Comprehensive Tables for Determination of Strengths and Weaknesses on the WMS-III

Abstract

Many experts in cognitive test interpretation encourage the use of ipsative strength and weakness determinations. In fact, most modern intelligence tests provide tables for immediate determination of cutoff scores for such ipsative comparisons. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition (WAIS-11) is the most popular cognitive test to do so. However, the conjointly developed Wechsler Memory Scales-Third Edition (WMS-III) did not have a sister table to allow for ipsative determination of strengths and weaknesses provided by the publisher. Recently, Ryan, Arb, and Ament (2000) provided tables for ipsative cutoff scores for the WMS-III based upon the total sample. This article presents a continuation of their tables, providing cutoff scores for all normed age groups (which can vary markedly from one age group to another, as well as from the total sample group). The current article also provides a means by which to obtain cutoff scores for supplemental subtests compared to the average of the primary subtests.

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