Comprehensive cognitive and IQ testing for children, teens, and adults across Ontario. Clear written reports for school board gifted identification, private school admissions, enrichment programs, and understanding a complex learner.
No physician referral required · Fees discussed at intake · 3–6 week typical timeline
Supervised by a Registered Psychologist
Every report signed by a regulated professional.
Comprehensive cognitive profile
Not just a score — a full picture of how this person thinks.
Children, teens, and adults
Age-appropriate measures across the full lifespan.
GTA in-person + virtual Ontario
Thornhill, Toronto Euclid, Toronto Eglinton locations.
Overview
A giftedness assessment is a structured evaluation of cognitive ability conducted by a Registered Psychologist. It is not a pass/fail test. It describes how a person thinks — their strengths, their profile, and what learning environments are most likely to suit them.
Families come to assessment for different reasons. Some want documentation for a gifted program application or private school admission. Some want clarity on a child who is clearly advanced in some areas but struggling in others. Some want to understand a complex profile that teachers and schools have not been able to fully explain.
A comprehensive cognitive assessment answers those questions with standardized data and clinical interpretation — producing a written report that describes the full profile, not just a composite score. The goal is a clear, actionable picture of how this person learns and what they need.
In Ontario, giftedness is formally defined as unusually advanced intellectual ability — typically corresponding to performance in approximately the top two percent of the population for age. But giftedness is not simply high grades or teacher approval. A gifted child may underperform for many reasons. Assessment looks at the cognitive profile directly.
Same-day reply · Virtual across Ontario, in-person in the GTA · No physician referral required.
In 30 seconds
Common reasons families book
Who it helps
Find the right page
Each page below is more specific — built for a particular concern, location, or profile.
For Toronto and GTA families. In-person testing available at Thornhill, Euclid Ave, and Eglinton clinic locations.
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Understand what IQ testing involves, what it measures, and how it differs from a full psychoeducational assessment.
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For children, teens, and adults where learning disabilities or broader academic functioning are also a question.
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For twice-exceptional learners — gifted individuals who also have a learning disability or processing difference.
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For twice-exceptional learners where ADHD co-occurs with high cognitive ability — a common and frequently missed profile.
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Understand what a private psychoeducational assessment costs in Ontario and what the fee covers.
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What's included
Scope is confirmed at intake. Most giftedness assessments include the following components.
Ontario context
Ontario school boards identify gifted students through the IPRC (Identification, Placement, and Review Committee) process using board-administered assessments. A private cognitive assessment can support this process — some boards consider private reports alongside their own data — though policies vary by board. Confirming with the school board how private reports are used before booking is advisable.
Private and independent schools in Ontario frequently require or strongly recommend independent cognitive testing as part of their admissions process. A report from a Registered Psychologist is typically accepted and, in many cases, required. Confirm specific documentation requirements with the school before booking.
Enrichment programs outside the school system — including university-affiliated gifted programs and private academic enrichment providers — often use cognitive assessment results as the primary basis for eligibility. The written report from a giftedness assessment provides that documentation.
For Toronto and GTA-specific program context, including TDSB, TCDSB, York Region, Peel, Durham, and Halton boards, see our gifted assessment Toronto page.
Twice exceptional
Some gifted individuals also have a learning disability, ADHD, or other difference that affects how their ability expresses itself in academic settings. This profile — sometimes called twice-exceptional or 2e — is more common than many families and educators expect, and it is frequently missed because the two sets of characteristics mask each other.
A child who is gifted and has dyslexia may read at grade level while expending enormous effort — appearing average when their cognitive ability is high and their reading difficulty is significant. A gifted child with ADHD may produce inconsistent work that appears careless rather than reflecting what is actually a complex profile of high ability and executive functioning difficulty.
A comprehensive assessment addresses the full profile. If a twice-exceptional profile is suspected, the scope of assessment can be expanded at intake to address both dimensions — and recommendations will be tailored accordingly. For more detail see our pages on learning disability assessment and ADHD assessment.
FAQ
High-frequency questions from families and adults across Ontario.
A giftedness assessment is a structured evaluation of cognitive ability conducted by a Registered Psychologist using standardized, normed tools. It produces a comprehensive written report with scores, clinical interpretation, and recommendations — used for school board gifted identification, private school admissions, enrichment program applications, and personal planning.
Ontario formally defines giftedness as an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences beyond those normally provided in the regular school program. In practice, this typically corresponds to cognitive ability in approximately the top two percent of the population for age — generally an IQ score of around 130 or above on most standardized scales.
Standardized cognitive assessments are available from approximately age four or five, when meaningful evaluation of reasoning and school readiness is possible. Testing can be conducted at any age through adolescence and adulthood. The measures used are adapted to the child's age and developmental stage.
No. A physician referral is not required to book a private giftedness assessment with our clinic. You can contact us directly to discuss your situation and confirm whether assessment is the right next step.
Reports from our clinic are signed by a Registered Psychologist and written to meet Ontario documentation standards. School boards including the TDSB, TCDSB, and GTA regional boards each have their own processes for using private cognitive reports in their identification decisions. Confirming with the school board how private reports are used before booking is advisable.
A twice-exceptional (2e) learner is someone who is intellectually gifted and also has a learning disability, ADHD, or other difference that affects how their ability expresses itself in academic settings. This profile is more common than many families and educators expect, and is frequently missed because the two sets of characteristics mask each other. A comprehensive assessment addresses both dimensions.
No. Private giftedness assessments are fee-for-service and are not covered by OHIP. Some extended health or employee benefit plans may offer partial coverage for psychological services; coverage varies by plan and should be confirmed with your provider before booking.
School board assessments are conducted by board-employed psychologists through the IPRC process and are focused on in-board gifted program eligibility. Wait times vary and the process is board-driven. Private assessments are arranged by families, typically completed more quickly, and produce a detailed written report suitable for school board processes, private school admissions, enrichment programs, and broader educational planning.
Your assessment team
Every assessment is conducted or supervised by Dr. Cheryl Ackerman, a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.
Clinical Psychologist · Ph.D.
Clinical psychologist specializing in psychological, psychoeducational, and ADHD assessments for children and adults. Previously the psychologist for intensive programs at the Griffin Centre, working with adolescents with dual diagnoses. Ph.D. in Psychology from York University.
Psychometrist
Conducts psychoeducational and psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults under the supervision of Dr. Cheryl Ackerman. Client-centred, strengths-based, and neuroaffirming approach focused on practical recommendations for school, work, and daily functioning. Honours Psychology (York), Master of Social Work (Windsor).
Psychometrist
Conducts psychoeducational, psychological, and ADHD assessments under the supervision of Dr. Cheryl Ackerman, with a focus on creating a warm and accurate assessment experience. Graduate training in Counselling and Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto (OISE), Honours Psychology (Waterloo).
Request a consultation to confirm fit, discuss scope, and outline next steps. In-person testing at GTA clinic locations. Virtual intake and feedback available across Ontario. No physician referral required.
Related assessments: ADHD · Psychoeducational · Learning Disability
