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Documentation · 2008

WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition): Modern adult IQ standard

Current dominant adult intelligence test (until WAIS-5 in 2024). 10 core subtests + 5 supplemental, organized into 4 indices: Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, Processing Speed. Norms based on 2200 US adults age 16-90. Administered millions of times per year.

Read About the Test

About the WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition)

WAIS-IV (2008) is the current dominant adult intelligence test (about to be supplanted by WAIS-5, released 2024). It refined the WAIS-III structure: 10 core subtests and 5 supplemental subtests, organized into 4 Index scores: Verbal Comprehension Index, Perceptual Reasoning Index (renamed from Perceptual Organization), Working Memory Index, Processing Speed Index. Together they produce a Full Scale IQ.

WAIS-IV dropped two subtests from WAIS-III (Picture Arrangement, Object Assembly) deemed redundant with newer measures, and added Visual Puzzles and Figure Weights. The norm sample of 2,200 adults aged 16-90 stratified by 2005 US Census variables provides the most refined adult IQ norms ever published.

WAIS-IV is administered approximately 5 million times per year worldwide. It is the standard for adult intellectual disability diagnosis, gifted assessment, neuropsychological evaluation, and disability determination. Pearson holds active copyright; clinical use requires purchase of test kits with strict examiner-qualification requirements.

Copyright note: WAIS-IV items are copyrighted (Pearson). Clinical use requires examiner qualification and licensed test kits.

The 4 subtests

#1
Verbal Comprehension Index Similarities, Vocabulary, Information (+ Comprehension supplemental).
Copyrighted
#2
Perceptual Reasoning Index Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, Visual Puzzles (+ Figure Weights, Picture Completion supplemental).
Copyrighted
#3
Working Memory Index Digit Span, Arithmetic (+ Letter-Number Sequencing supplemental).
Copyrighted
#4
Processing Speed Index Symbol Search, Coding (+ Cancellation supplemental).
Copyrighted

Read the Original

The following are legitimate free or borrowable full-text sources for this test or its primary documentation:

Sample Items (Illustrative)

Items are presented in a structured format, often requiring verbal or non-verbal responses. Scoring is based on accuracy and, in some cases, speed of response.

Sample 1 · Verbal Comprehension Index: Similarities
In what way are a pen and a pencil alike?
Example response: Both are writing instruments.
Sample 2 · Perceptual Reasoning Index: Block Design
Recreate this pattern using the colored blocks provided.
Example response: The participant arranges the blocks to match the given pattern accurately.
Sample 3 · Working Memory Index: Digit Span
Repeat the following numbers in reverse order: 3, 7, 4, 9.
Example response: 9, 4, 7, 3
Sample 4 · Processing Speed Index: Symbol Search
Identify if either of the symbols on the left matches any of the symbols on the right as quickly as possible.
Example response: The participant quickly identifies and marks the matching symbol.

These are illustrative samples, not actual items from the protected test.

Source

All test materials and historical content on this page are transcribed from:

Wechsler, D. (2008). WAIS-IV Technical Manual. San Antonio: NCS Pearson.

WAIS-IV is the most-used adult IQ test in the world. Items are copyrighted by NCS Pearson; we document format and significance.

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