Scoring. Passed if the child repeats correctly, after a single reading, one series out of the three series given. The order must be correct.
Remarks. The test of repeating four digits was not included by Binet in the scale and seems not to have been used by any of the Binet workers. It is passed by about three fourths of our 4-year-olds.
IV. Alternative test: repeating twelve to thirteen syllables
The three sentences are:—
- “The boy’s name is John. He is a very good boy.”
- “When the train passes you will hear the whistle blow.”
- “We are going to have a good time in the country.”
Procedure. Get the child’s attention and say: “Listen, say this: ‘Where is kitty?’” After the child responds, add: “Now say this ...,” reading the first sentence in a natural voice, distinctly and with expression. If the child is too timid to respond, the first sentence may be re-read, but in this case the response is not counted. Re-reading is permissible only with the first sentence.
Scoring. The test is passed if at least one sentence is repeated without error after a single reading. As in the [alternative test] of [year III], we ignore ordinary indistinctness and defects of pronunciation due to imperfect language development, but the sentence must be repeated without addition, omission, or transposition of words.
Remarks. Sentences of twelve syllables had not been standardized previous to the Stanford revision, but Binet locates memory for ten syllables at year V, and others have followed his example. Our own data show that even 4-year-olds are usually able to repeat twelve syllables with the procedure here set forth.
FOOTNOTES:
[49] No material is needed if the regular Stanford record blanks are used, as these all contain the square and diamond.