Named tests
RIAS-2: Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales
In short
The RIAS-2 is the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition, by Cecil Reynolds and Randy Kamphaus, published by PAR for ages 3 to 94. It is given individually in about 20 to 25 minutes and yields Verbal, Nonverbal and Composite Intelligence Indexes, plus Composite Memory and Speeded Processing Indexes. PAR now recommends its Normative Update versions.
Want your own number? The test is 25 visual puzzles, about 12 minutes, no sign-up.
What the RIAS-2 is
PAR lists the RIAS-2 by Cecil R. Reynolds and Randy W. Kamphaus for ages 3 to 94, with about 20 to 25 minutes for the intelligence assessment (PAR: RIAS-2). It is individually administered (PRO-ED: RIAS-2), so an examiner works with one person at a time.
PAR also recommends moving from the original RIAS-2 to its Normative Update versions (PAR: RIAS-2). A normative update generally means new norms, the reference sample scores are compared with. If you are reading an older report, it is worth checking which version was used.
What it measures
The RIAS-2 yields five index scores (PRO-ED: RIAS-2):
| Index | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Verbal Intelligence Index | Reasoning and knowledge expressed in words |
| Nonverbal Intelligence Index | Reasoning with pictures and visual problems |
| Composite Intelligence Index | The overall intelligence score |
| Composite Memory Index | Verbal and nonverbal memory |
| Speeded Processing Index | Speed on simple tasks |
Its subtests include Guess What, Odd-Item Out, Verbal Reasoning, What's Missing, Verbal Memory and Nonverbal Memory (PRO-ED: RIAS-2). The names give a sense of the tasks: some call for verbal answers, others for spotting what does not belong or what is missing.
Norms and scoring
RIAS-2 norms are based on 2,154 people ages 3 to 94 from 32 states (PRO-ED: RIAS-2). Scores compare a person with others the same age in that sample. PAR and PRO-ED do not state the score metric (mean and standard deviation) on the pages we checked, so we do not quote one here. Ask the examiner what scale a report uses before comparing it with another test.
RIAS-2 vs other short batteries
The RIAS-2 sits between a brief screener and a full battery. The KBIT-2 takes about 20 minutes and reports two scales plus a composite, Crystallized (Verbal) and Fluid (Nonverbal) (Pearson: KBIT-2). The RIAS-2 takes a similar time for its intelligence indexes but adds memory and speeded processing indexes. The WAIS-5 takes about 45 minutes for its Full Scale IQ and about 60 for its five primary indexes (Pearson: WAIS-5).
| Test | Ages | Scores |
|---|---|---|
| RIAS-2 | 3 to 94 | Verbal, Nonverbal, Composite, Memory, Speeded Processing |
| KBIT-2 | 4:0 to 90:0 | Crystallized, Fluid, IQ Composite |
| WAIS-5 | 16:0 to 90:11 | Full Scale IQ and five primary indexes |
The verbal and nonverbal split echoes Raymond Cattell's distinction between reasoning with novel material and acquired knowledge (Wikipedia: Fluid and crystallized intelligence).
Practicing the kinds of reasoning involved
RIAS-2 items are not public, and practice changes scores: retaking a cognitive ability test raises scores by about a quarter of a standard deviation on average (Hausknecht et al., 2007). If you want to try odd-one-out and visual reasoning problems with original items, our odd-one-out puzzles and nonverbal reasoning test are free. They are not RIAS-2 items, and no IQ Octopus score predicts a RIAS-2 score. For how the RIAS-2 fits among other tests, see types of IQ tests.
IQ Octopus is not affiliated with or endorsed by PAR, PRO-ED or any other publisher named here. Test names are used only to identify and describe the tests. Our free practice tests are not copies of any published test, and no score on IQ Octopus predicts a score on another test.
Try one · Quantitative Reasoning
Which number comes next?
7, 40, 12, 37, 17, 34, ?
Tap the option you think is right, or show the answer.
Show the answer
The next number is 22 (option 5).
How to solve it
- The gaps jump around, so look at every other number.
- The 1st, 3rd, 5th numbers (7, 12, 17) go up by 5 each time.
- The 2nd, 4th, 6th numbers (40, 37, 34) go down by 3 each time.
- The missing number continues the first series: 17 + 5 = 22.
That was 1 puzzle. The full test has 25.
Sources
- Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales, Second Edition (RIAS-2), PAR product page. www.parinc.com/products/RIAS-2
- Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. RIAS-2 complete kit, PRO-ED product page. 2016. proedinc.com/products-14451.html
- Pearson. Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, Second Edition (KBIT-2), product page. www.pearsonassessments.com/store/en/usd/p/100000390.html
- Pearson. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (WAIS-5), product page. 2024. www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scale-%7C-Fifth-Edition/p/P100071002.html
- Fluid and crystallized intelligence. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_and_crystallized_intelligence
- Hausknecht, J. P., Halpert, J. A., Di Paolo, N. T., & Moriarty Gerrard, M. O. (2007). Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(2), 373-385. doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.2.373