Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Overview

In case you wonder, WAIS is an abbreviation of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Adult is included in the name because the Wechsler family also includes tests for children, for example the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). A score of 100 is commonly used as the center of standardized IQ scales, which is one reason scores from different well-normed intelligence tests can be discussed on a similar scale.

Important clarification: The original version of this site said, “We are using WAIS in this project.” That wording was too strong. FreeIQTest.info is an independent 20-question IQ-style reasoning quiz. It does not reproduce WAIS questions, administration, scoring or norms and should not be used as a substitute for a professional assessment.

So this is part of the brief history of the IQ test and its metamorphosis over time. What about the real value of knowing your IQ? Professionally administered cognitive testing can sometimes contribute useful information about educational needs, strengths, weaknesses and cognitive performance. A single online score, however, cannot by itself predict a person's education, job performance, income or potential.

When you understand a score, the interesting part is looking at the kinds of tasks that felt easy or difficult rather than treating one number as a complete description of intelligence. Practice can improve familiarity with particular exercises, but that is not the same as proving a permanent change in general intelligence.

Our test is independently created and does not have any affiliation with the organizations or companies that publish professional intelligence tests. It is made online, for educational and entertainment purposes, and it is free to use.

Historical verbal and performance groupings

Older Wechsler editions were often described using verbal and performance groups. You can read the site's preserved historical summaries of verbal subtests and performance subtests.