Verbal Comprehension Subtests Flashcards
6 cards from real WPPSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Verbal Comprehension Subtests flashcards as text
Which of the following subtests is a primary measure of the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) for a 3-year-old child taking the WPPSI-IV?
Answer: Receptive Vocabulary
For the younger age band (2:6-3:11), the primary subtests that constitute the Verbal Comprehension Index are Receptive Vocabulary and Information. Similarities and Vocabulary are VCI subtests for the older age band.
A 5-year-old child is administered the Similarities subtest. The examiner asks, 'How are a dog and a cat alike?' This task is primarily assessing the child's:
Answer: verbal concept formation and abstract reasoning.
The Similarities subtest requires the child to describe how two objects or concepts are alike, which directly measures their ability to form verbal concepts and engage in abstract thinking. Information assesses factual knowledge, Object Assembly assesses visual-perceptual skills, and Comprehension assesses social judgment.
An examiner is preparing to assess a 4-year-old child with suspected expressive language difficulties. Which Verbal Comprehension subtest on the WPPSI-IV includes items that allow for a nonverbal (pointing) response to accommodate this issue?
Answer: Similarities
The WPPSI-IV was updated to include picture items in the Similarities and Comprehension subtests for the older age band (4:0-7:7) to allow children with expressive language issues to indicate their answers by pointing, thereby assessing their verbal concept formation without requiring a spoken response.
The Information subtest of the WPPSI-IV primarily measures a child's:
Answer: capacity to acquire, retain, and retrieve general factual knowledge.
The Information subtest assesses a child's fund of general knowledge acquired from their environment and long-term memory. It involves answering questions about a broad range of topics. Defining words is assessed by the Vocabulary subtest, social understanding by the Comprehension subtest, and fluid reasoning by subtests like Matrix Reasoning.
In the context of the WPPSI-IV for the 4:0-7:7 age band, which pair of subtests are both core contributors to the Verbal Comprehension Index?
Answer: Information and Similarities
For the older age band (4:0-7:7), the two primary, or core, subtests that comprise the Verbal Comprehension Index are Information and Similarities. Receptive Vocabulary is a primary VCI subtest for the younger age band, while Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Picture Naming are supplemental or ancillary for the VCI.
A child scores highly on the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) but struggles significantly with the Visual Spatial Index (VSI). This pattern suggests a relative strength in:
Answer: accessing and applying acquired word knowledge.
The Verbal Comprehension Index measures a child's ability to access and apply acquired word knowledge, verbalize meaningful concepts, and express themselves using words. A high score indicates strength in this area, whereas struggles with the VSI (which involves tasks like Block Design) would point to difficulties with visual-spatial skills.