eight subtests from the WIAT, changed the name of the Basic Reading subtest to Word Reading, and added one new subtest, Pseudoword Decoding. These subtests formed five composite scores: Reading, Mathematics, Written Language, Oral Language, and Total.

Planning and conceptual development of the WIAT-III began in 2005. Several key goals and primary considerations were identified for the revision of the WIAT-II and development of the WIAT-III, which are discussed in the following section. Pilot testing of new subtests and items was conducted in 2006 and then a national tryout of the full WIAT-III was conducted in 2007. The WIAT-III was standardized in the fall and spring of 2008.

CHANGES FROM WIAT-II TO WIAT-III

The WIAT-III preserves and updates many of the same subtests included in the WIAT-II while expanding content coverage in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and mathematics. The primary goals for the third edition were to add new subtests to measure phonological awareness and early reading skills, reading fluency, and math fluency, improve ease of administration, simplify administration rules,

128 ESSENTIALS OF KTEA™-3 AND WIAT®-III ASSESSMENT

minimize testing time, improve content coverage, floors, and ceilings in order to maximize diagnostic sensitivity, and provide a research-based, theoretically supported analysis for the identification of learning disabilities.

Age Range

The WIAT-III age range of 4–50 years is narrower than the WIAT-II, which extended to 85 years. A more restricted age range allows the WIAT-III to focus primarily on the assessment needs of the school-age, adolescent, and college or young adult populations, with some extension of content appropriate for middle aged adults.

New and Modified Subtests

Brief descriptions of the WIAT-III subtests are provided in Rapid Reference 3.1, which is organized by content area. Five subtests are new to the WIAT-III: Early Reading Skills, Oral Reading Fluency, Math Fluency–Addition, Math Fluency– Subtraction, and Math Fluency–Multiplication. The Early Reading Skills subtest items are adapted from the early items from the WIAT-II Word Reading and Reading Comprehension subtests. In addition, the components of the former Written Expression subtest now form distinct subtests: Alphabet Writing Fluency, Sentence Composition, and Essay Composition.

111111111 Several subtests retain the basic structure and administration format as in the WIAT-II but were updated with standard revisions, including new or modified items, art, and/or administration instructions. These subtests include Spelling, Numerical Operations, Math Problem Solving, Word Reading, and Pseudoword Decoding. The latter two subtests each include new supplemental scores.

Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension also feature new enhancements. Listening Comprehension now includes Receptive Vocabulary and Oral Discourse Comprehension. Receptive Vocabulary was modified to include updated art and a new ceiling item. Oral Discourse Comprehension was adapted from the Listening Comprehension subtest from

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the original WIAT and updated with new floor items and an audio CD administration of item stimuli to improve administration reliability. The Oral Discourse Comprehension component replaces Sentence Comprehension from the WIAT-II. The Expressive Vocabulary component was moved to the Oral Expression subtest. For Reading Comprehension, updates were made to many of the comprehension questions and scoring rules and one new passage was added. The subtest no longer includes the supplemental scores from the WIAT-II (target words, reading speed).

Oral Expression now includes Expressive Vocabulary, Oral Word Fluency, and Sentence Repetition. Expressive Vocabulary includes updated art, simplified item definitions, and new floor and ceiling items. Oral Word Fluency includes updated administration directions and scoring rules and one new item (naming colors). Sentence Repetition includes new items and updated administration directions and scoring rules. Sentence Repetition is now administered to all grade levels. Visual Passage Retell and Giving Directions from the WIAT-II subtest were dropped due to the time required to administer and score these components.

The Alphabet Writing Fluency, Sentence Composition, and Essay Composition subtests are each based upon components of the WIAT-II Written Expression subtest. These components were updated and expanded to form distinct subtests that yield separate scores, allowing for improved interpretation of performance strengths and weaknesses. New administration directions and scoring rules are provided for

Alphabet Writing Fluency, Sentence Composition, and Essay Composition. Unlike

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the WIAT-II subtest, Essay Composition includes one essay prompt for examinees in grades 3 through 12, and the same scoring rules are used across grades.

Rapid Reference 3.1

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Brief Description of WIAT-III Subtests

Subtest Description

Oral Language Subtest

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(Continued)

Subtest Description

Oral Language Subtest

WIAT®–III 131

(Continued)

Note: Subtest descriptions were adapted from Table 1.1 of the WIAT-III Examiner’s Manual (Pearson, 2009b, pp. 4–5).