Woodcock Johnson Tests
If your child is being evaluated for a gifted program, the Woodcock-Johnson V Tests of Achievement (WJ V) may be part of the process. This is a multi-section achievement test that assesses academic achievement (what children have learned in school), cognitive development (thinking and reasoning skills), and oral language (listening and comprehension abilities). More specifically, it identifies your child’s strengths and weaknesses by comparing them both within and across these domains.
The stakes are high. Kids are not used to this type of test.
Don’t take a risk. Work with the leader in gifted test prep: Join the 1 Million+ families we have helped over the last 15 years.
What Is the Woodcock-Johnson® Test?
The Woodcock-Johnson® Tests (WJ IV and WJ V) are individually administered assessments used by schools and psychologists to measure:
- Reading, math, and writing skills
- Thinking and reasoning abilities
- Language and comprehension
Unlike classroom tests, this is a deep-dive evaluation of how your child processes information and not just what they know.
WJ V vs. WJ IV — What’s the Difference?
Parents often ask: “Which version matters?”
The short answer:
- WJ IV → Trusted, widely used version
- WJ V → Newer, more precise, and updated in 2025
The WJ V includes:
✔ More modern scoring and norms
✔ Better alignment between thinking skills and academics
✔ Improved ability to identify giftedness or learning challenges
✔ Clearer insights for teachers and parents
Bottom line: The WJ V gives a more accurate picture, but preparation for both versions is very similar.
What Is ECAD? (And Why It Matters for Younger Kids)
If your child is younger, you may hear about ECAD (Early Cognitive and Academic Development).
This is HUGE for early learners.
ECAD is designed for:
- Preschool through early elementary students
- Children with developmental delays
- Early identification of strengths and challenges
What makes ECAD different?
Instead of just a score, ECAD tells you:
- How your child compares to typical development
- How many months ahead or behind they may be
- Where they need support right now
It measures:
- Early thinking skills (memory, reasoning)
- Early academics (letters, numbers, writing)
- Language development
This is one of the most actionable tools for early intervention—and preparation makes a big difference.
Why Kids Struggle with the Woodcock-Johnson
Even very bright kids can underperform because:
- They’ve never seen these question types before
- The test is one-on-one and unfamiliar
- They feel pressure or anxiety
- They don’t know how to approach tricky problems
This is NOT about intelligence; it’s about familiarity and confidence.
How TestingMom Helps Your Child Prepare
At TestingMom, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of families prepare for cognitive and achievement tests like the Woodcock-Johnson.
With TestingMom, your child gets:
✔ Practice questions that mirror real test formats
✔ Step-by-step explanations (so they truly understand)
✔ Skill-building across reading, math, and reasoning
✔ Confidence from practicing before test day
✔ Access to 1-on-1 tutoring for personalized support
Need Faster Results? Work with a Tutor
If your child:
- Gets anxious during tests
- Needs help focusing or understanding directions
- Would benefit from guided practice
Our expert tutors can help them build skills AND confidence. CLICK HERE!
See if TestingMom.com supports your child’s test by your school district. If you don't see your child's school district listed, check with us! We have practice for other tests as well.
Tell us about your experiences
39 Responses
very good
what sub tests in ‘Woodcock Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities’ can be conducted to 2-4 years old children to identify specific learning disorders
Is there a difference between the achievement battery in the Woodcock Johnson selection, the third edition, and the achievement battery in the fourth edition?… If so, what is it?
So good
Hello . I am a psychologist and I want to learn Woodcock Johnson
Can you give me details about the test ?
Thank you in advance
I am Marwa Saeed , Pediatric Neurologist from Egypt. I need to ask about the possibility to conduct a Reserch on Woodcock Johnson Tests through translation and validation on Egyptian children with learning disabilities
Is this possible?! How can we get it and practice on?!
Thanks I’m advance
My child was administered the Woodcock Johnson by an independent neuropsychologist. The same test was re-administered in less than three months by a teacher at the school my son attends. The school states that the performance on this test are relatively similar to prior testing results. My son has been diagnosed with a specific learning disability in written expression and reading fluency but the district states that they don’t observe that, and in their interpretation my child is above average, and it doesn’t meet their criteria for a SLD. How re-administering the test in less than 3 months affect my child? Is the test valid?
By providing practice questions aren’t you invalidating the test, especially for diagnostic purposes? You are not doing your children any favors by teaching the test.
Hi there
Is the Woodcock-Johnson III still used, or can people only administer version IV now?
Please send more information
What do the test scores mean, where are the number/scores ranges for indication of impairment.
My child was a given an IEP assessment with this test. Particularly my concern for my child is the section Reading Clusters. In 4 categories he rated as Low Average, 1 category rated as low, and 2 categories rated as average. This was exactly why I requested the IEP assessment but they say that he is doing “fine” or “average”. This doesn’t make any sense to me as I see there is a clear problem. Help.
I was supposed to free questions upon signing up, however, when I clicked where it told me to nothing happed. I’m extremely unhappy and will not be paying to sign up for anything on your site!
Hi there I would like to have my child tested for Dyslexia if possible , could you tell me what the cost of this would be please he is 13 years old , Thank you
I am trying to interpret my child’s scores on the Woodcock Johnson Teat Of Achievement Form A. Please tell me what the SSPR stands for in the sixth column of his Woodcock Johnson IV Score report.
I am looking for his Percentile rank.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give.
my son has learning disabilities and was tested when he was 7 his scores were very low, my question is, do they test when they get older or do they go by that test the rest of their life?
Can the WJ-iv be administered more than one time per year?
This test can also be administered by an educational specialist (Special Ed teacher or RSP teacher) as well it is used to assess the strengths and weaknesses in cognitive, academic, and linguistic abilities.
Who is allowed to administer the Woodcock Johnson tests? I have a MSE in Education with a specialty in Reading. Would I qualify to administer the tests?
the Woodcock Johnson Tests
After 34 years as a LDTC in Piscataway I recently became an independent Learning Consultant and need to order my own copy of the Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement. I haven’t been able to find where I can order this test
That edition of the test is old and outdated. You will have a difficult time finding the manual. I would encourage you and any other researcher/examiner to use the latest and most updated version of the Woodcock Johnson which is the Woodcock Johnson -IV. It has math, reading, writing and so much more to offer in the area of assessment.
Dear Sir/Madame,
I am a senior student from China, and I would like to do a research to investigate the factors that related to math achievement of students in primary school in Shanghai, China. I find that many researches use Woodcock Johnson III to test the math achievement of children. However, I could not find the manual for this text, could you please tell me how can I get access to it?