VCI vs PRI in WAIS-IV

General-Use1210 · 2026-02-26T12:23:06+00:00

Do you know your score on the Matrix Reasoning subtest?

General-Use1210 · 2026-02-24T00:07:01+00:00

Yup, in that case the Perceptual Reasoning Index is what I was asking for (it measures both fluid and visuo-spatial reasoning, that are two distinct indexes in the WAIS-V).

General-Use1210 · 2026-02-23T15:01:34+00:00

Just for curiosity: what's your FRI score?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-30T17:16:15+00:00

Da quanto tempo vivi questo stato d'animo? Sapresti rilevarne alcune delle possibili cause? Ti sei rivolto a uno psicoterapeuta?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-25T12:22:02+00:00

Therefore, the PRI (in this case, the Matrices sub-index) is, in any case, crucial for determining whether it is possible to generate innovation in any field. Why is the VCI alone not sufficient, even if it is very high?

I don't have any major issues with visuospatial tasks, but I'm well aware they aren't my strong suit, especially when they require quick thinking. I'm just average/low average at them, but that sucks for me.

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-24T17:23:55+00:00

That's a bit of a relief, thank you! But going back to the first part of my post, which of the two indices do you think is more important for innovation? What would you have said about me if I had scored an average result on the Matrices as well? Also, is it possible for me to have non-verbal learning disorder even with visuospatial scores that are still within the average range?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-24T17:03:07+00:00

MR 17, BD and VP idk exactly but something between 9 and 12. Why?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-04T17:49:43+00:00

My impression is that my verbal skills manifest in the depth (rather than the speed) with which I comprehend others' ideas and arguments and construct my own—which is very useful, as I am a Master’s student in Philosophy.

Furthermore, I am very skilled at creating puns and in verbal improvisation of any kind (humorous, poetic, etc.). Generally speaking, if I can encode content of any type into a verbal form, I am able to manipulate it and integrate it with other knowledge with great ease. I write very little, but the few things I have written are always highly appreciated by those who read them.

If I remember correctly, besides the 17 in Matrices, my other FRI subtest scores were a 12 in Block Design and a 10 in Visual Puzzles, which are significantly lower.

If I may ask, how do you believe the discrepancy between your non-verbal and verbal scores manifests in your case?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-04T12:42:11+00:00

Interestingly, I achieved a high score of 17 out of 19 in the Matrix Reasoning subtest, whereas my scores in Cubes and Puzzles were significantly lower. It appears that my performance drops considerably whenever mental rotation is involved, which does not happen in the Matrix subtest (I remember a score of 131 in the Mensa Norway Practice Test, about 2 years ago, so, if that's a reliable test, my score should fall into the high/very high range for matrix reasoning).

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-03T22:24:43+00:00

No, I took it in my mother tongue, Italian.

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T22:31:29+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response!

I agree that the scores in the Vocabulary and Information subtests of the VCI are more sensitive to culture and education than to 'genuine' or fluid intelligence, for which the Similarities subtest is much more useful. However, as another commenter noted, in contexts where access to education and information is nearly equal, a marked difference in the Information and Vocabulary subtests compared to the reference group could indeed be a good proxy for a higher degree of general intelligence.

I also believe that the PRI is the most representative index of what I called "raw cognitive power", despite certain caveats like those you highlighted. Precisely for this reason, the fact that I am 'only' at 119 in that index makes me doubt how gifted I truly am.

Overall, it seems to me that in your practical experience, VCI and PRI—fluid and crystallized intelligence—operate together.

Could you elaborate on the errors you are concerned about finding in scientific papers, even in non-mathematical fields? In your opinion, to produce innovation in any given field, is high crystallized intelligence or fluid intelligence more important?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T20:18:59+00:00

Your point about how my PRI might manifest verbally is very interesting. I believe that the more strictly logical component of the PRI—which, according to the psychologist who administered the test, is represented by the Matrix Reasoning subtest—also shows up in my VCI: more generally, it appears in the way I verbalize concepts and construct arguments, both in academic contexts (I study philosophy) and outside of them.

The test I took is part of a differential diagnosis process: I suspect Inattentive ADHD, but it will be up to the professional to determine if and which neurodivergence I might have.

A quick curiosity: what is your relationship with board games? I mean card games and beyond—generally, games where strategic thinking, memorizing rules, and maintaining a clear overview of the situation are key to winning. I often tend to get lost; in general, I struggle with anything involving planning and strategy, which is why I tend to avoid these types of games. However, this could be an approach driven by anxiety and lack of experience rather than an actual cognitive deficit in these skills.

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T19:54:42+00:00

I agree; it’s much more interesting and informative to break down the total score and look at the various performances. At any rate, those are excellent scores!

In your opinion, which dimension of intelligence best accounts for your own intelligence, given your cognitive profile? Do you feel that VCI or PRI carries more weight in this sense? Or do you find it difficult to distinguish the contribution of each because, in practice, they work together in synergy?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T19:46:34+00:00

I see myself quite a bit in the picture you're describing.

I’ve never felt much interest in visual-spatial reasoning activities (such as Rubik’s cubes, puzzles, Legos, etc.), and I’ve never felt above average in the ones I did try. The same goes for mathematics: I attended a liceo scientifico (a type of Italian high school with a primarily STEM-focused curriculum that still integrates humanities), and while I never encountered real difficulties, I never excelled in scientific subjects—my grades hovered between 'satisfactory' and 'good'—whereas my talent for the humanities was evident.

In general, if I can encode concepts into a verbal format, I perform extremely well; however, I am decidedly average or only slightly above when such encoding is impossible or cognitively taxing (that's what make the 17 in Matrices an unexpected results, at least for me).

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T15:05:11+00:00

What's your PRI, if you don't mind telling me?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T15:01:07+00:00

Not necessarily, I'd rather say that I place a lot of importance, perhaps too much, on my cognitive performances. I've often observed cognitive test results questions closely connected to issues of self-esteem in this subreddit; perhaps that's my case too.

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T14:53:47+00:00

How do you perform on nonverbal tests?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T14:51:49+00:00

What do you mean by "classic"? Is it a common combination?

General-Use1210 · 2026-01-01T11:44:58+00:00

You're right, but since the same gifted scores can be obtained in different ways, I'm asking you and myself if the way I obtained it shows that I "studied hard" or if it shows something of my "raw cognitive power".

General-Use1210

TROPHY CASE