THE WECHSLER SCALES

Proponent: David Wechsler

- He developed the Wechsler Scale in 1939

- Includes successive edition of three scales

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (for Adults) 16-74 years

Wechsler Intelligent School for Children 6-16 years old

Wechsler Pre-school & Primary Scale of Intelligence (for Pre-school children)

- It is used as a measurement of general intelligence.

- It has been investigated as a possible aid in psychiatric diagnosis.

- Can be classified into two subtests.

Two Classification of Tests

1. Verbal- Six subtests

o Physically handicapped

2. Performance- five subtests

o Illiterate

ANTERCEDENTS & EVOLUTION OF THE WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE

The first in a series of tests developed by Wechsler was the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence
Scale. Its primary objective is to provide an intelligence test suitable for Adults.

Some tests tend to handicap the older person to overemphasis on speed to meet the various
objectives the original Wechsler-Bellevue was advanced. The Wechsler Bellevue was replaced in 1955 by
the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). In 1981, the WAIS was revised or WAIS-R. The Wechsler
Intelligence scale for children (WISC was developed in 1949. The scale was basically a downward
extension of the Wechsler-Bellevue. The revised version of WISC, The WISC-R was released in 1974. The
Wechsler Pre-school and Primary scale of intelligence (WPPSI) was developed in 1968. The WPPSI is in
part of a downward extension of the WISC.

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R)

Published in 1955, The WAIS comprises eleven subtests. Six Subtests are grouped into a verbal scale, and
the remaining five make up the performance scale. A person who is taking the WAIS-R receives a full-
scale IQ score, a Verbal IQ score, and a performance IQ score, as well as scaled score on each of the
subject. The eleven subtests which make up the WAIS-R are described briefly below.

VERBAL SCALE
1. Information. Contains 29 items covering knowledge of general information. The information
covered in this test is the type which an adult could be reasonably expected to acquire in our culture.

2. Digit Span. The examiner reads aloud a list of three to nine digits, which the subject must
repeat. The test measures short-term memory.

3. Vocabulary. A list of 35 words is presented both orally and in writing. The subject must define or
explain each word.

4. Arithmetic. Contains 14 simple problems which can typically be solved without paper and pencil.
(e.g., how many inches are there in 4 ½ feet.)

5. Comprehension. The subject responds to 16 open-minded questions by explaining why certain

things should be done, or by describing what he or she would do in certain situations.

6. Similarities. The subject responds to 14 open-minded questions by telling how two things are
alike.

PERFORMANCE SCALE

7. Picture Completion. Is compromised of 20 cards containing pictures in which some critical detail
is missing. The subject must tell what is missing.

8. Picture Arrangement. Ten sets of three to six cards when arranged in their proper order, tell a
story.

9. Block Design. A set of nine cards with geometric designs in red and white correspond to a set of
wooden blocks whose sides are painted red, white, or red and white.

10. Object Assembly. This test consists of four flat card board representation of common objects
which have been cut up to form a jigsaw puzzle, which the subject must assemble.
11. Digit symbol. Contains nine symbols paired with nine digits. The subject scores is the number of
symbols correctly written within 1 ½ minutes.

THE WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE SCALE FOR CHILDREN (WISC-R)

The WISC-R consists of twelve subtests, divided into two scales, the verbal scale and the Performance
scale, as shown below.

VERBAL SCALE:

1. Information

2. Similarities

3. Arithmetic

4. Vocabulary

5. Comprehension

6. Digit Span (an alternate test which may be substitute for one of the verbal tests)

PERFORMANCE SCALES:

7. Picture Completion

8. Picture Arrangement

9. Block Assembly

10. Object Assembly

11. Coding

12. Mazes (an alternate test which may be substituted for coding.)