Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), developed by David Wechsler in 1949, is an intelligence test for children between the ages of 6 and 16 inclusive that can be completed without reading or writing. It generates an IQ score. The WISC is now in its fourth generation - WISC-IV - which was developed in 2003.

In addition to a Full Scale IQ score (FSIQ,) the WISC-IV also generates four composite scores known as indices: Verbal Comprehension (VCI,) Perceptual Reasoning (PRI,) Processing Speed (PSI) and Working Memory (WMI.)

The test is comprised of ten core subtests and five supplemental ones. The supplemental subtests are used to accommodate children in certain rare cases, or making up for spoiled results which may occur from interruptions or other circumstances. Testers are allowed no more than two substitutions in any FSIQ test, or no more than one per index.

Each of the ten core subtests is given equal weighting towards full-scale IQ. There are three subtests for both VCI and PRI, thus they are given 30% weighting each; in addition, PSI and WMI are given 20% weighting for their two subtests each.

The VCI's subtests are as follows:
 * Vocabulary - straightforward questions over the meaning of words
 * Similarities - asking how two concepts are alike
 * Comprehension - questions about social situations or common concepts
 * Information (supplemental) - general knowledge questions
 * Word Reasoning (supplemental) - children are presented with one to three riddle-style clues and asked to determine what the tester is describing.

No examples can be provided as they are copyright of the Psychological Corporation, a Harcourt Assessment company.

The PRI's subtests are as follows:
 * Block Design - children put together red-and-white blocks in a pattern according to a displayed model. Timed, and some of the more difficult puzzles award bonuses for speed.
 * Picture Concepts - children are shown rows of pictures, and are asked to find a common bond with one picture in each row
 * Matrix Reasoning - children are shown an array of pictures with one missing square, and select the picture that fits the array from five options
 * Picture Completion (supplemental) - children are shown artwork of common objects with a missing part and asked to identify the missing part by pointing and/or naming.

The WMI's subtests are as follows:
 * Digit Span - children are orally given sequences of numbers and asked to repeat them, either as heard or in reverse order
 * Letter-Number Sequencing - children are orally given sequences of letters and numbers together, and asked to repeat them in both numerical order and alphabetical order.
 * Arithmetic (supplemental) - orally administered arithmetic questions. Timed.

The PSI's subtests are as follows:
 * Coding - children under 8 mark rows of shapes with different lines according to a code, children over 8 transcribe a digit-symbol code. Time-limited with bonuses for speed.
 * Symbol Search - children are given rows of symbols and target symbols, and asked to mark whether or not the target symbols appear in each row
 * Cancellation (supplemental) - students are to mark lines through objects that do not belong in a page of randomly-arranged objects and one of orthogonally-arranged objects.

For people over 15 the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is used, and for children through age seven years, three months the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) is used.

Translations
WISC has been translated to many languages, and norms have been established for a number of countries. The Swedish translation of WISC-III is published by Psykologiförlaget, WISC-IV has not yet been translated. It has been normalized for children up to 15 years old, inclusive.

External link

 * WISC at Fairleigh Dickinson University site
 * Harcourt Assessment

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children