Seguin Form Board Test (SFBT):

Children with speech and hearing problems or limited verbal abilities who are culturally or
environmentally deprived with poor schooling opportunities would be at disadvantage on verbal tests
and have to be assessed on appropriate performance or non-verbal tests.

Seguin Form Board Test (SFBT):

The Seguin Form Board Test is based on the single factor theory of intelligence, measures
speed and accuracy. It is useful in evaluating a child's eye-hand co-ordination, shape-concept, visual
perception and cognitive ability. The test primarily used to assess visuo-motor skills. It includes
Gesell figures where in the child is ask to copy ten geometrical figures to evaluate visuo-motor ability.
Test materials consist of ten differently shaped wooden blocks and a large form board with recessed
corresponding shapes.

1. One of the earliest performance tests developed by Seguin, a French physician in 1856.
2. Indian adoption was done by J Bharatraj ( India adaption; Bharatraj 1971)
3. It is used to assess the IQ of Children between 3-11 years of age and adults with Intellectual
disability.
4. It is used for measuring psychomotor and visuo-perceptual abilities for children between 4
and 20 years.
5. Ideal for Non-verbal children used particularly in small children and supported with other
tests.
6. Originally designed for use with intellectually disabled children as initial task in sensory-
motor training.
7. Western norms were given RB Cattell
8. Indian norms by SK Goel & J Bharat Raj.

Procedure and Administration:

Tool Kit: The form board consisting of 10 different geometric shaped wooden blocks

Task of the subject: The child is expected to fit the differently shaped blocks into their respective
slots on the form board.

Task of the examiner: Should note down time in seconds for every trial and the total seconds of all
three trials without child’s knowledge.

The board’s position: Star is toward the examiner

Instruction to be given as: ‘Start! Do it as quickly as you can. You will be allowed only three trials’ by
the examiner

Number of Trials: Three trials including any trials marked incomplete

Time: Noted ( in seconds) without child’s knowledge.

Ques/prompting: Speed is stressed at the start of the test, with no further between cues or
assistance being provided to the child.
Scoring: Mental age is assessed by calculating the shortest time taken of the three trials or by
calculating the total time taken by the person and mental age is seen by the table for scoring.

Formula for calculating IQ:

IQ = MA / CA x 100

Norms For Seguin Form Board Test:

Advantages:
1. Spontaneous arousal in children
2. Amenable and brief
3. Ideal for non-verbal children
4. Valid "g" (general) measure of intelligence is obtained.
5. Apparatus is less complicated and easy to be carry.

Limitations:

1. Quick measure only for general intelligence in children between 3 – 11 years.

2. Used as a common tool and no variations used for different age groups.
3. The arrangement of blocks.
4. No proper instruction about the exact time to start and stop is not elaborated.
5. Instructing a hearing impaired child or briefing an intellectually disabled about procedure is
difficult.