Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

A clinician's overview of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the most widely used individually administered IQ test for adults. What it measures, how it is structured, and its use in India.

What it is

The WAIS is the adult counterpart of the WISC, developed by David Wechsler and published by Pearson (currently WAIS-IV, with WAIS-5 released internationally). It gives a Full Scale IQ and several index scores describing distinct cognitive domains.

As with the WISC, the profile of strengths and weaknesses across the indices is usually more useful than the single Full Scale IQ, informing questions about cognitive functioning, learning difficulties, and change after injury or illness.

What it covers

Who it is for

It is used with people aged roughly 16 and above, for questions about intellectual functioning, cognitive strengths and weaknesses, intellectual disability, giftedness, and cognitive change after neurological events.

It is administered one-to-one by a trained psychologist. It is not a group or online test.

How it is administered

The psychologist administers verbal and performance subtests, some timed. Raw scores are converted using age norms into index scores and a Full Scale IQ.

The materials are standardised and secure, so only qualified professionals may purchase and administer them, and the items are never published.

Use in India

In India, the WAIS is used in clinical, forensic and neuropsychological settings, though clinicians weigh language, education and cultural familiarity when applying Western norms to Indian adults. Where a culture-reduced measure is preferred, Raven's Progressive Matrices or Indian performance tests may be used alongside or instead.

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Citation and sources

Wechsler, D. (2008). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (4th ed.). Pearson.

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (overview) — Wikipedia

This page is general educational information for professionals, not clinical or legal advice, and not a substitute for training in the instrument. ElloMind does not provide, sell or reproduce copyrighted test materials.