The WPPSI-R: You can't judge a test by its colors

Abstract

The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) is a thorough revision of the 1967 WPPSI, with expanded age range (3-7 years), new colorful materials, new item types for very young children, a new icebreaker subtest (Object Assembly), and a comprehensive manual. The test's strengths are its attractive pictures, strong evidence of construct validity, excellent reliability, and superb standardization sample. The revised battery's weaknesses are the heavy reliance on bonus points for Block Design and Object Assembly, the cumbersome scoring system for Geometric Design, the relative instability over time of some subtests (especially nonverbal), and its user-unfriendliness. Administration difficulties come from directions to the examiner that are too detailed and confusing, and directions to the child that include difficult concepts. © 1990.