Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale | Fifth Edition

Is the WAIS®-5 quicker to administer than the WAIS®–IV

Yes. Substantial efforts were made during development to achieve the shortest testing time possible while offering greater construct coverage and flexibility. As a result, administration time is shorter than that of the WAIS–IV. On the WAIS-5, administration time for the 7 FSIQ subtests is approximately 45 minutes and approximately 60 minutes for the 10 primary subtests. The FSIQ can be obtained about 15–30 minutes faster than on the WAIS–IV.

What are the recommendations for using the WISC®–V or the WAIS-5 when evaluating examinees aged 16?

Because the age ranges of the WAIS-5 and the WISC–V overlap for examinees aged 16, examiners can choose the more appropriate measure for an individual within this age range.

For examinees suspected of below average cognitive ability or examinees with clinical diagnoses, the WISC–V should be administered due to its lower floor at this age range. However, for examinees of above average ability, the WAIS-5 should be considered due to its slightly higher ceiling on some subtests. The choice between the WAIS-5 or the WISC–V with an examinee of average ability requires clinical judgment from the practitioner. Examinees who are primarily Spanish speaking with limited English proficiency should be given the WISC®–V Spanish (Wechsler, 2016) to reduce the confounding effects of language on the composite scores. When evaluating an examinee with motor impairment, the WAIS-5 Nonmotor Index provides an estimate of cognitive ability based on subtests with no motor production requirements.

While the WAIS-5 is linked to a measure of achievement (e.g., the WIAT®-4), the WISC–V provides links to both the WIAT-4 and the KTEA™–3 due to the greater focus on learning disability identification in the WISC–V age range. The additional link for the WISC–V may be helpful if the KTEA–3 is the selected achievement measure. The reasons for referral, familiarity with the tests, and knowledge of the examinee's characteristics (e.g., attention span) should also be taken into consideration.

Publications such as the current American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, and Assessment of Children: Cognitive Foundations provide guidance about the use of obsolete tests. Most practitioners make the move to the new edition within 8–12 months of the release. When making the decision, consider your own practice situation and the importance of the evaluations you conduct. For example, in cases where the older edition is used, and an independent educational evaluation is requested, a school system may be at a greater risk of having results called into question. The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing states that if an older version of a test is used when a newer version is published or made available, test users are responsible for providing evidence that the older version is as appropriate as the new version for that particular use.

How many stimulus books are in the WAIS-5?

The WAIS-5 has three stimulus books.

How many response booklets are in the WAIS-5?

The WAIS-5 has only one response booklet. You will need one record form and one response booklet for each paper administration.

Will digital assets be available on Q-global®?

Yes, both the Administration and Scoring Manual and the Technical and Interpretive Manual will be available in the Q-global Resource Library for purchase, as well as the Response Booklet (for demonstration purposes) and all three Stimulus Books.

What is Q-global?

Q-global is a web-based scoring and reporting platform that offers accessibility from any device connected to the Internet. It allows for quick and automatic organization of examinee information and the ability to generate scores and produce accurate and detailed results. Reports are available in a .pdf or .doc format.

When you purchase Q-global scoring, can you access it from any computer connected to the Internet or only one computer in the office?

Because Q-global is web-based, you may access it from any device that is connected to the Internet.

What is Q-interactive®?

Q-interactive is a 1:1 iPad®-based testing system that helps administer, score, and report on our commonly used clinical assessments. You use the first iPad to access the test administration instructions, score and record responses, and control visual stimuli. The examinee uses the other iPad to view and respond to stimuli. Q-interactive testing does not require a Wi-Fi connection during administration.

To use Q-interactive®, do I need to purchase iPad devices?

Administering the WAIS-5 on Q-interactive does require the purchase or rental of two iPad devices if you do not already have them.

Was the WAIS-5 co-normed with the WMS®-5, as it has been with previous editions?

Like their predecessors, the WAIS-5 and the forthcoming Wechsler Memory Scale® (5th ed.; WMS®–5; Wechsler, in press) research programs overlapped during the standardization stages to allow for co-norming. The linkage provides a more complete picture of cognitive functioning in the areas of intellectual ability and memory and enables a direct comparison of intelligence and memory through normative information. The linkage additionally enables prediction of memory scores on the basis of intellectual ability scores and interpretation of memory scores in the context of intellectual ability scores. Information regarding the co-normative sample, correlations between measures, and analyses relevant to concurrent use of the two scales (e.g., ability-memory discrepancy comparisons and ability-memory contrast scores) will be reported in the WMS-5 Technical and Interpretive Manual (Wechsler, in press).

When will the WMS-5 be available?

The WMS-5 is expected to be available for purchase in the latter half of 2025. More information will be shared when the final publication date is confirmed.