Reference · Updated November 2026

Test Age Ranges: WISC-V, WPPSI-IV, CELF-5, PLS-5 & More

A quick chart of the age ranges for 19 common psychological, speech-language and developmental tests, plus a finder that shows which tests fit your client’s age.

By Sandeep

Test Age Range Chart

Age ranges below are written as years:months. “2:6 – 7:7” means from 2 years 6 months through 7 years 7 months. Always confirm the range in the current manual for your edition before testing.

Why Test Age Ranges Matter

Every standardized test compares a person’s answers with a norm group of people the same age. Outside the published age range there is no norm group, so standard scores, percentile ranks and age equivalents are not valid. Even inside the range, using the wrong age band changes which norms table you read.

That is why the first step of every evaluation is to calculate the exact chronological age on the test date and check it against the test’s range. One month can decide whether a 6-year-old gets the WPPSI-IV or the WISC-V.

WISC-V Age Range

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) is normed for children aged 6 years 0 months to 16 years 11 months. It is the most widely used child IQ test in schools and clinics.

• Younger than 6:0? Use the WPPSI-IV instead.
• Aged 6:0 to 7:7? Both the WPPSI-IV and WISC-V cover this age. Many clinicians choose the WPPSI-IV for children with lower expected ability and the WISC-V for higher expected ability, to avoid floor and ceiling effects.
• Aged 16:0 to 16:11? Both the WISC-V and WAIS-IV can be used; the choice depends on expected ability and the referral question.

WPPSI-IV Age Range

The WPPSI-IV covers 2:6 to 7:7 and uses two age bands: 2:6–3:11 with fewer, shorter subtests, and 4:0–7:7 with a full battery. Check which band your child falls in on the test date, because it changes the record form you use.

WAIS-IV Age Range

The WAIS-IV is designed for adults aged 16:0 to 90:11. For older teenagers, compare expected ability before choosing between the WAIS-IV and the WISC-V. A newer edition, the WAIS-5, has also been released; if you use it, confirm its age range and norms in its own manual before testing.

Speech-Language Test Age Ranges

• PLS-5 age range: birth to 7:11. Used for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
• CELF Preschool-3: 3:0 to 6:11.
• CELF-5 age range: 5:0 to 21:11, for school-age children, teens and young adults.
• GFTA-3: 2:0 to 21:11 for articulation.
• PPVT-5 and EVT-3: 2:6 to 90+ for receptive and expressive vocabulary.

Speech-language pathologists can read more in our chronological age calculator for speech therapy guide.

Bayley-4 Age Range and Premature Babies

The Bayley-4 covers infants and toddlers from 16 days to 42 months. For babies born early, many clinicians enter corrected age rather than chronological age, following the manual’s rules. Use our corrected age calculator to find it.

Achievement Test Age Ranges

The WIAT-4 covers 4:0 to 50:11 and the KTEA-3 covers 4:0 to 25:11, so both can be used from preschool into adulthood. The CTOPP-2 (4:0 to 24:11) is often added when reading difficulties are suspected.

Motor, Adaptive and Autism Test Age Ranges

• BOT-2: 4:0 to 21:11, for fine and gross motor proficiency.
• PDMS-2: birth to 5:11, for early motor development.
• Vineland-3: birth to 90, for adaptive behavior through interviews or rating forms.
• ADOS-2: 12 months to adulthood, with different modules chosen by age and language level.

Occupational and physical therapists use these alongside chronological age, and corrected age for young children born early.

Other Cognitive and Language Tests

The DAS-II (2:6 to 17:11) is a common alternative to the Wechsler scales, especially for young children and those with limited language. The CASL-2 (3:0 to 21:11) measures oral language without reading or writing, which makes it useful when literacy is a concern.

How to Check a Child’s Age Is in Range

1. Calculate the exact chronological age on the test date with a chronological age calculator or the hand method.
2. Compare it with the lowest and highest age for the test. A child aged 16:11 is still in range for the WISC-V; at 17:0 they are not.
3. Check the rounding rule in the manual. See our age rounding rules.
4. Watch the edges. Near the youngest or oldest age, a test may not have enough easy or hard items, so a different test can give more accurate scores.

How to Write the Age on the Record Form

Most record forms ask for the chronological age as years;months;days, for example 9;4;18. Some only use years and months. Copy the exact format from our chronological age calculator, and for children born prematurely, record both chronological and corrected age if the manual asks for it.

Test Age Range FAQs