What are items 1-3 in BD scoring worth?

In the Block Design (BD) subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V), the scoring is structured to reflect the complexity and the effort required to complete the tasks. Items 1 through 3 are foundational tasks that set the stage for more challenging ones. Each completed task in this initial set is worth 4 points, which aligns with the scoring system used to assess the child’s ability to analyze and replicate geometric designs.

The initial items are designed to gauge basic visual-motor skill and understanding of spatial relationships, so they are assigned a moderate point value. This allows for an incremental assessment of the child's abilities. As the subtest progresses and the designs become more complex, the scoring may vary, emphasizing more advanced skills and problem-solving abilities that come into play in later items. Thus, understanding that items 1-3 each hold a value of 4 points is crucial for interpreting the total score and assessing a child's cognitive abilities in visual perception and construction tasks.