Parents inherently want to see their children thrive in school. For some students, however, this doesn’t always come easy. Frustrating as academic challenges may be, there is a solution for helping students overcome them and reach their maximum potential: psychoeducational testing. 

It’s normal for students to hit the occasional rough patch in school. But if your child is beginning to struggle consistently in certain academic areas, behave disruptively in class, or fall behind in learning basic intellectual, social, or behavioral skills, it might be time to enroll in a psychoeducational test. Psychoeducational testing is available for all students, ranging from preschool-age children to middle-aged adults.

Psychoeducational testing is an evaluation process that assesses the way a student learns. It involves a comprehensive assessment of the student’s cognitive, academic, and emotional and behavioral functions. In this guide, you’ll learn how to determine if a student needs psychoeducational testing, what to expect from the assessment, and the typical outcomes that follow after the test is complete. 

Psychoeducational Testing: What To Expect 

Psychoeducational testing typically involves three key steps, though the tests may vary based on an individual child’s needs. The core testing components look like this: 

1. Background Review

Psychoeducational testing begins with an interview between the psychologist, the student, and the student’s parents or guardians. The goal of this interview is to provide the psychologist with an overview of the student’s academic background, medical history, and other relevant factors. The student’s teachers and parents / guardians may also complete a behavioral checklist for the psychologist to review.

2. Cognitive Functioning Evaluation

This assessment tests a student’s strengths and weaknesses in reasoning, memory, working efficiency, and executive functions. It often includes verbal and visual tests to examine verbal reasoning, nonverbal reasoning, and different types of memory, as well as how quickly the student processes information and responds to it. 

3. Academic Achievement Testing

Similar to the tests students take in school, this evaluation assesses a student’s abilities in spelling, reading, math, and listening. 

Once these steps are completed, the psychologist administering the test will determine if further evaluation is needed. This usually occurs if they need to confirm a diagnosis or make sense of inconsistencies. 

My Student Has Completed Their Psychoeducational Evaluation. Now What?

The results of the psychoeducational test will determine whether a student has a learning difference. A diagnosis typically follows once the psychoeducational test is complete. While this may sound somewhat disconcerting, a proper diagnosis will open doors to the resources the student needs to succeed academically. In some cases, a diagnosis is necessary to qualify for special education services and accommodations for standardized testing. 

Overall, the results of a psychoeducational test can help guide the student in the direction of high-quality, personalized education that fits best with their learning style.