Two kinds of WISC-R short forms, item reduction and subtest reduction, are reviewed in terms of their ability to meet these criteria of adequacy: a significant correlation between the full scale IQ and the short form IQ, a non-significant difference between the full and short form mean IQ, a low percentage of IQ classification changes resulting from the use of the short form in place of the full test, and equal applicability to normal and referred children. The entire spectrum of skills tapped by the WISC-R is assessed by the item reduction short form. The time saving is worth while, and the validity of the short form full scale IQ adequate. Profile analysis procedures should be avoided on the curtailed subtests procedure in view of their poor validity and reliability. Subtest reduction short forms offer a maximum savings in time according to the number of subtests omitted, with quite adequate validity for the longer versions. The best reason for using the subtest rather than item reduction short form is the ease of administration coupled with the ability to complete the entire test if results are at all equivocal. (Author/PN)