Ceiling Effect in Tests Scores of Gifted Children

A test ceiling is the upper limit of an intelligence or achievement test. It is the top score a test-taker can attain on a test regardless of ability or depth of knowledge. When one hits the ceiling of a test, it means that the questions on the test were insufficiently difficult to measure true ability or knowledge. Testing is concluded when a child misses a specific number of consecutive questions.

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.