Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III)

Psychologist Brittany performing a WISC assessment in Perth

At Headway, we specialise in providing comprehensive assessments using the Wechsler Individual Achievement Tests (also known as WIAT-III Assessments) to help educators, clinicians, parents and individuals gain a thorough understanding of a person’s academic strengths and areas for improvement.

Our services are designed to offer detailed insights into various aspects of academic performance, including reading, mathematics, written language, and oral language skills.

By utilising these assessments, we aim to support individualised educational planning, inform of intervention strategies, and ultimately enhance student outcomes.

Developed by David Wechsler, this assessment provides a framework for evaluating and understanding an individual’s educational needs, ensuring that they can receive tailored support to reach their full potential.

What is the WIAT-III?

The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III) is a comprehensive assessment tool widely used by psychologists and other professionals to evaluate an individual’s academic skills and abilities across various domains such as reading, writing and mathematics.

It can be performed on children, adolescents, and adults.

The WIAT-III (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test) provides information regarding how a person is performing in each area, compared to age-matched or grade-matched peers.

WIAT-III scores allow us to see if a person is performing as expected for their age and/or grade. If there is a discrepancy –  that is, their academic scores are lower than what we would expect for someone their age – then there may be indications of a learning disorder.

What’s Involved in a Child WIAT-III Assessment?

Initial Assessment Interview; 1 hour (with parent) Gathers history of concerns, other details to help explore diagnosis and helps rule out other disorders.

Please bring copies of school reports or allied health reports to the appointment.
Assessment Session; allow 2 hours

(with child)

 WIAT-III administered – completing tasks to understand the child’s academic skills and knowledge.
Interpreting & Reporting Interpretation of the scores and report writing. Report will not be released until all fees to this point are paid.
Feedback – Optional; 30 minutes (with parent) Optional: Discuss assessment findings and recommendations.

 

 

When a WIAT-III is completed for an adult, the above steps apply, and the adult attends the Interview session, the Assessment session, and an optional Feedback session.

Please contact our friendly team for more information on the WIAT-III Assessment process.

Common Reasons for Referral

  • Identify a child’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses.
  • Identify children with intellectual giftedness as part of entry into advanced education programs.
  • Identify children with intellectual disability. If a child’s results indicate an intellectual disability may be present, an additional adaptive behavioural assessment will need to be administered before a diagnosis can be provided.
  • Identify children with a specific learning disorder. If a child’s performance on the WISC is high but their performance at school is low, this may indicate a specific learning disorder. If a child’s results indicate a specific learning disorder, additional tests may need to be administered before a diagnosis can be provided.
  • Psychiatrists may refer a child as part of an assessment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Comprehensive Educational Assessments (WIAT-III + WISC); children only

Our Comprehensive Educational Assessments include assessment of a child’s cognitive abilities (using the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children) and academic performance (using the Weschler Individual Achievement Test).

It is a requirement that these two assessments occur on separate days, to avoid fatigue impacting the results.

What’s involved in a Child Comprehensive Educational Assessment?

Initial Assessment Interview; 1 hour

(with parent)

 Gain background information on child’s history (developmental, academic, social, etc).

Please bring copies of school reports or allied health reports to the appointment.
WISC Administration; allow 2 hours (with child) WISC administered – Completing tasks and playing games to understand how the child’s brain works.
WIAT Administration; allow 2 hours (with child) *must be done on a different day to the WISC administration WIAT administered – completing tasks to understand the child’s academic skills and knowledge.
Interpreting & Reporting Interpretation of the scores and report writing. Report will not be released until all fees to this point are paid.
Feedback – Optional; 1 hour (with parent) Optional: Discuss assessment findings and recommendations.
Psychologists working with children in Perth conducting a WIAT Wechsler Individual Achievement Test during their counselling session

Why Choose Headway?

At Headway, we are dedicated to helping parents, educators, and caregivers better understand a child’s academic strengths and areas that may require additional support.

Our commitment is to provide accurate and insightful assessments that contribute to informed decision-making and the tailored support needed to nurture each child’s unique potential.

All WIAT-III assessments are performed in-house by our experienced psychologists Brittany Reynolds and Chelsea Bramich. They aim to create an assessment experience that is effective and enjoyable.

FAQs

The WIAT-III is commonly used to identify strengths and weaknesses in academic skills, assist in educational planning, and evaluate progress in response to intervention.

The WIAT-III measures an individual's academic skills and achievement across various subjects. It assesses areas such as:

  • Reading: including literal and inferential understanding of written text.
  • Writing: evaluating spelling and grammar, writing sentences, and spontaneous written expression.
  • Mathematics: mathematical problem-solving and calculation skills.
  • Oral Language: including listening comprehension, oral expression, and the speed, accuracy and flow of reading.

The administration time for the WIAT-III typically takes between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the number of subtests administered and the individual's grade level and pace.

The test is designed to be flexible, allowing the examiner to select specific subtests based on the needs of the assessment. Generally, a full battery of tests, including all subtests, may take around 1.5 hours to complete, therefore we suggest allowing 2 hours.

The WIAT-III should be administered by a qualified professional, such as a:

  • Registered Psychologist: often specialising in educational or clinical psychology.
  • School Psychologist: typically trained in educational assessments and interventions.
  • Other Accredited Professional: individuals with specialised training in administering and interpreting psychological and educational tests.

These professionals are trained to administer, score, and interpret the test results accurately, ensuring that the assessment is used effectively to support educational and developmental goals.

  • Standard Scores: These are the main (and most common) scores and represent how a person’s performance compares to that of a representative group.
    The higher the score, the better the individual’s performance.
  • Percentile Ranks: These scores indicate the percentage of individuals in the group who scored below a particular score. For example, a percentile rank of 85 means the individual performed better than 85% of the people in the group.
  • Age/Grade Equivalents: These scores show the typical age or grade level at which a student would be expected to achieve the same score.
    Accurate interpretation requires integrating these scores with other assessment data, educational history, and observation to form a complete picture of the individual’s academic abilities and needs.

A learning disorder diagnosis is often diagnosed by identifying a discrepancy between a person’s cognitive abilities and academic performance.

To demonstrate this discrepancy, a cognitive assessment using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) will also need to be completed.

If assessing a learning disorder for an adult, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) would be used.

If a child’s performance on the WISC is high but their performance on the WIAT is low, this would support a diagnosis of a specific learning disorder.

Additionally, in order to receive a learning disorder diagnosis, at least six months of targeted intervention (e.g., individual or small group target learning support) will need to be provided to the child or adolescent, and there needs to be evidence that learning difficulties have persisted following this intervention.

When all the above has been completed, a learning disorder diagnosis can be provided.

There are several Wechsler tests, each designed to assess different aspects of cognitive and academic functioning. The main Wechsler tests include:

  1. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS): For assessing adult intelligence.
  2. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC): For assessing children's intelligence.
  3. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI): For assessing the intelligence of preschool and early primary-aged children.
  4. Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT): For measuring academic skills in individuals aged from 4 to 85.
  5. Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI): A shorter, less comprehensive test for assessing intelligence.

Each of these tests serves specific purposes and age groups, providing a range of tools for evaluating cognitive and academic abilities.

Looking for a WIAT-III Assessment in Perth?

If you’re looking for a WIAT Wechsler Individual Achievement Test in Perth, look no further! Book an appointment online or contact our friendly team for more information.

As a private practice, we welcome direct enquiries, as well as referrals from GP’s and other medical specialists.

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