Calgary guide
Gifted assessment in Calgary: Westmount Charter vs CBE GATE
Westmount Charter admits on a private cognitive assessment (an IQ test given by a registered psychologist) that you book and pay for yourself. CBE GATE is the Calgary Board of Education’s own gifted program, and you do not book a test for it.
Westmount Charter vs CBE GATE
| Westmount Charter | CBE GATE | |
|---|---|---|
| Who tests and who pays | A registered psychologist you choose. You pay, and workplace benefits often cover part of it. | The CBE, through its own referral process. You do not book or pay for a test. |
| Deadline and result | Apply by Nov 28. No late applications, and no waitlist if your child is not accepted. | Set by the CBE. Places go by zone and internal referral, not a city-wide application. |
Verified Sept 11, 2026 Deadline Nov 28, 2026 2 assessment campuses
What score does each one look for?
Westmount looks for a Full Scale IQ (overall score) of about 125 or above on a WPPSI or WISC. GATE looks for a General Ability Index (a reasoning score that leaves out the memory and speed tasks) of about 130 or above.
The two scores are close but not the same, so a result that meets one benchmark may not meet the other.
What does Westmount Charter require?
| Campus | Requirement | Deadline | Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmount Charter Elementary Elementary | Private cognitive assessment (WPPSI/WISC) you book yourself; price varies and typically covered through work benefits. | None — reapply next year | |
| Westmount Charter Mid-High Mid-High | Private cognitive assessment; most seats go to students continuing from the elementary campus. | None — reapply next year |
Is there a waitlist at Westmount?
No. Westmount keeps no waitlist at either campus, so if your child is not accepted you reapply the next year. Nothing carries over.
Seats at the Mid-High campus are especially limited for outside applicants, because most go to students moving up from Westmount Elementary. Your best chance is to apply at the elementary entry point.
Questions about gifted assessment for Westmount
What kind of assessment does Westmount require?
A private cognitive assessment: a WPPSI or WISC given by a registered psychologist, which you book and pay for yourself. Westmount looks for a Full Scale IQ (overall score) of about 125 or above. The school does not give the test and does not book it for you.
Who pays for a gifted assessment?
You do. Westmount does not book or pay for the assessment, so you choose a registered psychologist and pay the clinic yourself. Many workplace benefit plans cover part or all of it, so check your plan before you book.
Can we use a school-board assessment instead?
No. Westmount needs a WPPSI or WISC given by a registered psychologist.
What happens if your child is not accepted?
You reapply next year. Westmount keeps no waitlist at either campus. That makes it the least forgiving of Calgary’s three admission routes: there is no place in line to build up and nothing carries over.
Before you book
How to find a registered psychologist
We do not recommend or rank clinics. These are the checks that matter whichever one you choose.
Confirm they are registered
The assessment has to be done by a registered psychologist. The College of Alberta Psychologists keeps a public directory you can search by name to confirm registration, and the Psychologists’ Association of Alberta has a searchable list of practising psychologists.
- College of Alberta Psychologists public directory (opens in a new tab)
- Psychologists’ Association of Alberta: Find a Psychologist (opens in a new tab)
Check your benefits first
Many workplace benefit plans cover part of a psychological assessment, usually up to an annual limit. Before you book, ask your plan how much it covers and whether it requires the psychologist to be registered in Alberta.
Questions to ask a clinic
- Do you assess with the WPPSI-IV and the WISC-V, and which one fits my child’s age?
- When is your next opening for a cognitive assessment?
- How long after testing will the written report be ready?
- What does the assessment cost, and what does the fee include?