The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence–Third Edition (WPPSI-III), described in this entry, is designed to measure the general cognitive ability of young children from 2 years 6 months (2–6) to 7 years 3 months (7–3). The WPPSI-III measures verbal skills, including knowledge of words and general information, reasoning using pictorial cues, and solving problems with blocks and puzzles. The WPPSI-III also measures general language ability including receptive and expressive vocabulary.

The original Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) was published in 1967 in response to the development of educational programs for young children such as Head Start. These programs raised awareness of the need for accurate assessment of young children and evaluation of the effectiveness of early childhood education. The WPPSI was ...