Cognitive abilities measured in the 1970 British Cohort Study
Explore what cognitive ability domains were measured in the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) cohort by age and test used.
For background guidance on the table below, see the main harmonisation feasibility page in this guide.
| Test | 5 yrs | 10 yrs | 16 yrs | 42 yrs | 46-47 yrs | 51 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Schonell) Reading test | Gc/Grw | |||||
| English Picture Vocabulary Test (EPVT)/ Pictorial Language Comprehension Test (PLCT) | Gc | Gc | ||||
| Copying Designs Test (CDT) | Gv | |||||
| Human Figure Drawing (HFD) | Gv | |||||
| Complete a Profile test (CPT) | Gv | |||||
| Edinburgh Reading Test (SV-ERT) | Gc/Grw | Gc/Grw | ||||
| Friendly Maths Test | Gq | |||||
| Spelling Dictation task (SDT) | Grw | |||||
| (Word) Similarities (BAS) | Gc | |||||
| Word Definitions (BAS) | Gc | |||||
| Recall of Digits (BAS) | Gsm | |||||
| Matrices (BAS) | Gf | Gf | ||||
| Vocabulary test (APU) | Gc | Gc | ||||
| Arithmetic test (APU) | Gq | |||||
| Spelling test | Grw | |||||
| Verbal Fluency (Animal Naming) | Glr | Glr | ||||
| Verbal Learning / Word List Recall | Glr | Glr | ||||
| Timed Letter Search / Letter Cancellation | Gv/Gs | Gv/Gs | ||||
| National Adult Reading Test | Gc / Grw |
Notes.
Gf=Fluid reasoning/fluid intelligence; Gsm=Short-term memory; Glr=Long-term storage & retrieval; Gs=Processing speed; Gc=Acquired knowledge/crystallised intelligence; Grw=Reading and writing; Gq=Quantitative knowledge; Gv=Visual processing.
Explanations of the individual ability domains are provided in the introductory section of this guide.
Find out more about each of the cognitive tests administered to the BCS70 cohort in our searchable overview of measures.