WPPSI - Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Subtest Substitution Guidelines Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When calculating the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) for a 6-year-old child using the WPPSI-IV, what is the maximum number of core subtest substitutions permitted?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Zero; substitutions are not allowed for the FSIQ.
Correct answer: Two
For the WPPSI-IV age band 4:0-7:7, a maximum of two substitutions from supplemental subtests are permitted for deriving the FSIQ. However, a critical rule is that only one substitution can be made per index.
Question 2: An examiner is assessing a 5-year-old child. During the administration of the Information subtest, a significant interruption invalidates the results. To derive the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), which of the following is the appropriate designated substitute subtest?
- Picture Naming
- Receptive Vocabulary
- Vocabulary (Correct answer)
- Similarities
Correct answer: Vocabulary
For the 4:0-7:7 age band, Vocabulary is the designated supplemental subtest that can be used to substitute for either of the core VCI subtests, which are Information and Similarities.
Question 3: An examiner invalidates the Bug Search subtest for a 7-year-old and substitutes it with Cancellation to derive the Processing Speed Index (PSI). Later, the Animal Coding subtest is also spoiled. Why is the examiner prohibited from substituting another subtest for Animal Coding to calculate the PSI?
- Cancellation can only be used to substitute for Bug Search.
- The PSI cannot be prorated under any circumstances.
- No other supplemental subtests exist for the PSI.
- Only one substitution is permitted per index score. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Only one substitution is permitted per index score.
A fundamental guideline for the WPPSI-IV is that a maximum of one substitution is allowed to derive any specific primary index score. Since one substitution has already been made for the PSI, a second one is not permissible.
Question 4: According to standard WPPSI-IV guidelines, which of the following is NOT considered a valid reason to substitute a core subtest?
- The examiner believes the supplemental subtest better reflects the child's ability. (Correct answer)
- The child has a physical impairment, such as a motor deficit, that hinders performance on the core subtest.
- The administration of the core subtest was spoiled by an external event like a fire drill.
- The child has a significant language impairment that makes the core subtest an invalid measure.
Correct answer: The examiner believes the supplemental subtest better reflects the child's ability.
Substitution should only occur when a core subtest is invalidated or when specific, documented child characteristics (e.g., physical or language impairment) make the core subtest inappropriate. Substituting based on an examiner's belief that a child will perform better or that it is a 'better estimate' without a standard, valid reason violates standardized procedure.
Question 5: A key difference in the FSIQ substitution rules between the two WPPSI-IV age bands is the total number of substitutions allowed. For a child in the younger age band (2:6-3:11), what is the maximum number of substitutions permitted to calculate the FSIQ?
- One (Correct answer)
- Two
- Zero
- The same as the older age band.
Correct answer: One
The substitution rules for the FSIQ are more restrictive for the younger age band (2:6-3:11). Only one core subtest substitution is permitted when deriving the FSIQ, in contrast to the two allowed for the 4:0-7:7 age band.
Question 6: A 4-year-old child is administered the WPPSI-IV. The examiner invalidates the Matrix Reasoning subtest. Which of the following is the correct procedure regarding substitution for the Fluid Reasoning Index (FRI)?
- Substitute with the Object Assembly subtest.
- Substitute with the Vocabulary subtest.
- Substitute with the Picture Concepts subtest.
- No substitution is possible; the FRI cannot be calculated. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: No substitution is possible; the FRI cannot be calculated.
For the 4:0-7:7 age band, the Fluid Reasoning Index is composed of two core subtests: Matrix Reasoning and Picture Concepts. There are no designated supplemental or substitute subtests for this index. Therefore, if a core FRI subtest is invalid, the index score cannot be calculated via substitution.
WPPSI - Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence Subtest Substitution Guidelines Questions and Answers
When calculating the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) for a 6-year-old child using the WPPSI-IV, what is the maximum number of core subtest substitutions permitted?