Short Forms of the K-ABC Mental Processing and Achievement Scales at Ages 4 to 12½ Years for Clinical and Screening Purposes

We used data from the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) standardization sample to develop short forms of the K-ABC Mental Processing Composite (MPC) and Achievement (ACH) scales for ages 4 to 12 1/2 years. Using seven quantitative and qualitative criteria, we selected the best MPC dyad, triad, and tetrad and the best ACH dyad. The preferred K-ABC short form for screening and clinical purposes at age 5 and older is a combination of the MPC tetrad (Hand Movements-Triangles-Word Order-Matrix Analogies) and the A CH dyad (Riddles-Reading Decoding). For age 4, the preferred short form is slightly different. We present psychometric properties for all selected short forms, including reliability and validity coefficients, and provide equations to allow computation of a child's estimated MPC and A CH standard score.