Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test

The Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition (KBIT-2) is a brief, easy to administer method of measuring intelligence in children and adults between the ages of 4 and 90 years. The first edition of the test was developed by (and named after) Alan S. Kaufman in 1990. The second edition was released in 2004 with Nadeen L. Kaufman as the second author. The test is made up of two verbal and one non-verbal subtest. Kaufman was also responsible for the development of the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA) as well as the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KBAC), which are in their third and second editions respectively. Both the KTEA and KBAC were designed to be used in conjunction with the KBIT or the KBIT-2 to provide a more accurate, holistic measurement of one’s intelligent quotient (IQ). The primary vendor of the KBIT-2 is Pearson Clinical (Australia), WPS: Educational & Psychological Assessments for Clinicians (United States) and Ann Arbor Publishers (United Kingdom). The duration of the test can range from 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the age of the subject.

History and Context

An intelligence quotient (IQ) is a numerical representation of a human's intelligence. The purpose of IQ measurement was initially to identify students who required educational assistance; however, its uses have since become far more widespread. A significant number of IQ testing methods have been developed since Alfred Binet introduced the first in 1905 (the Binet-Simon test). Today, in the English-speaking world, there are several general-purpose methods for IQ measurement, as well as a range of tests designed to apply in specific situations (for example – children and young adults). The Kaufman Brief Intelligence test was first released in 1990, followed by a second edition (KBIT-2) in 2004. As the name suggests, the test was specifically designed to be administered in a short period of time to generate a quick, reliable estimate of IQ.

Revisions

The first edition of the KBIT was released in 1990 by psychology experts Alan and Nadeen Kaufman. The second edition, the KBIT-2, was released in 2004 by the same experts and claims to give users "the same practical and affordable test with enhanced benefits" The additions and improvements of the KBIT-2 include the following:

• The verbal test was updated so that the vocabulary items no longer demand reading and spelling ability
• More attractive test items including a full range of colours, designed to appeal to children and those reluctant to take the test
• Small changes that made the test more consistent with the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement-Second Edition (KTEA-2), specifically for the 26-29-year-old age category.

Technical Information

The KBIT-2 Verbal subtest must be administered in English. However, if applicants provide the correct response in another language, credit for the question will still be given. The Riddles subtest also provides the correct Spanish language responses.

Current Test Format

Depending on the age of the subject, the KBIT-2 takes between 15-30 minutes to complete. The test is comprised of two broad sections – verbal and a nonverbal. The verbal section contains 60 items and is comprised of two subtests: ‘Verbal Knowledge’ and ‘Riddles’. These subtests are designed to measure, among other aptitudes, a person’s word knowledge, reasoning ability and verbal concept formation. The nonverbal section is comprised of the ‘Matrices’ subtest which measures problem-solving skills through word problems and visual analogies. The ‘Matrices’ subtest contains 46 items.

Scoring

The KBIT-2 generates three scores – a verbal and non-verbal score, as well as an overall IQ composite score. The 'raw' score is simply the summation of the subject's points in each subtest. The overall IQ composite score is derived from the raw score, which is converted into a standard score (with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15). This yields a score which ranges between 40 and 160. It is within this range where grades are separated and described:

• Subjects that score above 130 are considered 'upper extreme'. (Potentially suited to enrichment or gifted programs)
• Subjects that score between 120 and 129 are considered 'well above average'. (Potentially suited to enrichment or gifted programs)
• Subjects that score between 110 and 119 are considered 'above average'.
• Subjects that score between 90 and 109 are considered 'average'.
• Subjects that score between 80 and 89 are considered 'below average'.
• Subjects that score between 70 and 79 are considered 'well below average'. (Potentially 'high risk' and may require further assessment)
• Subjects that score below 69 are considered 'lower extreme'. (Potentially 'high risk' and may require further assessment)

File:KBIT2 grade descriptors.png

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There are currently no universal eligibility requirements for enrichment and gifted programs. Eligibility varies heavily from institution to institution. However, any test subject with a score above 120 (within the ‘well above average’ and ‘upper extreme’ descriptors) is likely to benefit from such programs.

Students who score 75 or below may exhibit symptoms of reading/learning disabilities and should undergo further evaluation.

References

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