Assessment Tools

In general, the tests are of two types: Measures of Intelligence (often referred to as IQ) and Measures of Achievement or Particular Skills. Intelligence is sometimes regarded as what a child is born with and achievement as what he or she does with it.

Although the historical distinction between intelligence and achievement is being severely challenged by new research on intelligence, many educational practitioners continue to make the distinction.  We have continued to use the distinction in the categories below.

 * Includes Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (ages 3-7), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (ages 6-16) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (ages 16-74).

There are other assessments available for measuring characteristics other than intelligence or achievement. One of these, used for assessing “behavior,” is the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale.

The details of most of the tests, of course, are not public information and the tests must be administered by a trained person. However, generalized information is available. For further information click on any or all of four related links: Tests of Intelligence, Tests of Achievement, FAQ’s on Assessment or Frequently asked technical questions on Assessment. 

Before leaving this subject, you should know that standards and guidelines have been developed for evaluating the tests that your child may be given. If you have reason to question the test results, you should inquire at least about how it was administered and whether it is designed to measure the skills or abilities that the test is being used for.

If you are a parent whose child has language differences, you might also ask whether the language or idiom used by the test makes it inappropriate for the conclusions being reached.

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