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FSIQ and GAI Interpretation Flashcards

7 cards from real WAIS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. An examinee with ADHD earns an FSIQ of 92 and a GAI of 106. What is the most clinically sound interpretation?

    Answer: The GAI better represents core intellectual ability because WMI and PSI are disproportionately affected by ADHD

    ADHD often selectively impairs working memory and processing speed, so the GAI may better represent underlying cognitive potential in these cases.

  2. On the WAIS-IV normative tables, FSIQ scores between 90 and 109 are classified as:

    Answer: Average

    The Average classification spans FSIQ scores of 90–109 in the WAIS-IV classification system.

  3. What is the primary reason the FSIQ may be an underestimate of cognitive ability for an individual with a significant motor speed impairment?

    Answer: Processing Speed subtests heavily penalize individuals with motor difficulties, lowering PSI and subsequently FSIQ

    PSI subtests (Coding, Symbol Search) require rapid fine-motor output, so motor impairments artificially suppress PSI and pull down the FSIQ.

  4. The confidence interval reported around an FSIQ score is based on which psychometric property of the test?

    Answer: The standard error of measurement (SEM)

    Confidence intervals are constructed using the SEM, which quantifies the amount of error inherent in any single obtained score.

  5. Which index score contributes most heavily to the FSIQ variance in the WAIS-IV factor structure?

    Answer: Verbal Comprehension Index

    The VCI has the highest g-loading among the four WAIS-IV indexes and therefore contributes most to FSIQ variance.

  6. A psychologist is asked to estimate 'premorbid' intellectual functioning after a traumatic brain injury. Which score is most commonly used as a proxy?

    Answer: Word Reading or Vocabulary-based estimate

    Word reading and vocabulary scores are relatively resistant to neurological insult and are commonly used to estimate premorbid IQ.

  7. When reporting FSIQ to a non-specialist audience, which descriptor system does the WAIS-IV manual recommend?

    Answer: The WAIS-IV qualitative descriptor system (e.g., Average, High Average)

    The WAIS-IV manual provides a specific qualitative descriptor system that replaces older, stigmatizing labels like 'Borderline Defective.'