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Psychological tests are full of numbers—standard scores, percentiles, T-scores, and more. For many parents, educators, and even professionals in other fields, these figures can seem overwhelming or confusing. But once you understand what they represent, these numbers become valuable tools for understanding how someone thinks, learns, feels, or behaves.
1. Standard Scores
Standard scores are the most common way psychologists report results. These scores are based on a scale where 100 is average. Most people (about 68%) fall within a range of 85 to 115. If a child scores 90 on a test, they are just slightly below the average range—not failing, just a bit under the midpoint.
Example: A WISC-V IQ score of 115 suggests the individual is performing above average compared to their age group.
2. Percentile Ranks
Percentile ranks show where someone stands compared to others. A 50th percentile is right in the middle—better than 50% of the norm group. A 25th percentile means better than 25%, and a 90th percentile means the individual outperformed 90% of peers.
Important note: Percentile ranks are not the same as test scores out of 100.
3. T-Scores
T-scores are often used in behavioral and emotional assessments like the BASC-3 or BRIEF-2. These scores have an average of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. This means:
- 40–60 = Average
- 60–69 = At-Risk
- 70+ = Clinically Significant
Example: A T-score of 72 on an Anxiety scale suggests the individual may be experiencing significant anxiety that could benefit from clinical attention.
4. Scaled Scores
Used in subtests (like on the WISC-V), scaled scores range from 1 to 19, with 10 being average. These scores help identify strengths and weaknesses in specific areas like memory, processing speed, or vocabulary.
Example: A scaled score of 7 in Processing Speed indicates slightly below-average performance in that specific ski
Putting It All Together
No single score tells the whole story. Psychologists look at patterns across multiple scores to understand how someone learns, behaves, or processes information. These numbers help tailor recommendations, support strategies, or treatment plans specific to each individual.
So while psychological testing may seem like “just numbers,” those numbers can offer powerful insights—when you know how to read them.
Guest Blogger Deborah Gilbert, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist at Springer Diagnostic Center. Dr. Gilbert has more than 30 years of experience in childhood diagnostics.
