CHILDREN
What sort of tests are used in psychological and educational assessments for
children?
The following is technical information about the tests we use at Learning Insights.
If you think you are interested in knowing more about an assessment for a child after you have read through this information and some of the other Facts + Questions click on CONTACT US.
WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN - THIRD EDITION UK
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Third Edition UK (WISC-IIIUK) is a standardised, reliable and valid measure of intellectual ability, that has been normed on a large population and thus allows comparison of a child's performance against those of similar age. It can be given to children between 6 and 16 years. It has 13 subtests (described below) of which five are used to assess and calculate a verbal intellectual ability Verbal Subscale and five which are used to assess and calculate hand eye ability Visual-Performance Subscale. The remaining three subtests are used in combination with other subtests to give a measure of Speed of Processing - the speed with which visual detail can be identified and documented, and Freedom from Distractibility - the ability to resist distraction (i.e. to attend or concentrate).
The Verbal and Visual-Performance Subscale can be combined to
give a Full Scale Cognitive Intellectual Ability score or Intelligence Quotient
(I.Q.). However where there is a statistically significant difference in scores
between the verbal and visual-performance I.Q.s, a full scale I.Q. is not reported
as to do so would mask the difference between the two I.Q.s. The phrase Not
Appropriate to Report is used. Such discrepancies are common in individuals
with specific learning difficulties/dyslexia.
A further way of describing ability also provided by the Wechsler scale is in
terms of a Verbal Comprehension Index - measuring verbal skills, knowledge and
comprehension and thus reflecting knowledge gained through formal education,
and a Perceptual Organization Index - measuring non verbal skills involving
perceptual organization and visual-spatial planning and organization against
time limits.
VERBAL SUBSCALE
The Verbal Subscale consists of six subtests that require the use of language
without the use of aids or materials, they include:
Vocabulary Subtest - requires defining words presented auditorily and thus involves a conceptual grasp of word meanings and an ability to express oneself through language.
Comprehension Subtest - requires verbal, social judgement formation, the use of practical knowledge, common sense and knowledge of conventional standards of behaviour.
Similarities Subtest – requires verbal ability to use abstract reasoning, and use verbal categories and concepts.
Information Subtest – requires recall of long term memory recall of a wide range of factual knowledge.
Mental Arithmetic – requires attention and concentration to reason numerically and carry out calculations.
Digit Span Subtest - this subtest requires the use of auditory memory and attention to a sequence of numbers presented auditorily.
VISUAL-PERFORMANCE SUBSCALE
The Visual-Performance Subscale consists of seven hand eye tasks completed against
time limits and not requiring the use of language, they include;.
Picture Completion - requires identifying essential from non essential detail in pictures of familiar objects.
Picture Arrangement - requires sequencing a series of pictures to tell a story that reflects non verbal social reasoning.
Block Design - requires analysis and synthesis of abstract two dimensional designs using blocks.
Object Assembly - requires visual spatial planning and visual motor organization and co-ordination to complete familiar objects presented in pieces.
Coding - requires the hand eye co-ordination of copying symbols at speed and motor output with a pencil.
Symbol Search - this is an additional subtest and requires an ability to identify a symbol among a number of distracter symbols.
Mazes - this is an additional subtest and requires the ability to visually plan and execute a route through a maze using a pencil.
The British Ability Scale (BAS), the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Third U.K. Edition (WPPSI 11UK), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Third UK Edition (WAIS 111UK) and the Ravens Progressive Matrices are all other measures of intelligence used according to the age of the individual and their particular assessment needs.
OTHER PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS ADMINISTERED
Some or all of the following tests can be used, selection depends on age, ability and where, from administration of the Wechsler Scale or other ability measures, there is indication that further assessment may be of value.
Memory Skills
Denman Neuropsychology Memory Test - Visual Memory
Copying - this task requires copying a complex abstract design with a pencil.
Short Term Recall - requires reproducing immediately the design previously copied.
Long Term Recall - requires reproducing after a delay, the same design as previously copied.
Denman Neuropsychology Memory Test - Auditory Memory
Short Term Recall - requires listening to a short story and recalling this same
story verbally immediately after hearing it.
Long Term Recall - requires recalling the same story verbally as previously heard but after a delay.
Sentence Repetition - requires repeating exactly sentences of increasing difficulty after a single hearing.
British Ability Scale
Immediate Recall - requires recall of a set of line drawn, familiar objects
visually presented and verbally labelled.
Delayed Recall - requires recall of the same material as for the Immediate Recall task, but after a delay.
Visual-Aural Digit Span Test - requires recall of numbers presented either aurally or visually, requiring accurate written documentation of what was seen or heard.
California Verbal Learning Test – is a memory test that allows for the assessment of a child’s ability to learn through the use of their verbal memory.
Detroit Memory Test – assesses the child’s ability to recall a verbal instruction that has to be carried out with visual supports.
Hand-Eye/Visual-Spatial Skills
Bender Gestalt (Koppitz Version) or Beery Test of Visual Motor Integration -
requires copying a series of two dimensional line drawn designs of increasing
complexity, presented individually and requiring visual motor integration and
co-ordination.
Beery – Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration requires copying a series of two dimensional line drawn designs of increasing complexity, presented on pre-printed sheets and requiring visual motor integration and co-ordination.
Motor Free Visual Perception Test (MVPT) - requires identifying and selecting through pointing, visual items that require visual discrimination, visual orientation and visual memory.
Finger Tapping Test – requires finger tapping for a set period of time to establish the level of fine motor skill required to repeat a pattern of action with the fingers.
ATTAINMENT TESTS *
Wide Range Achievement Test - Revised (WRAT-R) Age range from 5 - 75 years
Reading - requires identifying letters and reading single words.
Spelling - requires writing auditorily presented single words heard as single words.
Mathematics – requires completing a range of mathematical problems (timed)
Holborn or Salford Sentence Reading Tests - require reading sentences out-loud
One Minute Reading Test evaluates the child's accuracy and speed in reading on a list of graded words.
Vernon Warden Reading Comprehension Test - requires silently reading a sentence and selecting by underlining one word from a list of five words to complete the sentence.
Wechsler Objective Reading Dimensions - (Word)
Basic Reading - requires recognising beginning and ending sounds and reading single words.
Reading Comprehension - requires reading passages of increasing difficulty and answering an orally presented, single question on each passage.
Spelling - requires writing single words presented orally as single words and also in a sentence.
Phonological Assessment Battery - (PhAB) consists of five measures of phonological processing (the use sounds of words, rather than their meaning or grammatical category) used to identify an individual's level of phonological processing skills.
British Ability Scale
Basic Number Skills - requires completion of mathematics problems presented
in various formats, but of numerical content only - no reading is required.
One Minute Addition Test & One Minute Subtraction Test - evaluate the child's accuracy and speed in one minute on simple addition and subtraction.
Writing Speed – is assessed using various approaches depending upon the age of the individual.
*Other reading, writing and spelling measures are used according to the age of the individual, and the needs and purpose of the assessment. This is essential where reports are to be provided for courts, tribunals and appeals.
If you would like to make more sense of psychometric testing tests used, follow this up by looking at Organisations + Individuals or Parents, Children+Schools or click on CONTACT US.