What do IQ tests test?

What exactly does the VCI test? My impression is that it tests the intellectual ability to reason when taking information in verbally and outputing it verbally. Our school district psychologist and gifted director both think it only tests vocabulary.

My impression is the PRI tests this reason when information is taken in visually and output is motor (fine motor) on two of the scales and verbal on another.

PSI is testing processing speed and can be very slow in highly gifted children and is not a good indicator of gifted intelligence.

WMI is testing the working memory and tests how a child can hold information and manipulate information simultaneously. It again can be very low in highly gifted kids and is not a good indicator of gifted intelligence.


Correct me if I'm wrong...add more information....tell me I'm right-ish:^)!

What are we testing???

I believe only Block Design (PRI) measures output with motor skills (for the PRI). Matrix Reasoning and Picture Concepts are more of a "point to the right response". I'm not sure how much verbal insights are needed, though I've heard that the Matrix Reasoning directions are somewhat complex (on the verbal receiving end).

VCI is a strange bird, if you look closely at it. There is of course the Vocabulary subtest, which one would hope measures vocabulary. But Similarities requires a good grasp of vocabularly as well. Similarities though involves more "thinking". Comprehension is a bit odd, because it tests responses to social situations, and could be argued to be somewhat subjective. I'd love to sit in on that subtest. I'm not convinced it's measuring "intelligence" and have seen it go either way with gifted kids (some nail it, others do more average, both groups equally "gifted".)

I think I would agree that a 130+ VCI does indeed indicate giftedness, as would a 130+ PRI. Our school though too only recognizes the 130+ full scale.

Do you have other scores? Maybe some achievement testing? Out of level aptitude testing like the SCAT or PLUS? Those can compliment an IQ test, and together "prove" the need for services.

It sounds like your talking about WISCIV, yes?
I agree that there is more to VCI than vocabulary. Volcabulary does hold an historical honored role as the single best indicator of general intelligence - but obviously this view is more narrow than my own.

WMI is also called on to access "ADHD" and distractibility - although I think there is some more complicated grouping of subtests called freedom of distractibility. Again, some feel gifted kids can ace these tests and still have significant trouble with distractibility. ((shrug))

We are working on getting further testing. We are having a hard time getting it in a timely fashion.

I just think the school districts "verbally precocious" doesn't do it all for the iq thingy.

I used to administer the WISC III and the WAIS, back in the late 80s early 90s to kids and adults with reading disorders. You are correct, there is only one section that uses fine motor on the PRI. I stand corrected. When I administered the WISC III, I don't think the WMI was a component, or we just didn't use if for the studies we were working on.

The comprehension, is not just social, but a logical reasoning from what I understand. It is somewhat comparable to the MAT for adults; which is a written version of comprehension. It is, as is the WISC, cultually biased, too.

My kids have a major cultural negative on any testing because our home and family life is strongly Indian. So, social awareness is definitely different. It would impact their performance on the subtests that involve analogies or social information.

We are trying to get in with Ruf, but we are also looking into maybe taking them to the Eides or Belin-Blank. It's just that everyone we need to talk to is on vacation!! Literally!!! sigh.

Trinity, yes, the WISC-IV (doesn't everyone speak WISC in their sleep? *wink*)

Sorry for the confusion! The Freedom from Distracibilty index was unique to the WISC-III. I believe the PSI and WMI replace that in the IV, as there are no "combo" indexes. What you get is what you get (optional subtests aside).

Willa, from another post, wasn't comprehension your son's highest score? Or am I thinking of another poster?

I would love to have a true "professional" look at all three of my children!

yup Dottie...comprehension was Mite's highest score. PSI and WMI were the worst.