How Does the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Measure IQ?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryWAIS vs. Stanford BinetVersions of the WAISBenefitsLimitationsCurrent Uses

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

History

WAIS vs. Stanford Binet

Versions of the WAIS

Benefits

Limitations

Current Uses

Close

Below, learn more about the history of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the different versions of the test, how it is used, and its benefits and limitations.

History of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

Wechsler was dissatisfied with what he believed were the limitations of the Stanford-Binet intelligence test. Among his chief complaints about that test was the single score that emerged, its emphasis on timed tasks, and the fact that the test had been designed specifically for children and was therefore invalid for adults.

As a result, Wechsler devised a new test during the 1930s, known as the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scales. The test was later revised and became known as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, or WAIS.

The goal of his original test was to help identify children who needed specialized help in school. Binet felt that a variety of individual factors, including a child’s level ofmotivation, could influence test scores.

WAISIntroduced in 1955Developed to address weaknesses in Stanford-BinetCreated to be used with adultsContains some timed subtestsProvides a number of different scoresStanford-BinetDeveloped in 1939Developed for use with childrenEmphasizes timed testsProduces only a single, general intelligence score

WAISIntroduced in 1955Developed to address weaknesses in Stanford-BinetCreated to be used with adultsContains some timed subtestsProvides a number of different scores

Introduced in 1955

Developed to address weaknesses in Stanford-Binet

Created to be used with adults

Contains some timed subtests

Provides a number of different scores

Stanford-BinetDeveloped in 1939Developed for use with childrenEmphasizes timed testsProduces only a single, general intelligence score

Developed in 1939

Developed for use with children

Emphasizes timed tests

Produces only a single, general intelligence score

In a sense, Wechsler’s test was a return to many of the ideas that Binet had also espoused. Instead of giving a single overall score, the WAIS provides a profile of the test-taker’s overall strengths and weaknesses.

One benefit of this approach is that the pattern of scores can also provide useful information. For example, scoring high in certain areas but low in others might indicate the presence of a specific learning disability.

How the WAIS Is Scored

On the WAIS, Wechsler instead compared the scores of the test-taker to those of others in their general age group. The average score is fixed at 100, with approximately two-thirds of all scores falling somewhere between 85 and 115.

On the current version of the WAIS,test scoresthat fall between 90 and 110 are consideredaverageintelligence. Many other intelligence tests later adopted Wechsler’s method, including the modern version of the Stanford-Binet.

There have been four different versions of the WAIS over the years. These include:

Current Version: The WAIS-5

The current version of the WAIS will be released in the fall of 2024 and includes seven core subtests as well as ten supplemental subtests. Additionally, the WAIS-5 test provides five major index scores.

Scores ProvidedFluid ReasoningProcessing SpeedVerbal ComprehensionVisual-Spatial AbilityWorking Memory

Scores Provided

Fluid ReasoningProcessing SpeedVerbal ComprehensionVisual-Spatial AbilityWorking Memory

The WAIS surpassed the Stanford-Binet in use during the 1960s. Today, it is the most frequently used intelligence test worldwide for both adolescents and adults.

Benefits of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale is widely used for a number of reasons. Some benefits include the following:

Limitations of the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale

While the WAIS can be a useful clinical tool, it does have some limitations and drawbacks. Some of these include:

Today, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale continues to be one of the most widely used clinical instruments. In addition to being used to measure adult and adolescent intelligence, clinicians use the test to:

Recap

Final Thoughts

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Denney DA, Ringe WK, Lacritz LH.Dyadic short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV.Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology.2015;30(5):404–412. doi:10.1093/arclin/acv035Loring DW, Bauer RM.Testing the limits: Cautions and concerns regarding the new Wechsler IQ and Memory scales.Neurology. 2010;74(8):685–690. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181d0cd12Pearson.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 5th Edition.Hartman DE.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS IV): Return of the gold standard.Applied Neuropsychology.2009;16(1):85-87. doi:10.1080/09084280802644466Carlozzi NE, Kirsch NL, Kisala PA, Tulsky DS.An examination of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) in individuals with complicated mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Clin Neuropsychol. 2015;29(1):21-37. doi:10.1080/13854046.2015.1005677Pearson.WAIS-IV: Spanish versions suitable for Mexico and for Spain are available.Cicinelli G, Nobile E, Brighenti S, et al.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults – Fourth Edition profiles of adults with autism spectrum disorder.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2022;31:e67. doi:10.1017/S2045796022000506

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Denney DA, Ringe WK, Lacritz LH.Dyadic short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV.Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology.2015;30(5):404–412. doi:10.1093/arclin/acv035Loring DW, Bauer RM.Testing the limits: Cautions and concerns regarding the new Wechsler IQ and Memory scales.Neurology. 2010;74(8):685–690. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181d0cd12Pearson.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 5th Edition.Hartman DE.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS IV): Return of the gold standard.Applied Neuropsychology.2009;16(1):85-87. doi:10.1080/09084280802644466Carlozzi NE, Kirsch NL, Kisala PA, Tulsky DS.An examination of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) in individuals with complicated mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Clin Neuropsychol. 2015;29(1):21-37. doi:10.1080/13854046.2015.1005677Pearson.WAIS-IV: Spanish versions suitable for Mexico and for Spain are available.Cicinelli G, Nobile E, Brighenti S, et al.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults – Fourth Edition profiles of adults with autism spectrum disorder.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2022;31:e67. doi:10.1017/S2045796022000506

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Denney DA, Ringe WK, Lacritz LH.Dyadic short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV.Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology.2015;30(5):404–412. doi:10.1093/arclin/acv035Loring DW, Bauer RM.Testing the limits: Cautions and concerns regarding the new Wechsler IQ and Memory scales.Neurology. 2010;74(8):685–690. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181d0cd12Pearson.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 5th Edition.Hartman DE.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS IV): Return of the gold standard.Applied Neuropsychology.2009;16(1):85-87. doi:10.1080/09084280802644466Carlozzi NE, Kirsch NL, Kisala PA, Tulsky DS.An examination of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) in individuals with complicated mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Clin Neuropsychol. 2015;29(1):21-37. doi:10.1080/13854046.2015.1005677Pearson.WAIS-IV: Spanish versions suitable for Mexico and for Spain are available.Cicinelli G, Nobile E, Brighenti S, et al.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults – Fourth Edition profiles of adults with autism spectrum disorder.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2022;31:e67. doi:10.1017/S2045796022000506

Denney DA, Ringe WK, Lacritz LH.Dyadic short forms of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV.Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology.2015;30(5):404–412. doi:10.1093/arclin/acv035

Loring DW, Bauer RM.Testing the limits: Cautions and concerns regarding the new Wechsler IQ and Memory scales.Neurology. 2010;74(8):685–690. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181d0cd12

Pearson.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 5th Edition.

Hartman DE.Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale IV (WAIS IV): Return of the gold standard.Applied Neuropsychology.2009;16(1):85-87. doi:10.1080/09084280802644466

Carlozzi NE, Kirsch NL, Kisala PA, Tulsky DS.An examination of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) in individuals with complicated mild, moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Clin Neuropsychol. 2015;29(1):21-37. doi:10.1080/13854046.2015.1005677

Pearson.WAIS-IV: Spanish versions suitable for Mexico and for Spain are available.

Cicinelli G, Nobile E, Brighenti S, et al.Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults – Fourth Edition profiles of adults with autism spectrum disorder.Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2022;31:e67. doi:10.1017/S2045796022000506

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