[Changes in test norms of spelling achievement and nonverbal intelligence]

The norms of the spelling test R-T Form C "Moselfahrt" (Althoff et al. 1974) from the year 1968 and of the nonverbal intelligence test CFT 20 (form A/part 1) from the year 1977 (Weiss 1987) are evaluated for their actual validity. In 1995, both original tests were being administered to an epidemiological sample (N = 592) of adolescents and young adults in the age of 16 to 30 years having passed at least their obligatory amount of school years. These results are being compared to those of the original norm samples. Using the norms for the CFT 20 from 1977 adolescents and young adults achieve in the year 1995 a mean IQ of 110.8 points, equaling a yearly IQ-gain of 0.6 IQ-points. This exceeds the expected gain of 0.33 IQ-points annually according to the literature and indicates a distinct change of norms. There were no significant gender differences found. The distribution of mistakes in the spelling test R-T "Moselfahrt" compared to the original norm sample from 1968 changes considerably as well and requires revised test norms. With an increase from 9-11 mistakes (depending on the age norm) to 19.8 mistakes the mean amount of mistakes is almost being doubled. Extremely high numbers of mistakes occurred more frequent and could not be differentiated according to the old norms. Using the original norms from 1968 in the year of 1995 12.4% of the sample achieve with a T-score of 20 the lower limit of the measured value scale and the overall mean has decreased by 1.2 standard deviations to T-score = 38.48% of the sample reach a result that equates percentage 10 or less which is interpreted as insufficient school mark. Women's mean spelling achievement is significantly better than men's. Causes and implications of this scissors-like development of deteriorated spelling achievement and increased nonverbal intelligence are being discussed. Tables containing the new standardization scores are included in the appendix.