Woodcock-Johnson Test of Achievement

WJ IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities

Costs ranges from

$590 - $1,449

WJ IV Tests of Achievement

- Available in 3 forms (A, B, and C)

- Form B includes Canadian pages to update selected tests for use in Canada (ex: metric math, Canadian coins)

- Form B is the most widely used

- Form C is a "brief battery" corresponding to a subset of the tests in the larger A/B batteries

Scoring

- Contains 7 tests

- Take approximately between 35 to 45 minutes to complete

- Paper and pencil format

- Questions vary in style from multiple choice to short answer

- Each kit includes the WJ Compuscore and Profiles Program (WCPP)

- Enter the raw scores, and the software quickly and accurately provides all derived scores for tests and clusters and eliminates hand-scoring errors

- Summary report contains brief narrative description of test performance & incorporates observations from the Test Session Observations Checklist

- Repot & table of scores can be easily imported into a word-processing program for integration into a more extensive report

Scoring

- Same concept as WIAT III

- If beginning subtest at item 1, this is your basal.

- If you start further into the subtest, reversal rule is applied

- The ceiling the is the 6 highest incorrect in a row

- The basal is the 6 lowest correct in a row

- If provided with more than one response, score only the last answer provided (correct or incorrect)

Raw scores are converted to:

Standard scores

Percentile ranks

Grade & age equivalents

- Contains 11 tests

- Take approximately between 55 to 65 minutes to complete

- Paper and pencil format

- Questions vary in style from multiple choice to short answer

- Measures several aspects of academic achievement

- Wide variety of relatively brief tests

Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement

- Definitions of the cognitive abilities measured by each of the tests are primarily based on the Cattell-Horn-Carrol Theory of Cognitive Abilities

- Examiners are permitted to select the tests they need to assess abilities in which they are interested

- Normed on 8,818 children & adults (4,783 in grades K-12) in a well designed, national sample

- Same participants provided norms for both tests (WJ Tests of Cognitive Abilities & WJ Tests of Achievement) so the ability and achievement tests can be compared directly

Reliability

- Strong reliabilities of 0.80 or higher; several are 0.90 or higher

- The reliability characteristics of the WJ Tests meet or exceed basic standards for both individual placement and programming decisions

- Specific Reliabilties can be found in the examiners manuals as

well as the publishers website

Validity

The WJ Tests have adequate validity evidence.

- Content validity : the extent to which a measure represents all facets of a given social construct

- Construct validity: the degree to which a test or other measure assesses the underlying theoretical construct it is supposed to measure (i.e., the test is measuring what it is purported to measure)

- Concurrent validity: the extent to which the results of a particular test or measurement correspond to those of a previously established measurement for the same construct

Overview

- Offered in paper & pencil format

- Take approximately 5 minutes each

- Administered in schools, psychologist's offices, and test centers

Why?

13. Word Attack

reading nonsense words (ex: plurp, fronkett)

aloud to test phonetic word attack skills

17. Reading Vocabulary

orally stating synonyms and antonyms for

printed words and orally completing written

analogies (ex: elephant : big :: mouse :___)

7. Spelling

writing letters and words from dictation

8. Writing Fluency

writing simple sentences, using three given

words for each item and describing a

picture, as quickly as possible for 7 minutes

11. Writing Samples

writing sentences according to directions

- Diagnosing learning disabilities

- Determine discrepancies

- Planning educational and individual programs

- Used for research and growth assessment

- Identify exceptional children including:

High incidence disabilities like head injury, ADHD

Low incidence disabliities such as visual impairment

and Autism

Gifted students (including those with a learning

disability)

- Higher education students benefit from the WJ Tests as well

Pros & Cons

16. Editing

orally correcting deliberate error in typed sentences

18. Spelling of Sounds

written spelling of dictated nonsense words

22. Punctuation and Capitalization

formal writing test of these skills

5. Calculation

involves arithmetic computation with paper & pencil

6. Math Fluency

speed of performing simple calculations for 3 mins

10. Applied Problems

oral, math "word problems", solved with paper&pencil

18. Quantitative Concepts

oral questions about mathematical factual

information, operations, signs, etc.

Overview

3. Story Recall

the student answers oral questions ut stories that were dictated to

the student

4. Understanding Directions

the student follows oral directions to point to different parts of

pictures

12. Story Recall- Delayed

the student answers questions about the stories heard earlier

14. Picture Vocabulary

the student points to named pictures or names pictures

15. Oral Comprehension

the student provides anto- or synonyms to spoken words &

completes oral analogies (ex: elephant is to big & mouse is to

___)

19. Academic Knowledge

oral questions about factual knowledge of science, social studies,

& humanities

21. Sound Awareness

rhyming, deletion, substitution, and reversing of spoken sounds

Subtests

1. Letter-Word Identification

naming letters and reading words aloud

from a list

2. Reading Fluency

speed of reading sentences and

answering "yes" or "no" to each

9. Passage Comprehension

orally, supplying the missing word removed from each

sentence or very brief paragraph (ex: "woof," said the

_______, biting the hand that fed it."

• Cons
• lengthy
• questionable reliability (timed tests, length between administration)
• no pages specifically for score and analysis (ex: WISC-IV/WAIS-IV/WIAT-III)
• range of sample size
• no recommendations

Pros

• can be used to test ages 2 -90
• has an extended version to further test academic areas
• has good norms - updated
• test book and stimulus book are all together in one book
• has observation checklist, which helps with note taking
• sample size used
• comprehensiveness

- Series of intelligence tests including two batteries: WJ IV Tests of Achievement & WJ IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities

- Developed in 1977 by Richard Woodcock & Mary E. Bonner Johnson

- Revised in 1989, 2001, and 2014 (now known as the WJ IV)

Overview

- ages 2 through adulthood (norms utilize individuals in their 90's)

- Grades K through Graduate school

- Includes a Standard Battery (Tests 1-10) and the Extended Battery (Tests 1-10 as well as 11-20)

- Co normed set of tests for measuring general intellectual ability, specific cognitive abilities, oral language, and academic achievement

Sample Report

https://faculty.unlv.edu/sloe/Courses/EPY%20710/Sample%20Reports/Sample%20Report%201_WJ-III.htm

References

Woodcock-Johnson Test Series