Question

Of the following, the most appropriate use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children®—Fifth Edition (WISC®-V) is

A. comparing students' abilities with those of the general population
B. diagnosing mental disorders
C. determining whether students need placement in self-contained classrooms
D. determining whether students need to be retained at grade level

Answer 1

The WISC-V is best used to compare students' abilities with the general population; it is not explicitly intended for diagnosing mental disorders or directly determining educational placements or grade retention.

Step-by-step explanation:

Of the options provided, the most appropriate use of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children®—Fifth Edition (WISC®-V) is comparing students' abilities with those of the general population. The WISC-V is composed of 14 subtests from five indices such as Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Fluid Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed that culminate in a Full Scale IQ score. This score is compared with standardized norms derived from a representative sample of thousands of children across the country, helping to contextualize a child's performance relative to their same-age peers.

The WISC-V is thus used to identify when a child's cognitive abilities significantly diverge from the norm, which can assist in educational and clinical settings. For example, children who experience learning difficulties or behavioral problems might be assessed to determine whether their challenges could be partly related to an IQ that greatly differs from the mean for their age group. It is not intended for diagnosing mental disorders, making decisions on classroom placement without additional assessments, or determining grade retention without other comprehensive evaluations.