The widely used but no longer reliable WISC-R intelligence test was developed in the 1970s. This test, which has lost its validity and reliability, is now insufficient in measuring intelligence in children and provides families with inaccurate results. Since the norms of WISC-R are outdated, it is no longer healthy or ethical to evaluate children with this test.
With the introduction of WISC-4, more valid and reliable results are now being obtained. The WISC-4 Intelligence Test can only be administered by specialists who hold the WISC-4 Administration Certificate, which is granted exclusively by the Turkish Psychological Association.
Why Should I Have My Child Take an Intelligence Test?
Families should be conscious about why they are having their children take an intelligence test. The important point is not to focus on the score itself or make judgmental assumptions about whether it is high or low, but rather to work in the healthiest way on the areas indicated by the score. The WISC-4 intelligence test, which has recently been adapted to Turkey, measures a child’s intelligence capacity in 5 different domains and provides extensive data for further guidance. These domains are Verbal Comprehension Skills, Perceptual Reasoning Skills, Working Memory Skills, Processing Speed Skills, and the Full Scale IQ, which is the total score derived from these domains.
WISC-4 is a tool used to identify children’s organic problems, determine their talent areas and capacities, and understand their strengths and weaknesses in various skills. Based on the WISC-4 evaluation results, it is possible to determine whether the child has issues with attention, impulsivity, sequencing, memory, planning, and learning, as well as whether they are gifted in certain areas or in need of special education. In addition, the child’s motivation, cooperation, attitude, and emotional state during the test, along with the clinical observations of the administering specialist, provide insight into the child’s emotional condition. At the end of the evaluation, children are directed to corrective and supportive activities if deemed necessary.
WISC-4 can be administered to children between the ages of 6 and 16 years, 11 months. The administration takes between 60 and 100 minutes. After the test, families are informed about the evaluation and interpretation of the results.