Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence - Second Edition

The WASI–II, a revision of the WASI, provides a brief, reliable measure of cognitive ability for use in clinical, educational, and research settings. This revision maintains the format and structure of the WASI while offering new content and improvements to provide greater clinical utility and efficiency.

Features & Benefits

• Updated normative sample
• Four- and two-subtest versions allow you to control the administration time and depth of assessment
• Parallel items and subtests and strengthened links to the WISC–IV and the WAIS–IV maximise clinical utility and efficiency in cognitive assessment practice
• The flexibility to substitute WASI-II scores for the corresponding subtest scores on the WISC-IV or WAIS-IV if screening indicates further comprehensive assessment is needed
• Simplified administration and scoring

Uses & Applications

Psychologists and researchers can use this quick and reliable measure when screening for intellectual disabilities or intellectual giftedness, or to:

• Screen to determine if in-depth intellectual assessment is needed
• Reassess after a comprehensive evaluation
• Estimate a range of FSIQ scores on comprehensive batteries
• Assess cognitive functioning of individuals referred for psychiatric evaluations
• Measure IQ scores for vocational, rehabilitation, or research purposes

Content & Administration

The WASI–II builds on the strength of the WASI by providing updated versions of the WASI Vocabulary, Similarities, Block Design and Matrix Reasoning subtests, flexible administration options (i.e., four- or two-subtest versions), and strengthened connections with the WISC–IV and WAIS–IV.

Four-Subtest Form
(Vocabulary, Similarities, Block Design, Matrix Reasoning) provides:

• FSIQ–4 score: Estimate of general cognitive ability
• VCI score: Measure of crystallised abilities
• PRI score: Measure of nonverbal fluid abilities and visual motor/coordination skills

Two-Subtest Form
(Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning) provides:

• FSIQ–2 score: Estimate of general cognitive ability

Strengthened Connections with the WISC–IV and WAIS–IV

The strengthened connections between the WASI–II and the comprehensive Wechsler intelligence scales result in a stronger empirical foundation for using the instruments together, and offer practical benefits that help you save time. The WASI–II subtests and items have been revised to more closely parallel their counterparts in the WISC–IV and WAIS–IV. Linking studies have been conducted with the WAIS–IV and the WISC–IV to establish equivalency and to improve comparability with the comprehensive Wechsler scales’ composite scores. Taken together, these improvements enhance the joint use of the WASI–II and the comprehensive scales.

If after screening, the WASI–II results indicate comprehensive intellectual assessment is needed, the WASI–II subtest scores can be substituted for the four corresponding subtest scores on the WISC–IV or WAIS–IV, which makes re-administration of those four subtests from the WISC–IV and WAIS–IV unnecessary.

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Psychometric Information

• Updated norms: The standardisation of the WASI–II was conducted from January 2010 to May 2011 on a sample of approximately 2,300individuals aged 6–90.
• Improved floors and ceilings
• Linking studies with the WISC–IV and the WAIS–IV to:
  Provide prediction intervals from WASI–II FSIQ to the comprehensive FSIQ;
  Provide supporting data and guidelines for substituting WASI–II subtests for parallel subtests in the comprehensive scales.

Use in Australia and New Zealand

The Australian and New Zealand office of Pearson Clinical Assessment has been involved in the development and pilot phases of the WASI-II since 2008. As a result of this involvement the language and cultural differences of Australia and New Zealand have, where possible, been taken into consideration in the WASI-II. The WASI-II standardisation was undertaken in the U.S.

WASI-II and WAIS-IV Australian and New Zealand Language Adapted Edition

The WAIS-IV Australian and New Zealand Language Adapted Edition and the WASI-II both use U.S. norms.  WASI-II Substitution can therefore be undertaken with the WAIS-IV in accordance with the procedures set out in the WASI-II Administration and Scoring Manual and the Technical Report.

WASI-II and WISC-IV Australian Standardisation Edition

The WISC-IV Australian Standardisation Edition (WISC-IV Australian) uses Australian norms while the WASI-II uses U.S. norms. Supplementary analysis suggested that the limited use of U.S. WASI-II norms within the WISC-IV Australian is likely to have a negligible impact on test scores, please refer to the Technical Note below for full details. WASI-II Substitution can therefore be undertaken with the WISC-IV Australian in accordance with the procedures set out in the WASI-II Administration and Scoring Manual and the Technical Report provided below.

WASI-II Technical Note: Using WASI-II with WISC®-IV Australian

Technical Reports

• Using the WASI–II with the WAIS–IV
• Using the WASI-II with the WISC-V