The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV).

Ages: 6 to 16 years, 11 months.

The WISC-IV is an individually administered clinical instrument for assessing cognitive ability of children between the ages of 6 years through to 16 years 11 months.

The test provides subtest and composite scores which represent intellectual functioning in specific cognitive domains as well as a composite score which represents general intellectual ability.

The main areas assessed in the WISC-IV are:

• Verbal Comprehension– measures verbal concept formation, verbal reasoning, and knowledge acquired from one’s environment.
• Perceptual Reasoning– measures perceptual and fluid reasoning, spatial processing, and visual-motor integration.
• Working Memory– requires working memory processes to manipulate orally presented verbal sequences. Or to simply recall orally presented sequential information.
• Processing Speed– requires visual perception and organisation, visual scanning, and the ability to use hands and eyes together efficiently. The attention factor is two minutes.

Strengths or Weakness in any of these areas have implications for learning. The results from this assessment are used to help make recommendations for an individual. Often an individual may need more time to process information, or they may need to have accommodations for areas of weakness.

The WISC-IV assessment takes from 1 to 1 ½ hours to complete. The report and scoring of results takes a qualified psychologist from 2 to 4 hours to complete.