Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) is an intelligence test designed for children ages 2 years 6 months to 7 years 3 months developed by David Wechsler in 1967. It is a descendent of the earlier Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children tests.

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It has since been revised twice, in 1989 and 2002.

The current revision, WPPSI–III, is published by Harcourt Assessment. It provides subtest and composite scores that represent intellectual functioning in verbal and performance cognitive domains, as well as providing a composite score that represents a child’s general intellectual ability (i.e., Full Scale IQ).

Subtests

The WPPSI–III is composed of 14 subtests.

• Block Design - While viewing a constructed model or a picture in a Stimulus Book, the child uses one- or two-colour blocks to re-create the design within a specified time limit.
• Information - For Picture Items, the child responds to a question by choosing a picture from four response options. For Verbal Items, the child answers questions that address a broad range of general knowledge topics.
• Matrix Reasoning - The child looks at an incomplete matrix and selects the missing portion from 4 or 5 response options.
• Vocabulary - For Picture Items, the child names pictures that are displayed in a Stimulus Book. For Verbal Items, the child gives definitions for words that the examiner reads aloud.
• Picture Concepts - The child is presented with two or three rows of pictures and chooses one picture from each row to form a group with a common characteristic.
• Symbol Search - The child scans a search group and indicates whether a target symbol matches any of the symbols in the search group.
• Word Reasoning The child is asked to identify the common concept being described in a series of increasingly specific clues.
• Coding - The child copies symbols that are paired with simple geometric shapes. Using a key, the child draws each symbol in its corresponding shape.
• Comprehension - The child answers questions based on his or her understanding of general principles and social situations.
• Picture Completion - The child views a picture and then points to or names the important missing part.
• Similarities - The child is read an incomplete sentence containing two concepts that share a common characteristic. The child is asked to complete the sentence by providing a response that reflects the shared characteristic.
• Receptive Vocabulary - The child looks at a group of four pictures and points to the one the examiner names aloud.
• Object Assembly - The child is presented with the pieces of a puzzle in a standard arrangement and fits the pieces together to form a meaningful whole within 90 seconds.
• Picture Naming - The child names pictures that are displayed in a Stimulus Book.

Scoring

The WPPSI–III provides Verbal and Performance IQ scores as well as the Full Scale IQ. In addition, the Processing Speed Quotient (known as the Processing Speed Index on previous Wechsler scales) can be derived for children aged 4:0 - 7:3, and a General Language Composite can be determined for children in both age bands (2:6–3:11 & 4:0–7:3). Children in the 2:6-3:11 age band are administered only five of the subtests: Receptive Vocabulary, Block Design, Information, Object Assembly, and Picture Naming.

Quotient and Composite scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Subtest scaled scores have a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. For Quotient and Composite scores, below 70 is Extremely Low, 70-79 is Borderline, 80-89 is Low Average, 90-109 is Average, 110-119 is High Average, 120 and above is Superior. This is true for all Wechsler Scales.

See also

• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)