Scribd
Upload
1K views2 pages

WISC-IV Subtest Descriptions

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is an individually administered clinical instrument used to assess cognitive skills in children ages 6 years through 16 years 11 months. It yields standard scores in five composite areas: Verbal Comprehension Index, Perceptual Reasoning Index, Working Memory Index, Processing Speed Index, and Full Scale IQ. The WISC-IV contains 10 core subtests measuring facets of intelligence such as verbal reasoning, working memory, perceptual reasoning, and processing speed.

Uploaded by

PUÑOYLETRA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views2 pages

WISC-IV Subtest Descriptions

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is an individually administered clinical instrument used to assess cognitive skills in children ages 6 years through 16 years 11 months. It yields standard scores in five composite areas: Verbal Comprehension Index, Perceptual Reasoning Index, Working Memory Index, Processing Speed Index, and Full Scale IQ. The WISC-IV contains 10 core subtests measuring facets of intelligence such as verbal reasoning, working memory, perceptual reasoning, and processing speed.

Uploaded by

PUÑOYLETRA
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is an individually
administered clinical instrument for assessing the cognitive sills of children age ! years "
months through #! years ## months$ It is com%rised of #& su'tests( each measuring various
facets of intelligence$ Ten su'tests are routinely administered to calculate the four inde) scores
and the Full Scale I*$
The theoretical foundation of the WISC-IV is derived from Wechsler+s original Ver'al-,onver'al
theory of intelligence (#-.-)$ The WISC-IV reflects an increased attention to the im%ortance of
/oring memory and %rocessing s%eed in the im%ortance of cognitive functioning$ 0 com%lete
administration of the WISC-IV yields standard scores in the follo/ing com%osite areas1
Ver'al Com%rehension Inde)
2erce%tual 3easoning Inde)
Woring 4emory Inde)
2rocessing S%eed Inde)
Full Scale I*
Follo/ing are descri%tions of each of the ten core WISC-IV su'tests1
WISC-IV Verbal Comprehension Subtests
Similarities measures ver'al reasoning and conce%t formation$ It also involves auditory
com%rehension( memory( distinction 'et/een nonessential and essential features( and ver'al
e)%ression$ This test re5uires the child to identify the similarity 'et/een t/o ostensi'ly
dissimilar items (/ords %resented orally to the child)
Vocabulary measures the child+s /ord no/ledge and ver'al conce%t formation$ For the
%icture items( the child is re5uired to name the %ictures in the stimulus 'oo$ For the ver'al
items( the child is re5uired to give definitions for /ords the e)aminer reads aloud$
Comprehension measures the child+s ver'al reasoning and conce%tuali6ation( ver'al
com%rehension( and ver'al e)%ression$ This test re5uires the child to ans/er 5uestions 'ased
on his or her understanding of general %rinci%les and social situations$
WISC IV Perceptual Reasoning Subtests
loc! "esign measures the child+s a'ility to analy6e and synthesi6e a'stract visual stimuli$
This test re5uires the child to vie/ a constructed model or a %icture in the stimulus 'oo( and
use red-and-/hite 'locs to re-create the design /ithin a s%ecified time limit$
Picture Concepts measures a'stract( categorical reasoning a'ility$ The child is %resented /ith
t/o or three ro/s of %ictures and chooses one %icture from each ro/ to form a grou% /ith a
common characteristic$
#atri$ Reasoning measures fluid intelligence and %rovides a relia'le estimate of general
nonver'al intelligence$ This test re5uires the child to vie/ an incom%lete matri) and select the
missing %ortion from & res%onse o%tions$
#
WISC IV Wor!ing #emory Subtests
"igit Span measures auditory short-term memory( se5uencing sills( attention( and
concentration$ The 7igit S%an For/ard tas re5uires the child to re%eat num'ers in the same
order as read aloud 'y the e)aminer$ 7igit S%an 8ac/ard re5uires the child to re%eat the
num'ers in the reverse order of that %resented 'y the e)aminer$
%etter-&umber Se'uencing measures se5uencing( mental mani%ulation( attention( short-term
auditory memory( visual-s%atial imaging( and %rocessing s%eed$ It re5uires the child to read a
se5uence of letters and num'ers and recall the num'ers in ascending order and the letters in
al%ha'etical order$
WISC IV Processing Speed Subtests
Coding measures the child+s short-term memory( learning a'ility( visual %erce%tion( visual-motor
coordination( visual scanning a'ility( cognitive fle)i'ility( attention( and motivation$ It re5uires
the child to co%y sym'ols that are %aired /ith sim%le geometric sha%es or num'ers$
Symbol Search measures %rocessing s%eed( short-term visual memory( visual-motor
coordination( cognitive fle)i'ility( visual discrimination( and concentration$ This test re5uires the
child to scan a search grou% and indicate /hether the target sym'ol(s) matches any of the
sym'ols in the search grou% /ithin a s%ecified time limit$
Wechsler( 7$ (9"".)$ Manual for the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition.
San 0ntonio1 The 2sychological Cor%oration$
9

You might also like