Giving the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test 5th Edition (PPVT-5)

The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5th Edition (PPVT-5) is a standardized measure that evaluates clients’ receptive vocabulary skills at the word level, comparing them to other children of the same chronological age. Giving the PPVT-5 is easy! The examiner presents pictures in a visual field of 4 and asks the child to point to the picture described. The descriptions provided gradually increase in complexity.

It’s usually described as one of the most reliable language test measures given, therefore is a good indicator of a client’s true vocabulary skills. Another great feature is that is easily given in person AND online!

PPVT-5 Areas of Assessment

While the PPVT-5 only measures a client’s receptive vocabulary skills, the evaluator can complete 4 different types of deeper analyses.

1. Home vs. School Vocabulary– This analysis estimates the impact of home and school experiences on vocabulary development. Examples of home vocabulary include household items, food items, and basic body parts. Examples of school vocabulary include less common food items, geometric shapes, and musical instruments.
2. Parts of Speech– This analysis categorizes items by parts of speech. The three categories are nouns, verbs, and attributes.
3. Frequency and complexity– This analysis categorizes into three tiers. The first tier includes high-frequency words and basic vocabulary (i.e., basic body parts, household objects). The second tier includes less frequently used words and slightly more complex vocabulary that appear in both written and oral discourse (i.e., less commonly known fruits and vegetables, undomesticated animals). The third tier contains low-frequency words and highly complex vocabulary that appear in both oral and written discourse (i.e., geometric shapes, tools, instruments).
4. STEM Vocabulary– This analysis estimates the impact of STEM vocabulary knowledge on an individual’s academic performance. STEM vocabulary is related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematical terms.

Scoring the PPVT-5

The evaluator completes all sections of the assessment required for the client’s age. There are directions for the basal and ceiling (where to start and end). After giving the PPVT-5, the evaluator then calculates the client’s correct responses and uses the manual to obtain a standard score.

Scores between 85-115 are considered to be within normal limits (WNL) since, like most standardized measures, the standard score has a median of 100 and a standard deviation of +/- 15.

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