Types of IQ Tests for Special Education Students

Public schools across America depend on IQ tests to evaluate students for special education services.

In order for a child to qualify for special education services, a battery of tests are given to evaluate ability, achievement and development. The tests used to determine a child's ability are known as an intelligence quotient tests (IQ tests). A variety of IQ tests are used across the nation, such as the Stanford-Binet, Cognitive Abilities Test, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales-Fifth Edition

The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (SB5), first developed by Alfred Binet in 1905, is used to determine the cognitive abilities of individuals ages two to 85 years old. Schools may use the test to determine the diagnosis of mental retardation, learning disabilities, developmental delays and placement in academically gifted education programs. The test measures five areas of intelligence: fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual-spatial processing and working memory. Verbal and performance scores are combined to produce a full-scale score. The median full-scale score, or the average IQ, is 100.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition

David Wechsler's Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) is used to identify cognitive ability, learning disabilities, attention disorders, traumatic brain injury and gifted intelligence in individuals ages six to 16 years. The test measures four areas of intelligence: verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed. Scores are provided in these four areas as well as a full-scale score.

Cognitive Abilities Test-Form 6

The Cognitive Ability Test-Form 6 (CogAT), developed in 1954, is used to determine students' abilities in reasoning and problem solving. The problem-solving section is divided into verbal, quantitative and nonverbal sections. Unlike most typical IQ tests, the CogAT tests for developed abilities, instead of innate abilities, and is primarily used to determine giftedness. Scores are reported for the three sub-tests and as a composite score.

Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition

The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (KABC-II) is used to measure cognitive ability in individuals ages three to 18 years. The KABC-II boasts an unprecedented cultural fairness with two test models, the Cattell-Horn-Carroll for mainstream students and the Luria model for students with language discrepancies. Scores are reported for five categories of cognitive ability.

References

• Great Schools: Special Education Evaluation: An Overview
• Extreme Intellect: IQ Test List: Most Widely Used and Recognized IQ Tests

Resources

• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: 5th Edition (SB5)
• Overcoming Learning Disabilities: Intelligence Test: The WISC-IV
• Riverside Publishing-Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), Form 6
• Pearson: Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (KABC-II)