Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence®

Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence®—Second Edition (WASI®–II) is now available.

The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) provides a quick, reliable measure to assess an individual's verbal, nonverbal, and general cognitive functioning in any setting. It helps screen for both intellectual disability and giftedness.

The WASI is standardized, yields three scores (Verbal, Performance, Full Scale IQ), and is linked to the WISC®–IV and the WAIS®–III. While it offers more information than other typical brief intelligence tests, it is not meant to replace more comprehensive measures of intelligence such as the WISC–IV and WAIS–III.

Clinicians use the WASI to help:

• Screen to determine the need for an in-depth evaluation
• Re-assess after a comprehensive evaluation and before a re-evaluation
• Estimate IQ scores for large samples when the administration of a full battery is not feasible or necessary
• Assess cognitive functioning for individuals referred to psychiatric evaluations
• Measure IQ scores for vocational, rehabilitation, or research needs
• Estimate a range of FSIQ scores on comprehensive batteries
• Compare results to the WF:AS^CDN to determine a student's academic strengths and needs based on an ability-achievement discrepancy analysis

VIQ and PIQ Provide More In-depth Information

• VIQ—Vocabulary and Similarities subtests measure crystallized abilities
• PIQ—Matrix Reasoning measures nonverbal fluid abilities, Block Design measures visuomotor/coordination skills

Items Parallel to Full Wechsler Counterparts

• Block Design—consists of a set of 13 modelled or printed two-dimensional geometric patterns that an examinee replicates within a specified time limit using two-colour cubes
• Matrix Reasoning—similar to the WAIS–III Matrix Reasoning, this subtest represents the traditional type of a nonverbal task: The examinee looks at a picture of geometric shapes and either names or points to the correct answer from five response options
• Similarities—parallel to the WAIS–III subtests, but including low-end picture items to extend the floor of the scale

Two Flexible Formats

WASI and WF:AS^CDN

Use the WASI with the Wechsler Fundamentals: Academic Skills–Canadian (WF:AS^CDN) for complete insights into both ability and achievement skill levels.