Five in, three out, one demoted
One course summary also lists Symbol Search among the new subtests. The publisher's report names Picture Concepts, Letter-Number Sequencing, Matrix Reasoning, Word Reasoning and Cancellation.8,2
When a subtest is spoiled, what can stand in?
Supplemental subtests can replace a core subtest that was interrupted or spoiled, but only up to two substitutions per Full Scale IQ and one per index.4 Tap a supplemental subtest to swap it in for a core subtest in the same index.
Supplemental assignments follow a course summary of the WISC-IV.8,1 Which core subtest each substitute may replace isn't specified in our sources, so it's shown here as a swap for the first core subtest in its index.
2,200 children, 11 age groups
References
- [1]Interpretation of the WISC-IV Working Memory Index (thesis). Marshall University Digital Scholar.mds.marshall.edu
- [2]WISC-IV Technical Report #1: theoretical model and test blueprint. Pearson (PDF).pearsonassessments.com
- [3]Wikipedia contributors. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (accessed 30 Sept 2026).en.wikipedia.org
- [4]Williams, P. E., Weiss, L. G., & Rolfhus, E. (2003). WISC-IV Technical Report #3: Clinical validity. Pearson.pearsonassessments.com (PDF)
- [5]Dombrowski, S. C., Canivez, G. L., & Watkins, M. W. (2017). Factor Structure of the 10 WISC-V Primary Subtests Across Four Standardization Age Groups. Contemporary School Psychology, 22, 90-104.doi.org
- [6]Wechsler, D. (2003). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition. PsycTESTS record, American Psychological Association.doi.org
- [7]Williams, P. E., Weiss, L. G., & Rolfhus, E. (2003). WISC-IV Technical Report #2: Psychometric properties. Pearson.pearsonassessments.com (PDF)
- [8]Wechsler, D. (2014). Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition. PsycTESTS record, American Psychological Association.doi.org
Related historical tests
The WISC-R kept the verbal/performance structure of the 1949 original. The WISC-IV abandoned it three decades later.
The adult Wechsler ran IQs and indexes side by side in 1997. The WISC-IV took the next step and dropped the verbal/performance IQs.
Three of the 1949 subtests (Object Assembly, Mazes and Picture Arrangement) were finally dropped in the WISC-IV.
Also released in 2003. The SB5 organised its factors around CHC theory, while the WISC-IV cited neurocognitive models of information processing.
The CAS moved entirely to processing scales. The WISC-IV's indexes moved partway in that direction.