We have meticulously selected the following tests to comprehensively evaluate key cognitive and academic skills. Some of these tests are composite, meaning they assess multiple related abilities, while others focus on specific skills. Each test is designed to measure crucial aspects of learning and cognitive function, ensuring that we capture a detailed picture of a student’s strengths and areas for development.
Visual Ability
Description of Cognitive Area
Assesses the ability to interpret and use visual information effectively.
Test Description
Spatial Relations Test: Participants select multiple shapes that together form one holistic shape.
What It Measures
Visual processing and spatial awareness.
Implications of a Low Score
Low scores may indicate deficits in visual-spatial integration, which can affect tasks requiring spatial orientation.
Verbal Ability
Description of Cognitive Area
Tests the understanding and use of language.
Test Description
Synonyms Test: Multiple-choice test identifying synonyms.
What It Measures
Language comprehension and vocabulary usage.
Implications of a Low Score
Low scores may indicate limited verbal reasoning and vocabulary knowledge.
Working Memory
Description of Cognitive Area
Measures the capacity to hold and manipulate information over short periods.
Test Description:
Numbers Reversed Test: Participants repeat sequences of numbers in reverse order.
What It Measures
Short-term memory and cognitive flexibility.
Implications of a Low Score
A low score suggests impaired working memory capacity, impacting the ability to perform complex tasks that require holding and manipulating information simultaneously.
Processing Speed
Description of Cognitive Area
Measures the speed at which a participant can process and respond to information.
Test Descriptions:
Pattern Recognition Test: Participants identify sequences where specific items (e.g., a ball followed by a dog) appear, using a mouse or trackpad.
Sentence Reading Fluency True/False Test: Participants answer true/false questions under time constraints to measure reading fluency.
*General time taken in scale and across assessment.
What It Measures
Visual scanning, pattern recognition, and reaction time.
Implications of a Low Score: Low scores suggest difficulties in rapid visual processing and reaction, which can affect learning efficiency, particularly in fast-paced or timed situations.
Phonological Awareness
Description of Cognitive Area
Measures sensitivity to the sound structure of language.
Test Descriptions:
Syllables Test: Identification and manipulation of syllables in words.
Matching Sounds Test: Matching similar sounding words or sounds.
What It Measures
Phonological processing and manipulation.
Implications of a Low Score
Deficits in phonological processing indicated by low scores can lead to difficulties in decoding, which is critical for reading fluency and spelling accuracy.
Reading comprehension
Description of Cognitive Area
Measures the ability to understand and interpret text.
Test Description:
Reading Comprehension Test: Participants identify correct words within a passage.
What It Measures
Text comprehension and vocabulary understanding.
Implications of a Low Score
Low scores may reflect poor comprehension skills, affecting the ability to integrate and infer meaning from text.
Reading Speed
Description of Cognitive Area
Assesses how quickly and accurately a participant can read text.
Test Description:
Sentence Reading Fluency True/False Test: Participants answer true/false questions under time constraints to measure reading fluency.
What It Measures
Reading efficiency and speed.
Implications of a Low Score
Low scores indicate slow reading speed, which can limit the ability to cope with age-appropriate reading demands.
Spelling
Description of Cognitive Area
Evaluates the ability to spell words correctly.
Test Description:
Typed Spelling Test: Participants hear a word and then type it correctly.
What It Measures
Spelling accuracy and orthographic processing.
Implications of a Low Score
Low scores may reflect a general difficulty with orthographic coding, affecting the ability to spell words correctly in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts.