What Does the Verbal Comprehension Index Measure?

At its core, the verbal comprehension index measures a child’s ability to access his vocabulary, express himself in a meaningful manner, and apply reasoning skills to information presented verbally. The verbal comprehension index measures crystallized intelligence and general knowledge, so children who perform well are frequently thought of as bright and intelligent because they appear to be a storehouse of information.

The verbal comprehension index measures a child’s capacity to apply word knowledge to reasoning skills to help in understanding his environment. The capacity to access and find words is assessed on the verbal comprehension index. Scores may be affected by cultural opportunities, knowledge, and information that is available to the child. The verbal comprehension index also measures the ability to retrieve information, vocabulary, and verbal-reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Performance on the verbal comprehension index is related to reading, math, and writing achievement in children after the age of 7. HIgh scores may partly reflect  opportunities for learning and enrichment. Children with low scores on the verbal comprehension index may experience difficulty with understanding oral language or verbal expression and may struggle to find the words to communicate meaning. Children with low scores on the verbal comprehension index may display problems in conveying basic knowledge about their world even though they have adequate memory to recall what they have learned. They may also have difficulty with expressing themselves with their words or may struggle in basic problem-solving and reasoning skills.