Reynolds Intellectual Screening Test (RIST)

The RIST provides a quick, reliable assessment of an individual's general cognitive abilities. It is not intended to replace a more comprehensive intellectual assessment such as the RIAS or other similar instruments. The RIST may be used by a variety of individuals under the supervision of a professional with appropriate training and credentials for using intelligence tests.

Derived from the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales (RIAS), this brief screening measure helps to identify individuals aged 3 to 94 years who need a more comprehensive intellectual assessment, or to document the continuaing presence of intellectual deficits. The RIST serves as a quick screener at re-evaluation or follow up when a full RIAS may not be warranted. It also provides a quick overall estimate of general intelligence (g) for individuals with intellectual strengths who may not benefit from a full RIAS evaluation that may result in placement in educational programmes for the gifted and/or talented. The RIST is also a valuable tool for estimating intelligence in large groups, research investigations, determining the current cognitive status of patients, planning vocational and rehabilitation programmes, multiple gate assessments, and reassessing individuals who have had a previous comprehensive evaluation.

The RIST consists of two RIAS sub-tests: 'Guess What' (a verbal sub-test) and 'Odd Item Out' (a non-verbal sub-test). These two sub-tests were selected on the basis of theoretical, empirical and practical considerations. 'Guess What' is a classic measure of crystallised intelligence, whereas 'Odd Item Out' shares characteristics with marker tests of fluid intelligence. Both sub-tests have good psychometric properties, factor analytic and criterion-related validity evidence, and both are efficiently administered and scored. The summed sub-test T-scores are converted to yield the RIST Index (M = 100, SD = 15). Conversion tables provided in the RIAS/RIST Professional Manual can be used to obtain percentile ranks, 90% and 95% confidence intervals, T-scores, z-scores, NCEs and stanines. RIST norms are based on the RIAS normative sample of 2438 individuals.

The examiner presents the two RIST sub-tests ('Guess What' and 'Odd Item Out') to the client, beginning with the age-based sub-test item, and then records the client's responses on the RIST Record Form. Item administration continues until the end rule criterion for each sub-test is met. The Total Raw Score for each sub-test is transferred to the RIST Score Summary Table on the RIST Record Form. Each sub-test raw score is converted to a T-score using the appropriate age specific conversion tables provided in the RIAS/RIST Professional Manual.