Gifted Assessments in Calgary, AB

Westmount Charter Application Deadlines (2027-2028 school year)

For Kindergarten through Grade 4 students, the application deadline for the 2027-2028 school year is November 27, 2026 at 9:00am. It is recommended that you schedule your assessment between August and mid-November to ensure the assessment report can be completed prior to the application deadline.

For students entering Grades 5 through 12, the application deadline for the 2027-2028 school year has not yet been published. **However, it will likely be similar to the previous year (January 30, 2026 at 4:00pm.) It is recommended that you schedule your assessment between October and mid-January to ensure the assessment and report can be completed prior to the application deadline.

Gifted Assessments at Embark Psychology

At Embark Psychology, we are highly experienced in providing gifted assessments in Calgary, AB to help families understand their child’s cognitive strengths and unique learning needs. Our assessments are often used to support applications to Westmount Charter School, the CBE GATE program, or to guide enrichment strategies in a child’s current school.

A gifted assessment offers clarity about how your child learns and where they may need additional challenge or support. Whether you’re applying to a specialized program or simply seeking insight into your child’s abilities, our Calgary-based gifted assessment services provide families with valuable information, clear results, and practical next steps. Below you will find information to guide you from start to finish:

  • Westmount Charter School Deadlines
  • What is Giftedness?
  • Signs to Look For
  • What the Assessment Can Do for You
  • School Entry Requirements
  • Assessment Process & Cost
  • FAQs
  • Link to Resources
  • Contact Us

So, what is Giftedness?

Giftedness refers to advanced cognitive abilities that go beyond what’s typical for a child’s age. Gifted children often learn faster, think more deeply and inquisitively, and show exceptional creativity or problem-solving skills. They may also excel in academic subjects. While these strengths can be exciting, they may also come with unique social, emotional, or learning needs - making understanding their unique profile an important step in supporting them.

Gifted students have intellectual abilities (also called an IQ) of at least 130. Only 2.2% of the world falls within this bracket - so being gifted is a true gift (so to speak!). However, some schools like Westmount Charter School allows a range (the confidence-interval), and will accept applications of a child’s IQ at 125 or above.

Signs to Look for

Gifted Children often:

  • Learn quickly and grasp new ideas easily

  • Have a strong vocabulary and ask thoughtful questions

  • Show deep curiosity

  • Have a strong memory

  • Think creatively or abstractly

  • Seek out challenges and prefer complex tasks

  • Enjoy the company of older children or adults

  • Set high standards for themselves and may struggle with perfectionism

Not every gifted child shows ALL of these traits, but if many of them sound familiar, an assessment can help clarify if your child is gifted and how to help them thrive!

Book Now

Does this sound like your child?

Book online to find out!

 What an Assessment can Do for You

  • Uncover hidden strengths: Our cognitive assessment reveals more than just IQ - it provides insight into areas like reasoning skills, verbal understanding, memory, and processing speed.

  • Unlock personalized educational paths: Many gifted learners are bored in class. With clear results, families and educators can create tailored learning plans to help students learn and progress to the best of their abilities. This can include enrichment in their current classroom, acceleration, or applying to specialized programs like Westmount Charter School or the CBE GATE program. It gives you and your child options

  • Highlight emotional needs: Gifted children frequently have Asynchronous Development, meaning their cognitive abilities, social skill development, emotional regulation skills etc. all develop at different rates. Gifted learners can sometimes face perfectionism, social isolation, or emotional challenges. Our evaluation helps families address these alongside cognitive and/or academic strengths.

  • Spot twice-exceptional (2e) profiles: Some children show both exceptional cognitive abilities and learning or developmental differences (e.g., Gifted Learner who also has Dyslexia or ADHD). These kids can often slip through the cracks, with one condition often masking the other! This means that they might not be properly identified (with either diagnosis) unless the demands of the task then outpace their ability to mask, so they do not have supports that match their complex needs. Early identification helps ensure they receive both the support and stimulation they need.

  • Boost confidence & advocacy: Discovering your child’s cognitive strengths builds their self-esteem and gives you the tools to advocate effectively for their learning needs.

Gifted Schools in Calgary

Westmount Charter School

Westmount Charter will only accept WPPSI -IV (ages 2-7), WISC-V (ages 6-16), or Stanford Binet-5 (ages 2-85). The WPPSI and WISC are the preferred tests. A full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and general ability index (GAI) must be included in the report.

Application Requirements & Steps for Westmount Charter School

  • A cognitive assessment which shows an IQ (FSIQ and/or GAI) of 125+ for your child

  • Families apply with their gifted assessment report, completed school application form, and any other necessary documents (outlined by the school).

  • Applicants will be selected for interviews, Activity-Based Observations for children (grades K-4), and will be asked to complete the school’s questionnaires.

  • Westmount Charter School contacts successful applicants at the end of February. Families are given 1 week (7 calendar days) to accept the offer.

  • For more detailed information about admission requirements (beyond the assessment) click here.

  • Unsuccessful in this school year application? You can reapply another year!

  • How Long are the assessment results Valid? You can often re-apply using the same assessment report.

    • The WPPSI-IV assessment must be completed within 1-2 years of application

    • The WISC-V or SB-5 assessments can be completed within the last 3-5 years before application

GATE Program (CBE)

CBE GATE Program is available for students in grades 4-12: the WISC-V, SB-5 or Woodcock-Johnson IV are accepted for cognitive tests. The WIAT-IV, KTEA-3 or Woodcock Johnson-IV Achievement are accepted for academic tests. A full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and general ability index (GAI) are included.

Application Requirements & Steps for the GATE Program at CBE

  • A cognitive assessment which shows an IQ (FSIQ and/or GAI) of 130+ for your child.

  • An standardized academic assessment which has been completed within 1 year of application

  • Parents share the report with the child’s current school to create an Individual Program Plan (IPP) for their child. An IPP is used for enrichment in the current classroom first, before the school can initiate their internal referral process to the GATE program.

  • For more detailed information about admission requirements (beyond the assessment) click here.

  • Unsuccessful in this school year application? You can reapply another year!

  • How Long are the assessment results Valid? You can sometimes re-apply using the same assessment report.

    • The cognitive test must be completed within 3 years of the referral AND completed after the child is 7 years old. If the test was completed before 7 years old, an updated test is required.

    • The academic test must be completed with 1 year of the referral.

Assessment Process: Steps & Cost

Westmount Charter School Application: $1200 (*$720 without report)

CBE GATE Program Application: $1920 (*$720 without report)

Steps Include:

  1. Intake Meeting: We meet with you and your child to learn about their development history, current skills and abilities, learning style, and interests. (~30 minutes)

  2. Testing: Your child completes the testing session 1:1 with the clinician. We take fun breaks as needed! This can be booked in 1 session (~2 hours total testing) or 2 half sessions (~ 1 hour each)

  3. Academic: ONLY needed for CBE GATE program applications. Academic testing is booked in one session (~ 2 hours) and is completed 1:1 with the clinician.

  4. Feedback Meeting: We go through results together and explain what it all means. You’ll leave with a clearer picture of your child’s abilities and next steps. (~30 minutes). This is done at the end of the session if booked as a single session, or at the end of the second session if you are splitting testing into separate days.

  5. Written Report (optional): You can choose to add a report for school program applications or your own records (optional) for $480. We send the report to you within 2 weeks. **If the child does not meet criteria for giftedness, families can opt out of the report as a cost saving option and pay a reduced fee of $720.

Book Now

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. A gifted assessment is required for admission to Westmount Charter School. Westmount requires an individually administered cognitive assessment in English, completed by a psychologist. They require a Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) and/or General Ability Index (GAI). We complete gifted assessments in Calgary that meet Westmount Charter application requirements and help families understand next steps.

  • Alberta Education requires an IQ of 130+ to be considered a gifted learner.

    Westmount Charter allows a range (confidence interval) of -/+ 5, so they will accept applications of a child’s IQ at 125 or above.

  • CBE GATE requires an IQ of 130+, but they do not require specific academic scores. Academic scores are a reflection of their exposure to the information.

    The CBE GATE program requires BOTH a cognitive assessment and academic testing from a standardized assessment to support program eligibility and educational planning. We tailor testing to current GATE requirements and your child’s age.

    CBE GATE program also requires you to share the report with your child’s current school to create an IPP. Enrichment in their current classroom must be attempted and found to be insufficient for their needs before the school initiates their own internal referral system.

  • Some signs of giftedness include

    • Rapid learning and grasping new ideas easily, with little repetition

    • Strong vocabulary with thoughtful questions

    • Shows a deep curiosity

    • Strong memory

    • Intense interests (a deep dive)

    • Think creatively or abstractly

    • Seeks out challenges and prefer complex tasks

    • May enjoy the company of older children or adults

    • Set high standards for themselves and may struggle with perfectionism

    While these signs can suggest giftedness, a formal gifted assessment provides clearer answers about your child’s learning profile and strengths.

  • No! You can inquire and self-apply for an assessment. A referral from a doctor, school or other setting is not required.

  • Westmount accepts student applications between September - November.

    However, the earlier you complete the process, the better! It becomes very busy end of September to the end of November. There is a risk of no availability for appointments the closer you get to the deadline. Make sure you allow time for the report to be completed!

    Ass

  • Embark Psychology uses the only test measures allowed by Westmount Charter & CBE GATE.

    We follow the report structure, scores, and required phrasing required by the schools.

    We will provide the report to you within 2 weeks after your last appointment date. **If your appointment if close to the deadline, we always guarantee the report will be ready in time.

  • Gifted testing can be completed with a range of ages, depending on your goal for the assessment. However, age 4+ provides a fuller understanding of of reasoning skills, memory, and processing speed

    • Ages 2:6–3:11 — The WPPSI can be used, though results provide more limited information and may be less stable for long-term educational planning.

    • Ages 4:0–7:7 — The WPPSI provides a fuller understanding of reasoning, memory, and processing speed and is often an ideal time for gifted testing.

    • Ages 6:0–16:11 — The WISC is commonly used for school-aged children and is widely accepted for programs such as Westmount Charter School and the CBE GATE program.

  • For Westmount

    You can schedule it 2 different ways

    • 1 full appointment (3 hours) OR

    • 2 half sessions (1.5 hours each)

    Time is allocated for: 30 minutes parent intake, 2 hours child testing, 30 minutes feedback. If you split the testing into 2 sessions, the results will be given at the end of the second session.

  • Westmount Charter School

    Westmount Charter School expects recent cognitive testing, typically completed within the past two years before application. Requirements may change over time, so families are encouraged to confirm current expectations directly with Westmount Charter School.

    CBE GATE

    The cognitive assessment must be completed within 3 years of the referral for GATE placement and after age 7. If testing was completed before age 7, updated testing is required. Academic testing must generally be completed within 1 year of referral.

Gifted Resources

Click here to be taken to our full page of resources to support gifted learners and their families

Have Questions?

We’re Here to Help!

Contact our Clinic Administrator, Teresa, with your questions and she will connect you to the right staff member. Our team would be happy to help!

email us at contact@embarkpsychologycalgary.com
call us at (587) 887-7445