GAMA test (General Ability Measure for Adults)
The GAMA test (General Ability Measure for Adults) is a self-administered, timed test that uses abstract designs, shapes, and colors to help measure general ability. Normed on a census-based sample of 2,360 adults, it can be effective with a variety of populations and can be administered to individuals or groups. The GAMA IQ score helps estimate an individual’s general intellectual ability and the 4 subtest scores provide additional information about the individual’s performance.
The GAMA test can be used by clinical professionals and psychologists in a variety of settings, including:
- As part of a psychological evaluation when a brief tool is needed to help assess general cognitive ability
- When evaluating people who speak English as a second language or who read at a low level
- With special populations such as deaf adults, the elderly, and individuals with learning disabilities, mental retardation, or traumatic brain injury
- For neuropsychology and forensic evaluations
- For large-scale assessment (e.g. with correctional or military populations)
- In counseling and psychotherapy settings to help choose interventions that match a client’s intellectual ability
- For counseling to facilitate vocational decisions
Key Features
- Self-administered, 25-minute, timed test. Its brevity enables clinicians to include the test as part of a complete cognitive assessment.
- Administered individually or with groups.
- Highly correlated with other intelligence measures, the GAMA test helps provide convenience without sacrificing quality.
- The nonverbal format helps overcome language, cultural and educational barriers, making it useful with diverse populations.
- Requires less training for administrators than many other general abilities tests.