IQ Testing
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
The WISC V Test (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children) is an IQ test administered to children between ages 6 and 16 by school districts and psychologists. The objective of the exam is to understand whether or not a child is gifted, as well as to determine the student’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
The fifth version of this test is done individually with the child and clinician and can be done in standard paper-and-pencil administration or on a tablet, digital format. This test includes a total of 16 subtests; however, the standard number of subtests given is 7. Raw scores on these subtests are converted into scaled scores and then the sum of scaled scores of similar tests is converted into a Primary Index Scale.
Though this test can be used as an IQ test for children, it is most often used as a clinical tool to measure individual cognitive abilities. The WISC V is often used among a battery of other tests to assess and identify cognitive function and ability ranges which can help identify giftedness, learning disabilities, or general strengths and weaknesses a child may have in their cognitive abilities. Learning disabilities can be identified by comparing results from an intelligence test like the WISC with the scores from an achievement test like the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test to identify gaps between academic achievement and a child’s level of intellectual functioning.