When New Yorkers talk about the ERB for entry into preK, kindergarten, and 1st grade, they are referring to an exam that consists of subtests from a longer exam, the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI).  This delightful so-called IQ test developed by David Wechsler in 1967 has gone through several iterations including WPPSI-R and the currently administered WPPSI-III.  But now in very big ERB/WPPSI news: the folks at Pearson who publish the WPPSI are hard at work on a new, revised version, called, predictably: the WPPSI-IV.

From Pearson’s website:

The clinical division of Pearson is revising the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI).  The WPPSI consists of a number of subtests that  measure verbal, performance, and processing ability from a cognitive/intellectual perspective.  In this revision, existing WPPSI content is being updated, and new items, subtests, and tasks are being added, including new and revised artwork.

Memo to English-speaking clinical, school, and neuropsychologists, educational diagnosticians, psychometricians, psychometrists, and speech language pathologists–this may be the research job for you!  Here’s your chance to test helpless children–just check Pearson’s website.  Or even better:

If you think you or your children are qualified as an examinee for one of the projects listed below, please let us know of your interest by signing up for the Pearson Research Registry.

No thanks!

All New Yorkers reading this post are wondering:

  • When will the WPPSI-IV replace the WPPSI-III?
  • Since the ERB consists of a subset of WPPSI subtests, how will the ERB itself change?
  • How will the ERB scoring change?
  • Just how effective are my ERB test prep workbooks going to be if the test is changing?

The answer: it’s too early to say.  Since research is going on now, I will be surprised if the WPPSI test changes before 2012.  Certainly the folks at ERB and private school admissions directors will enjoy parents’ uncertainty in the time being, and hope that the changes tamp down on rampant prepping.  However, this is a Spy vs. Spy situation, so look for revised WPPSI test prep products coming soon.