Differential Ability Scales (DAS) are a series of tests given to children to assess cognitive abilities and achievements. Developed by Dr. Colin Elliot, DAS has three levels and includes cognitive, diagnostic, and achievement subtests to evaluate strengths and weaknesses holistically.
Differential Ability Scales (DAS) are a “battery” or series of tests given individually to children to assess their cognitive abilities and achievements, according to normal developmental stages according to age groups. Typically, it includes 20 subtests classified as cognitive, diagnostic, and achievement tests. Differential ability scales are flexible enough to cater not only for ‘average’ students but also for those who are exceptionally bright or those who are ‘less able’.
The creation and development of the Differential Ability Scales are credited to Dr. Colin Elliot, who first developed the British Ability Scales (BAS) in 1979. The BAS went through several editions, until the first edition of DAS was finally published in 1990, and a second edition was developed in 1997. Differential Ability Scales have three levels, the first being the lower preschool level taken by children between the ages of 2 years, 6 months and 3 years, 5 months. The second level is the Scuola dell’Infanzia Superiore, reserved for children aged 3 years, 6 months to 5 years, 11 months. The School-Age level, on the other hand, is aimed at students aged 6 to 17 years, 11 months.
The cognitive category of subtests often tests a child’s verbal and non-verbal skills, such as in word definitions, verbal comprehension – in which the child is supposed to follow the instructions of the test administrator – and copying, in which the child draws a copy of a given drawing. Many recall exercises, such as digit and object recall, are placed under diagnostic tests. In the subsets of the results, the child has to perform spelling, reading and calculation exercises, the elements of which are all arranged in increasing difficulty. The number of subtests included in a specific Differential Ability Scales test will often depend on the level; for example, only four cognitive and two diagnostic subtests are included in the DAS of the lower preschool.
The Differential Ability Scales attempt to interpret test results holistically. Basically, the cognitive category determines the intellectual capacity of the child, represented in the General Conceptual Ability (GAC) score. Strengths and weaknesses, meanwhile, are measured by diagnostic subtests. The results of each subtest are also evaluated, along with the child’s behavior throughout the entire testing process. In this way, tutors and teachers can plan appropriate intervention methods to develop the child’s intelligence and abilities.
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