Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS)

WAIS-IV’s target population:

Ages 16 to 90 years old and 11 months

WAIS-IV’s purpose:

To assess the intellectual ability of adults.

This reflects an individual’s ability to understand, use and think with spoken language—retrieval from long-term memory.

Verbal Comprehension (VC)

This reflects an individual’s ability to accurately interpret, organize and think with visual information—nonverbal reasoning skills.

Perceptual Reasoning (PR)

This reflects an individual’s ability to take in and hold information in immediate awareness and then perform a mental operation on that information—mental manipulation of number operations.

Working Memory (WM)

This reflects an individual’s ability to process simple or routine visual information quickly and efficiently—visual and motor speed.

Processing Speed (PS)

WAIS-IV’s FSIQ time limit:

59 to 100 minutes

• Core subsets: Similarities, Vocabulary, Information

• Supplementary subsets: Comprehension

Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)

• Core subsets: Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles

• Supplementary subsets: Picture Completion, Figure Weights

Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI)

• Core subsets: Digit Span, Arithmetic

• Supplementary subsets: Letter-Number Sequencing

Working Memory Index (WMI)

• Core subsets: Symbol Search, Coding

• Supplementary subsets: Cancellation

Processing Speed Index (PSI)

The Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) is significantly influenced by the:

WMI & PSI

The General Ability Index (GAI) is significantly influenced by the:

PRI & VCI

This Wechsler Scale’s target population are individuals between ages 6–16 years and 11 months old.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children V (WISC-V)

This Wechsler Scale’s target population are individuals between ages 2.5 to 7.5 years old.

Wechsler Preschool and Primary School Intelligence (WPPSI-IV)

This Wechsler Scale’s target population are individuals between ages 6 to 90 years old.

Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence II (WASI-II)

Aside from WAIS-IV, this Wechsler Scale’s target population are individuals between ages 16 to 90 years and 11 months old.

Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)

Purpose: Comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of a school-aged child's total cognitive profile.

WISC-V

Purpose: Age-appropriate, game-like tracking of early childhood cognitive development.

WPPSI-IV

For children ages 6 to 7 years old, _______ is the better option if the child has a known developmental delay or shorter attention span, as the tests are shorter and more playful.

WPPSI-IV

Purpose: A rapid, ultra-fast estimate of global intelligence.

WASI-II

Purpose: Specialized mapping of different memory systems (auditory, visual, short-term, long-term).

WMS

The _______ is best in fast-paced settings (like emergency psychiatric units or rehabilitation centers) to rule out severe cognitive impairment before deeper testing.

WASI-II

All the Wechsler scales are Level ____ tests.

C

The _______ is best for identifying neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD, learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia), or intellectual disability in children.

WISC-V

The _______ is best when general intelligence is not the question. For example, if a client clearly understands ideas but cannot remember what they did 20 minutes ago.

WMS