Wechsler Memory Scale, Fifth Edition
WMS-5
David Wechsler, PhD
The Wechsler Memory Scale® Fifth Edition (WMS®-5) is the most advanced psychometric measure of adult memory. It is an individually administered clinical instrument for assessing immediate, delayed, and recognition memory across auditory and visual perceptual modalities, as well as visual working memory. The WMS®-5 was codeveloped and co-normed with the WAIS®-5, expanding construct coverage, increasing flexibility, and allowing comparison of performance across the two tests.
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Publication date: September 2025
Age range: 16:0 – 90:11
Qualification level: C
Completion time: Varies based on battery: Comprehensive Memory Assessment | Standard Form (60 minutes), Brief Memory Assessment | Short Form (25 minutes), Alternate Form (25 minutes)
Administration: Paper or Q-interactive®
Scoring options: Manual scoring or Q-global®
Telepractice: Guidance on using this test in your telepractice
Overview
The WMS-5 enables clinicians to explore core aspects of memory in a highly flexible, yet comprehensive, manner within a larger evaluation battery. The WMS-5 shares a normative sample with the WAIS-5, further increasing the utility of these comprehensive assessments when used together.
Features and benefits
- Flexible administration options for increasingly comprehensive information.
- Mental Status Screener
- Immediate Memory Screener
- Brief Memory Assessment – Short Form
- Comprehensive Memory Assessment - Standard Form
- Alternate Form
- Updated content, to streamline administration.
- Expanded scores for in depth interpretation of performance.
- Codeveloped and co-normed with WAIS-5 to enhance score interpretation, increase flexibility, and allow comparison of IQ and memory abilities.
- Alternate form allows for retesting and monitoring of memory processes without repeated exposure to the same stimuli.
- Improved digital administration options to eliminate paper materials (Q-interactive) or to support tele-assessment when traditional on-site testing isn’t possible (Q-global).
Resources
The following resources are available for WMS-5.
Materials
- WMS-5 Brochure
- WMS-5 Sample Report
- WMS-5 Technical Manual - Chapter 1
- WMS-5 Administration and Scoring Manual - Chapter 1
Videos
Blogs
Podcasts
Kits and Materials
What is included in the WMS-5 kit?
The WMS-5 Standard Kit provides all necessary components to administer the Standard Form of WMS-5, including the optional Brief Cognitive Status Exam. The WMS-5 Standard Kit is also available with an optional Q-global Scoring Subscription.
Short Form Record Forms are purchased separately if a brief memory assessment option is needed.
The Alternate Form Stimulus Book and Alternate Form Record Forms are purchased separately if a repeated measure is needed.
What are the different forms for WMS-5 that provide administrative flexibility?
The Standard Form is used for the most comprehensive memory assessment. The Standard Form contains all subtests (i.e., Logical Memory 1 & 2, Verbal Paired Associates 1 & 2, Visual Reproduction 1 & 2, Designs 1 & 2, Symbol Span, Spatial Addition) and the optional mental status screener, BCSE. An immediate memory screener can also be conducted using the Standard Form.
The Short Form is used for a briefer memory assessment. The Short Form contains Logical Memory 1 & 2, Visual Reproduction 1 & 2, and Symbol Span.
The Alternate Form, used for repeated administration, contains Logical Memory Alternate 1 & 2 and Visual Reproduction Alternate 1 & 2.
Are there separate record forms for the Adult and Older Adult populations on WMS-5?
No. The Standard, Short, and Alternate Record Forms are each used for the full age range.
Are there different Response Booklets for the different Record Forms?
No. The same Response Booklet is used for all Record Forms.
Will there be a combined WAIS-5 & WMS-5 kit?
No. WAIS-5 kits and WMS-5 kits are sold separately.
Is a starter kit required for WMS-5 on Q-interactive?
A starter kit containing Response Booklets, and a Scoring Template is included with Q-interactive.
Test Structure and Scores
Are there any new subtests for WMS-5?
Subtest content was updated, and process and ancillary scores were added; no new subtests were added. Additionally, administration options were expanded, with 3 different forms, to offer increased flexibility and utility.
What's the administration time for the WMS-5?
Administration time depends on the form: Standard Form ~60 minutes, Short Form ~25 minutes, Alternate Form ~ 25 minutes (estimated administration times for the Short Form and Alternate Form do not include elapsed times between immediate and delayed recall conditions).
Does the WMS-5 share a normative sample with the WAIS-5?
Yes, WMS-5 was co-developed and co-normed with WAIS-5 to maximize the utility of using the tests together.
Can CVLT scores be substituted for the Verbal Paired Associates (VPA) subtests?
Yes. Specific index scores from CVLT 3 can be substituted for VPA 1 & 2. CVLT-II scores cannot be used.
When will the Advanced Clinical Solutions (ACS) revision be available for use with WAIS-5 and WMS-5?
ACS features will be published in 2 different phases: Phase 1) DAN (demographic adjustment to norms) and TOPF-2 (prediction of premorbid functioning) will be available early-2026 and Phase 2) Word Choice (effort assessment) will be available mid- to late-2026.
See the related questions regarding features of ACS that will not be included in the revision.
Is Serial Assessment being updated as part of the upcoming ACS revision?
Serial Assessment will not be part of the forthcoming ACS revision. No date is currently projected for this feature.
Is Social Cognition being updated as part of the revised ACS?
No. The Social Cognition test will not be updated as part of the upcoming ACS revision. No date is currently projected for an update of the test.
Does the WMS-5 share a normative sample with the WAIS-5?
Yes, WMS-5 was co-developed and co-normed with WAIS-5 to maximise the utility of using the tests together.
Past Webinars
Exploring the New WMS-5 Webinar (Recording)
Presenter(s): Jennifer Puig, PhD, Research Director
Get a brief overview of the new WMS®-5, a comprehensive and reliable measure of adult memory. In this hour-long webinar, participants will be introduced to the test structure, administration options, scores, and technical properties of the test.
Recorded: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
An Overview of Using WAIS®-5 and WMS®-5 Together to Assess Cognition and Memory Webinar (Recording)
Presenter(s): Gail Rodin, PhD
This webinar will discuss how and why administering both WAIS-5 and WMS-5 as part of a comprehensive evaluation (and integrating their results) can help you draw more and better conclusions from your evaluations. After reviewing the flexibility of WMS-5 administration and how to determine the most appropriate option for a given evaluation, we will look at the functional areas covered by pairing the WMS-5 with the WAIS-5 and how integrating and comparing scores from the two measures can enhance interpretation of your clients’ overall functioning.
Recorded: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Modal Qualification Level
Qualification Level
Level A
This approval level enables you to buy our assessments that require no professional degree, accreditation, organization membership, or license/certificate.
Level B
This approval level enables you to buy our assessments requiring A or B qualification levels.
Level C
This approval level enables you to buy all our assessments.
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