This standardised test is used to evaluate motor skills in children and adolescents. The measure assesses sensorimotor functioning and motor coordination; specifically focusing on gross motor ability (e.g. jumping, catching), fine motor ability (e.g. drawing, writing), motor coordination and the integration of visual, audio and kinesthetic information. There are three composite scores: Manual Dexterity, Aiming & Catching and Balance. Each composite comprises of a number of subtests (see Figure 2.1) that are used to test two to six year olds, seven to 10 year olds and 11-16 year olds. However, data from the three age bands cannot be directly compared in experimental studies because the tasks used vary according to age groups. Test-retest reliability is reported by the authors as between .73 and .84 for components and .80 for the total score.
In this study, the second age group (seven to ten years) tasks were administered. These tasks are described in Table 2.4. These tasks took up to 30 minutes to administer. Scoring is scaled according to age and task on a specific score sheet during the administration.
Each subtest record also provides space for qualitative notes such as ‘holds head at odd angles’ or ‘goes too fast for accuracy’, which can be ticked or other notes added. Handedness is also noted. Best attempts raw scores are standardised and combined to form part of the respective component. Percentiles are also provided for the three composite scores.
Table 2.4. Descriptions of tasks of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children Edition (2nd Edition, Henderson, Sugden & Barnett, 2007)
Composite Task Description Administration
Manual Dexterity
Peg Board Placing pegs in any order into holes on a board
Two trials timed, each hand separately Sewing Threading string through holes in
piece of hard plastic using both hands together
Two trials, timed
Drawing a Trail
Drawing a line between outlines on a trail
A second trial is conducted only if no errors were recorded during the first trial. Errors are marked if pen marks are observed outside the outline Aiming and Catching Throwing and Batching a Ball
Throwing a tennis ball against a wall and catching using one or both hands, under or over arm, without a bounce aged nine-10, bounce allowed for ages seven and eight
Five practices, ten trials
Bean Bag Throwing a bean bag onto a marked circle at a prescribed distance (six mats away) using one or both hands, under or over arm
Five practices, ten trials
Balance Wobble Board Balancing on a wobble board, each leg separately for up to 30 seconds
Two trials are required if
maximum time not achieved on first attempt
Walking a Line
Walking heel-to-toe along a marked line for approximately 15-20 steps (dependent upon foot size).
If trial completed first time, second trial is not required
Hopping Hopping from mat to mat on each leg separately (five mats each leg, hit or miss)
If five hops are completed on the first trial, the second is not required
2.2.5 The Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration
(VMI) and Supplemental Tests of Visual Perception (VP) and Motor
Coordination (MC), 5
thEdition (Beery, 2004).
These three tests (VMI, VP and MC) are designed to assess the extent to which individuals aged between two and 18 years can integrate their visual and motor abilities (hand-eye coordination). Whilst some individuals may possess good manual skills, and others may possess good shape perception, the extent these skills are integrated within individuals can be assessed using a specific task. Standardised and normalised six times between 1964 and 2010 with a U.S. population of more than 12,500 children, the Beery VMI has been described as a valid measure of visual-motor integration (Goyen & Duff, 2005; Parush et al., 2010). The reported test-retest stability coefficient is .88 (Beery, 2010). The subtests in the Beery VMI can be used as stand alone tests, but the manual advises administration in the order they appear in Table 2.5
Table 2.5. Summary description of the Beery Test of Visual Motor Integration, Visual Perception and Motor Coordination (Beery, 2004)
Test Description Administration
Beery Visual Motor Integration (VMI)
30-item sequence of geometric shapes to be copied by hand, free form, into the boxed space provided directly below the shape to be copied
10-15 minutes allowed
Visual Perception (VP) This requires identification of the matching geometric target from a choice of possible similar forms (30 items), which the child marks on the record form
This is a timed task (3 minutes)
Motor Coordination (MC)
This requires the child to trace a shape (30 items) staying in between double lined paths on the record form
This is a timed task (5 minutes)
Practice examples are used for all three tests. The tests can be administered in groups. Items are either ‘score’ (1 point) or ‘no score’ (0 point) according to strict criteria (see Manual, Beery, 2004, pp. 28-88). Raw scores are converted to standardised scores and percentiles according to chronological age. Test scores were standardised on the basis of chronological age to the year and month (rounded if >15 days to the next month i.e. 8 years, 3 months and 16 days became 8 years and 4 months) in accordance with the manual. The results can be interpreted in the context of norms shown in Table 2.6.
Table 2.6. Standardised score interpretation of the Beery Visual Motor Integration Test (Manual, Beery, 2004, p. 90)
Standard Score Performance % Of Age Group
>129 Very High 2 120–129 High 7 110–119 Above Average 16 90–109 Average 50 80–89 Below Average 16 70–79 Low 7 <70 Very Low 2