WISC-V - Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fifth Edition

Overview: Measure a child's intellectual ability.
Age Range: Children aged 6:0–16:11
Administration: Paper-and-pencil
Completion Time: Core subtests: ~60 minutes
Scores/Interpretation: Primary Index Scores and Ancillary Index Scores

Qualification Level: A

Introducing the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children®–Fifth Edition, the latest version of the most proven trusted cognitive ability measure ever. The WISC–V delivers more flexibility and more content. It has been redesigned to give you a truly comprehensive picture of a child's abilities and it includes notable improvements to make identifying the issues—and finding the solutions—faster and easier, without sacrificing the Wechsler gold standard of excellence.

Content & Administration

The WISC–V gives you flexibility and interpretive power, along with access to more subtests, so you get a broader view of a child's cognitive abilities. New subtests are targeted to common referral questions for children such as the presence of a specific learning disability. An expanded factor structure provides new and separate visual spatial and fluid reasoning composites for all ages.

New Primary Subtests

Three new primary subtests extend the content coverage of the WISC-V and increase its practical application.

Visual Puzzles is a new Visual Spatial subtest that measures the ability to analyze and synthesize information
Figure Weights is a new Fluid Reasoning subtest that measures quantitative reasoning and induction
Picture Span is a new Working Memory subtest that measures visual working memory

New Complementary Subtests

Five new complementary subtest have been added to assess cognitive processes important to academic achievement in reading, maths and writing, and have shown sensitivity to specific learning disabilities and other clinical conditions. These subtests include a measure of naming facility (Naming Speed and Naming Quantity) and visual-verbal associative memory (Immediate, Delayed and Recognition Symbol Translation).

Expanded and Updated Factor Structure

The test structure includes new and separate visual spatial and fluid reasoning composites for greater interpretive clarity and a variety of levels of composites for interpretive options.
Primary Index Scales include:

Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI)
Visual Spatial Index (VSI)
Working Memory Index (WMI)
Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI)
Processing Speed Index (PSI)

Ancillary Index Scales include:

Quantitative Reasoning Index (QRI)
Auditory Working Memory Index (AWMI)
Nonverbal Index (NVI)
General Ability Index (GAI)
Cognitive Proficiency Index (CPI)
Expanded Index Scores
Verbal(Expanded Crystallized) Index(VECI)
Expanded Fluid Index(EFI)

Complementary Index Scales include:

Naming Speed Index (NSI)
Symbol Translation Index (STI)
Storage and Retrieval Index (SRI)

WISC-V Framework

Features & Benefits
More efficient and user-friendly

The WISC–V increases construct coverage without increasing testing time. So, you get a more efficient, developmentally appropriate measure– and still have time to assess other domains of interest.

Efficiently produce all primary index scores
Significantly reduced testing time to obtain the FSIQ
Simplified instructions with reduced vocabulary level, shorter discontinue rules, and refined scoring criteria
Five primary index scores, the FSIQ as well as three of the five ancillary index scores can be obtained through the ten primary subtests

More interpretive power

WISC–V provides statistical links to two measures of academic achievement, the KTEA-3 and the WIAT–III, to support more flexible evaluation of specific learning disabilities and two major approaches to specific learning disability identification: pattern of strengths and weaknesses analyses and ability-achievement discrepancy analyses
Expanded score analysis approach highlights index- and subtest-level strength and weaknesses analyses
Separate visual spatial and fluid reasoning composite scores results in greater interpretive clarity
Selection of process scores has been greatly expanded to enhance the depth of interpretation and understanding of performance

Updated psychometric properties

Updated normative sample standardized on 2,200 children aged 6:0–16:11
Normative sample stratified to match current U.S. census data based on sex, race/ethnicity, parent education level, and geographic region for each age group
Strong subtest floors and ceilings facilitate accurate measurement at the extremes of cognitive ability
Comparable or improved reliability for subtest and composite scores

Updated studies

Updated special group studies
Updated validity studies with other measures including WISC–IV, WPPSI–IV, WAIS–IV, WIAT–III, KTEA-3, Vineland-II, and BASC-2

Users & Applications

School psychologists, clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists working in schools, clinics, hospitals, universities and forensics can use the WISC–V for diverse applications such as: