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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (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 | ||||
| Verbal Learning / Word List Recall | Glr | ||||
| Timed Letter Search / Letter Cancellation | Gv/Gs |
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.
Explore what cognitive abilities have been measured by the other cohort studies in this guide:
- 1946 National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD)
- 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS)
- Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)
- Millennium Cohort Study (MCS)
Explore where similar cognitive abilities have been measured across the studies at different ages:
This page is part of CLOSER’s ‘A guide to the cognitive measures in five British birth cohort studies’.