Bright Kids NYC's $300 ERB Workbook

FamilyKids & Teens

  • Author Karen Quinn
  • Published November 11, 2010
  • Word count 489

Bright Kids NYC publishes a comprehensive workbook that prepares children for kindergarten ERB testing. Their workbook offers 220 practice questions, covering all sections of the ERB or WPPSI-III test. It is about half the size of the $500 Aristotle Circle Workbook but costs 60% as much.

Here is what I like about their product:

  • It is comprehensive. Each section offers plenty of practice questions that range from easy to hard (just like the test itself).

  • It is well organized and easy to follow.

  • The workbook comes with a parent handbook that explains each part of the test and gives lots of useful background information. It's slightly dull to read, but all the information you need is there.

  • The artwork is bright and colorful.

  • The questions accurately reflect the types of questions that are on the actual test so practicing with them should be an effective way to prepare your child.

Here is what I don't like about the product:

  • The price - $300 plus shipping. This seems expensive for what is essentially a workbook and small handbook. If you decide to buy this, you might want to share the investment with a friend or two.

  • The artwork is colorful and bright, but a bit workbook'ish. The artwork in the Aristotle Circle workbook is more child-friendly.

  • The blocks that come with the book are of high quality but they look too much like the blocks on the real test. Personally, I don't recommend letting your child practice with materials so close to the real thing. Some might say that crosses the line and is cheating. Plus, your child is very likely to tell the tester, "I have blocks like these at home only mine are black and white." This will end up on her report and disqualify her from some schools. Use parquetry blocks to teach the underlying skill of copying patterns and then trust that your child will be able to handle test blocks when presented with them.

Bottom Line: This is an accurate, well organized, nicely designed, pricey and comprehensive workbook. If you buy it, don't overdo it. 15 minutes a day is all you need. You don't want your child to be sick of these types of questions by the time he's tested. If you are deciding between this product and Aristotle Circle's workbook and the price is an issue, this workbook does the job very well. Aristotle Circle's workbook is a higher quality workbook with nicer artwork and many more questions, but this workbook will definitely familiarize your child with the kinds of questions she'll be asked on the test. At the end of the day, it becomes a question of how much you want to pay.

Purchase Bright Kids NYC ERB Workbook at www.brightkidsnyc.com.

To see reviews of other kindergarten test prep materials available to get children ready for private school admissions testing, gifted and talented program qualification, and public school ability group placement, visit www.kindergartentestingwithouttears.com.

Karen Quinn is the author of Testing For Kindergarten, a parent's guide to getting your child ready for ERB, Stanford-Binet, WPPSI-III, OLSAT or other IQ tests for private school admission and GATE or gifted and talented program qualification. She is a former kindergarten admissions advisor from NYC and is the inventor of IQ Fun Park, an IQ test prep kit (that feels like play) for children ages 3 to 6. Visit her at www.testingforkindergarten.com.

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