yes—but it depends on the testing situation and the […]
When answering the questions, does the child mark an answer sheet or tell the examiner verbally? If verbally, does the examiner mark the answer sheet? The answer depends on the child’s age and the specific test being administered. Many early childhood assessments — including tests such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence […]
Will my daughter take the exam with one or more examiners, or will it be 1-on-1? She is in public school. Many parents wonder what the testing environment will look like when their child takes a school assessment, gifted screening, or admissions evaluation. One common concern is whether the test will be administered one-on-one with […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Dec. 16, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-dec16-2010.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above. Here are the questions answered during this 33-minute teleseminar. When does the school notify the parents when their child will take the exam? I know the dates for next year, […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Dec. 2, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-dec2-20101.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above as Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parents’ questions about gifted testing, school admissions, learning differences, and how to help children succeed during the admissions process. In this 31-minute teleseminar, […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Nov. 18, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-nov18-20101.mp3 Listen to the teleseminar above for expert advice from Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy. In this 41-minute teleseminar, they answer parent questions about gifted testing, private school admissions, test preparation, motivation, and helping children build […]
Our daughter currently speaks 3 languages at home (Japanese, Chinese, and English) with a heavier emphasis on Japanese and Chinese. What challenges and/or accommodations might we expect from the testing process? What is your advice to parents regarding children who speak multiple languages and testing? Raising a child who speaks multiple languages is an incredible […]
When I ask my child questions to try to prepare her for the test, she sometimes gives wrong answers on purpose just to be silly. Or she’ll roll her eyes and say, “That’s too easy, Mommy,” and then give me the wrong answer. I’m afraid she’ll do this when she’s actually tested. Any advice? This […]
If I am going to prepare my child for testing, how often can I give her sample questions? How much time should we spend on it each day? Should I stop working with her closer to the test so the material is fresher when she’s actually tested? There is no perfect formula for how often […]
How do you build up a 4-year-old’s stamina for sitting up to an hour or more for a test? One of the biggest concerns parents have before gifted testing, private school admissions assessments, or kindergarten readiness evaluations is whether their child can stay focused long enough to complete the test. The good news is that […]
What one piece of advice do you think is most important in preparing your child to take these tests? One of the biggest mistakes parents make when preparing young children for gifted testing, school admissions evaluations, or academic assessments is expecting too much progress too quickly. Young children learn very differently from older students and […]
Is preparation really necessary for these tests? If parents prepare their child for testing with the test prep game or the workbooks, how can we make sure we aren’t overdoing it and stressing our child out, or putting them at risk of being disqualified? Many parents wonder whether test preparation is truly necessary for gifted […]
What is your advice about warming up a shy child who has to be tested or interviewed for a private school? Many parents worry about how a shy child will handle private school interviews, gifted testing, or school admissions playdates. It is a very common concern, especially when children are expected to interact with unfamiliar […]
My son was born in the fall and would qualify for a public gifted (and regular) program next year, but not a private school. We are interested in exploring both public and private options. What advice do you have for us? Families with children who have fall birthdays often face a complicated decision when comparing […]
My son has his 5th birthday late in the year. So he qualified for public kindergarten, which has a Dec. 31 cut-off, but he didn’t qualify for private kindergarten, which has an August 31 cut-off. Currently, he’s in public kindergarten. If we apply him to a private school next year, will they make him repeat […]
Do they account for a child’s comfort level when testing? For instance, if a child is shy and has to warm up to the testing administrator before opening up? Yes, experienced testers and evaluators are usually very aware that young children can be shy, nervous, cautious, or slow to warm up in unfamiliar situations. Many […]
If you are a member of TestingMom.com, you can go to the section on the site for the test your child is taking and go through 20 – 30 minutes of practice questions as long as your child is able to focus. The questions can be printed or you can use our interactive practice questions. […]
If a child starts in public grade school, is she at a disadvantage if she wants to go to private middle school? No. In fact, many private middle schools expect and actively recruit students coming from public elementary schools. Families are often surprised to learn that middle school entry points can offer more openings than […]
Private schools are looking for children who will do well in their program. For example, if it is a tougher, academically-oriented school, then higher scores on a test will be the first hurdle toward acceptance. Private schools are looking for classes that are balanced in terms of boys, girls, diversity and temperaments. So, if a […]
Are private schools required to contact you after they receive your application to set up interviews and school visits? Applying to private schools can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time parents navigating admissions deadlines, interviews, school visits, testing requirements, and application portals. One common question parents ask is whether private schools are required to contact families […]
How Can You Avoid Getting Caught Up in Competition During the School Admissions Process? Whether you’re applying to private schools, gifted programs, magnet schools, or specialized academic programs, the admissions process can sometimes feel surprisingly competitive—not just for children, but for parents as well. One of the best pieces of advice I can offer is […]
How Do You Keep the School Admissions Process from Stressing You Out? (updated 6/18/2026) If you’ve ever gone through private school admissions, gifted program applications, magnet school placement, or specialized school admissions, you already know how stressful the process can feel. Parents often spend months researching schools, preparing applications, scheduling interviews, arranging testing, and worrying […]
How is the admission/testing process different for entering a Kindergarten program vs. entering First Grade? Many parents wonder whether applying for a gifted program, magnet school, private school, or accelerated academic program in first grade is the same as applying for kindergarten. While there are similarities, there can also be some important differences depending on […]
What abilities do pre-K – Kindergarten students need to do well on tests and when starting school? In Testing For Kindergarten, I talk about the 7-abilities children need to do well at testing and in school. They are: language/listening, knowledge/comprehension, memory, math, thinking, visual-spatial, and fine-motor skills. Any good nursery school curriculum already incorporates all of […]
If you are going to take your child to a testing facility or a psychologist’s office to be evaluated, here are some tips to help her do well: Make sure your child is rested and feeling well on the day of the test. Reschedule if she isn’t feeling well. Don’t take your child to be […]
When you have more than one child that you are trying to get into private school, it can get tricky. There are usually a limited number of spots in a private school, and with twins, one family gets two spaces. Private schools depend on parents giving to the annual fund and by letting one family […]
If my child gets into private school, do we have to pay the regular public school fees? Many parents are surprised to learn that enrolling a child in private school does not eliminate their financial contribution to public education. Public schools are primarily funded through local, state, and federal taxes. Whether your child attends a […]
Do most people get their children tutored for the tests, or is that counterproductive? One of the most common questions parents ask is whether tutoring is necessary for gifted testing, private school admissions tests, cognitive assessments, or academic placement exams. The answer is: it depends on your child, your goals, and the amount of time […]
How do you manage conflicting timelines of private school acceptance and gifted program acceptance? Can I hold a spot at a private school while I wait to hear from the gifted programs? Managing the different timelines for private school admissions and public gifted program decisions can be one of the most stressful parts of the […]
Administrators try to take the “personality” aspect out of the equation as much as they can. In a city such as NY, where thousands of tests are being administered, proctors are given specific instructions that they can say the question, but they cannot repeat it. They cannot prompt a child or clarify a question, that […]
How are exams graded (i.e., WPPSI®) in terms of things like coding? For example, do vertical or horizontal lines need to be perfect in order to be counted? On tests such as the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, scoring is typically much more structured and standardized than many parents realize. Examiners follow detailed […]
100% sure my daughter is ready for the test, should I hold her back a year? Her birthday is Dec. 5. This is a question many parents ask, especially when their child’s birthday falls close to the school district’s cutoff date. If your daughter was born on December 5, she may be one of the […]
I know there are math questions on the OLSAT®, but my daughter is not interested in doing math questions when I try to do them with her. Any suggestions for making math interesting and something she’ll want to do? Many young children especially preschoolers — do not respond well to traditional “math practice.” The good […]
What advice do you have for helping a very shy child warm up to a tester or interviewer when going through the admissions process? When my daughter first meets a new adult, she rarely speaks and sometimes hides behind me. Once she gets to know someone, she can become very talkative. Many young children are […]
If you suspect your child has weak fine motor skills it may be beneficial to have him evaluated at an early age for some early intervention work. The younger the child receives the intervention the less it will interfere when the demand and need for fine motor skills is present in his life, such as […]
How do you prepare your child (a boy!) to focus on a tester’s or an interviewer’s questions? My son is very smart, but easily bored and distracted. He is also fidgety and has trouble sitting still if he isn’t engaged. Many bright young children — especially energetic, curious, or highly active ones — have difficulty […]
What is your best advice to parents who want to make sure their child is ready to start kindergarten, ready to hit the ground running? Depending on where you live and where your child will attend school, the Kindergarten teachers will have different expectations. I would advise you to read with your child each day. […]
My bright son has a July birthday, and while he’d be in the middle of the class age-wise if we sent him to public school, we’re not sure a private school would take him with his late birthday. We know he’s ready for school, and we’d like to send him to a private school. Any […]
Can factors like a good interview and recommendation from the nursery school make up for lower scores at the top schools like Dalton, Trinity, or Riverdale? At highly competitive New York City private schools such as Dalton School, Trinity School, and Riverdale Country School, admissions decisions are usually based on a combination of factors rather […]
We applied to several private schools before our daughter took the ERB. I’m so nervous that she won’t score well and we’ll be knocked out of consideration by many of the schools we applied to. How important are the scores in the overall decision? For many competitive private schools, Educational Records Bureau testing scores can […]
What advice do you have on how to pick the right private school that is a good fit for your child and your family? It’s so hard to know after just a tour and a few visits which school is the best for you. Choosing the right private school can feel overwhelming for many families. […]
At what age should I begin teaching my child sight words? When should I start trying to teach my child to read? Should parents do this or should we wait for school to start? Many parents wonder when they should begin teaching sight words and reading skills at home. The answer is not the same […]
How do scores between the Stanford-Binet®, OLSAT®, and WPPSI®-III correlate? If we know a child’s Stanford-Binet® score, does that indicate how they will score on one of the other tests? The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence are all designed to measure aspects of cognitive ability […]
My 3.5 year old is bilingual, with English spoken at school, not at home. How do I evaluate his language skills to see whether he can do well on the OLSAT® in English? What I can I do to enhance his skills? Is there research on whether being bilingual presents a disadvantage for children being […]
There are many attributes of gifted children. Some children may be gifted in the arts, such as music and drawing, while others might be gifted with certain athletic abilities. When it comes to gifted testing in the schools it’s more on the academic side of being gifted. If you think your child is gifted review […]
TestingMom.com Attends Brooklyn and Staten Island Parents’ Information Sessions Over the past few weeks, members of the TestingMom.com team attended the parents’ information sessions for the NYC gifted and talented program in each of the 5 boroughs! The crowds were strongest in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with Queens not too far behind. We even hopped on […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar Nov. 11, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-nov11-2010.mp3 In this 36-minute audio teleseminar, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer parent questions about gifted testing, verbal development, school readiness, and helping children succeed academically and emotionally. Parents preparing children for gifted and talented programs, […]
This past weekend, TestingMom.com co-founder Michael McCurdy had the privilege of presenting at the annual Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education (AGATE) conference in New Rochelle, New York. The conference brought together parents, teachers, administrators, psychologists, and gifted education experts from across New York and around the country to discuss the unique academic and social-emotional […]
Karen and Michael Answer Questions of the Week (Audio Teleseminar – Nov. 4, 2010) – Top 1% and Top 5% https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/Karen-Michael-weekly-QA-nov4-2010.mp3 Preparing a child for gifted-and-talented testing or private school admissions can feel overwhelming for many parents. In this audio teleseminar, Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy answer some of the most common questions parents have […]
Last night I attended the NYC Department of Education Parents Information Session for the Gifted and Talented Program in the Bronx. The parents came out in force and I estimated over 150+ involved moms and dads rushing into the session to learn more about the program, OLSAT testing and how the process works. I was […]
NYC Dept of Ed Gifted and Talented Program – Parent Info. Session in Queens Tonight, there was a NYC gifted and talented program information session in Queens at Long Island City High School. Parents streamed into the auditorium to hear representatives from the New York City Department of Education give an overview of the gifted […]
Our very own Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, was recently featured in a Miami Herald article. The article features Karen’s new game IQ Fun Park along with her incredible book Testing for Kindergarten (a must have for all parents!). Of course, TestingMom.com is mentioned as well and the article mentions quite a few testing tips for parents […]
[audio:https://cdn.testingmom.com/uploads/questions-from-info-sessions.mp3] Listen to the teleseminar above where Karen and Michael of TestingMom.com answer questions from parents attending a recent information session about Gifted and Talented programs in Public vs Private Schools. (42 minutes) 1. Can you talk about the difference between a G&T program versus a regular public classroom versus a private school? 2. In […]
The past few days were super busy for TestingMom.com and all the guest speakers for our seminars for NYC gifted and talented programs, private school admissions and OLSAT, WPPSI and Bracken testing. Parents crammed into the downtown community center in Tribeca where Karen Quinn, the Testing Mom, Dr. Har, testing expert from Aristotle Circle (and […]
The NYC department of education posted the NYC gifted and talented program handbooks for parents and also dates for the information sessions to take place next week! All 5 boroughs will have information. We’ll be posting details from the information sessions in the coming days.
Big City Moms Information Session on Kindergarten Gifted and Talented and Private Schools Last night Karen Quinn and Michael McCurdy from TestingMom.com held an Insiders Guide to the Kindergarten Admissions Process at Big City Moms on the Upper East Side. We had well over 50 parents parents attend to learn more about the process for […]
Parents’ Information Session: OLSAT Tests for NYC Gifted and Talented and Private School Admissions Seminar: Insider’s Guide to the Kindergarten Admissions Process in New York City – Private Schools and Gifted and Talented Programs for pre-k to 2nd grades Date and Times – You’ll Be Sent Location After You Pre-Register. Please, no children. Thursday, October […]
Hi TestingMom.com members – The NYC Department of Education announced some dates for the NYC gifted and talented test handbooks for students in grades pre-K through second grade. There are two tests given for NYC G&T – the OLSAT test (Otis-Lennon) and the Bracken Test (BSRA). October 12, 2010 Gifted and Talented Information Handbooks will […]
