CELF-5 Subtest Descriptions
& Memory Considerations
Title of
Subtest
Task Performed
Repetitions
Prohibited?
*
Part of
LMI?
**
Working Memory
Load based on Task
Analysis alone? ***
Sentence
Comprehension
The student points to a picture in the Stimulus Book that
illustrates the orally-presented sentence.
NA
Low
Linguistic Concepts
The student points to objects in the Stimulus Book in response to
oral directions that contain embedded concepts.
๏
NA
Medium
Word Structure
The student looks at a visual stimulus & completes an orally
presented sentence (cloze procedure) with the targeted
structure(s).
NA
Low
Word Classes
The student chooses two of the three or four orally-presented
words that are related. Younger students are shown a visual
stimulus.
Low
(ages 5-10)
Medium
(ages 11-21)
Following Directions
The student points to shapes in the Stimulus Book in response to
oral directions of increasing length & complexity.
๏
๏
High
Formulated
Sentences
Using a visual stimulus as a reference, the student formulates a
sentence about the picture using one or two targeted words
presented orally by the examiner.
๏
Medium
Recalling Sentences
The student imitates sentences presented orally by the examiner.
๏
๏
Medium
(Task is STM not WM)
Understanding
Spoken Paragraphs
The student responds to questions about a paragraph presented
orally by the examiner. The questions target the paragraphโs
main idea, details, & sequencing as well as inferential &
predictive information.
๏
High
Word Definitions
The student defines a word that is named & used in a sentence.
Low
Sentence Assembly
The student produces two semantically & grammatically correct
sentences from words or groups of words presented visually &
orally by the examiner.
Low
Semantic
Relationships
After listening to a sentence, the student selects the two correct
choices from four visually- & orally-presented options that
answer a target questions.
Medium
* Where not prohibited, one repetition is allowed.
** The LMI is the CELF-5 Language Memory Index, available for ages 9-21 only. NA indicates that the LMI is not applicable to ages 5-8.
*** Working Memory is the limited capacity to retain information while simultaneously processing the same or other info.
Oral Language defined under PSW:
The linguistic processes that allow one to communicate effectively, such as the ability to construct meaningful sentences.
Ages 5-8 Only Ages 5-21 Ages 9-21 Only
