Insight on test scores

VCI=Verbal Comprehension Index

PRI=Perceptual Reasoning Index

WMI=Working memory Index

PSI=Processing Speed Index

FSIQ=Full-scale IQ

Each of the above categories has subtests that measure specific things within the categories.  These subtests are averaged to give the score for each category.  Here are the categories and their subtests:

Verbal comprehension measures your child's (1) vocabulary, by the child giving verbal responses to words, (2) Similarities, by a child giving an oral response as to how two concepts are alike or different, (3) comprehension, by the child explaining the "whys and wherefores" to questions, (4) information, by asking the child to recall factual information related to history, science, and geography, as a means of testing long-term memory, (5) word reasoning, by asking a child to make guesses in response to a series of clues, which measures verbal knowledge and reasoning ability.

Perceptual reasoning measures (1) block design, which is your child's ability to copy geometric designs with colored blocks, while being timed, which indicates perception and the understanding of spatial relations, (2) picture concepts, which is your child's ability to select pictures with common themes or characteristics, which measures visual memory, verbal reasoning, and categorization ability, (3) matrix reasoning, which measures your child's nonverbal IQ, and is what is one of the most important parts of the WISC-IV in determining a language disability, (4) picture completion, which measures your child's ability to identify the missing parts of pictures, which measures visual memory and alertness to the environment.

Working memory measures (1) digit span, which measures your child's ability to repeat orally presented numbers both forward (short-term memory) and backward (working memory), (2) letter-number sequencing, which measures your child's working memory, (3) arithmetic, which measures your child's ability to solve oral math problems while being timed.

Processing speed measures (1) coding, which is your child's ability to copy abstract symbols and pictures with pencils and paper, while being timed, (2) symbol search, which measures your child's ability to see if symbols are the same or alike, while being timed, (3) cancellation, which measures the ability of your child to put pictures in one of two categories, while being timed. 

The full scale IQ is, basically, the average of the above four categories. 

Now, to figure out how your child did on the test, you need to look at subtests in the categories.  Subtest scores often are given, without being converted to standard scores, or IQ scores.  There is a conversion table for this, which I will give to you, if you need it, but it's very important to look at subtest scores to have an understanding of your child's strengths and weaknesses.  The scores you have given are just the category scores, and they do not tell enough. 

HTH and has not made everything even more confusing! 

Lillian, thanks for the thorough explanation!

From my daughter's WISC-IV testing in July, PCn was Picture Concepts.  I also noticed that my daughter did not have ALL the subtests you listed above, specifically word reasoning (VCI), picture completion (PRI), arithmetic (WMI) and cancellation (PSI).  Did our neuropsych miss stuff?

Thank you everyone for your help.  I appreciate it.

Thanks Morpheus.  I thought so.

Hi everyone.

My son went thru some testing last April.  She discussed the results with me and I know have copies of the testing results.  Just wondering if someone can offer me any insight on the scores.  In layman's terms of course:)

WICS IV Composit Score

VCI 87, PRI 94, WMI 102 PSI,  118 and FSIQ 98   His subtest on Perceptual Reasoning PCn was a 5! That's not good is it?

The VCI was was marked below average on the scale the Verbal Comprehension SI was a 5 also.

Can anyone offer an assistance in explaining these to me.

Thank you.

I think (but am not positive) you're comparing apples and oranges.  The subtests are scored with a range of 1 to 19 with a 10 being average (50 percent).  Generally, subtest scores are given this number followed by a percentage.  Is that how it is on your report?  I'm guessing a 5 is 25 percent.  The index scores (Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory and Processing Speed), made up of several subtest scores, are assigned numbers with 100 being average (50 percent).  So a Working Memory Index score of 102 is approximately 50 percent, as is a Full Scale Index Quotient (FSIQ) score of 98.

Does that help clarify things for you?  Please post again if you have further questions.

Smallmom, what is the other subtest not used in the calculation of the final IQ?  So, I guess "supplemental" means it gives extra information but is not calculated into the final score, like brief diagnostic tests?  Interesting. 

Personally, I dislike the WISC-IV because it is so language based.  It's beginning to receive a lot of negative publicity among parents of children with language disabilities and parents of children who speak English as a second language.  I met someone in graduate school this year, and she is from the Middle East and has two children with autism.  She out-and-out refuses to allow the school district to test her children with the WISC-IV.  I'm not that bad about it, but I am insisting on a nonverbal IQ test, as well, in the evaluation of my son.

Lillian,

The neuropsych definitely used the WISC-IV, and he gave my daughter the Matrix Reasoning subtest under PRI.  After researching on another website, I realized that the WISC-IV inlcudes 15 total subtests, but 5 (including the 4 not listed in my daughter's neuropsych report) are not used in the final scoring of the IQ test.  Interesting.  I'm sure the neuropsych didn't do the arithmetic subtest because my daughter's a really strong math student.  I still wish he had administered all of the subtests.  I like as much info as I can get.

[QUOTE=momoftwoboyz]No smallmom, your kids are NOT normal! But hey, neither are mine.....or me for that matter! [/QUOTE]

Haha, what is "normal?" Does anybody REALLY have a normal kid. Just some deep thoughts

The other subtest not used in the final calculation of the WISC-IV is the Information under VCI.  The neuropsych administered this subtest, but the score is in parentheses to show it is not used in the calculation.

I don't know how I feel about the WISC-IV.  I have heard that kids are generally scoring lower than they did on the WISC-III.  I know that my daughter scored 16 points lower on the WISC-IV than my son did on the WISC-III.  Of course, they are different kids, and their scores would have been different in any event.  I just have a sense ("mommy gut") that their scores would have been closer had they taken the same version of the WISC.  Not that it really matters -- it is, after all, just an IQ test.

Yes, it is just an IQ test, but I do not understand with all the controversy surrounding it why it has been adopted by every diagnostician, psychologist and neuropsych across the nation.  At least, most neuropsychs use another IQ test, as well.