The Erxin Scales (ERXIN-II): China's 0-6 Child Developmental Behavior Assessment

The Erxin Scales (full name: Assessment Scale for Children's Developmental Behavior Aged 0-6; 儿心量表-Ⅱ) are the child developmental behavior assessment tool defined by Chinese health industry standard WS/T 580—2017. Drafted by the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, and the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the standard took effect on April 1, 2018. It assesses the developmental behavior level of children aged 0-6 (under 7 years), using 28 month groups and 261 assessment items across five domains.

Important: The Erxin Scales are a diagnostic instrument used by trained professionals, not a questionnaire parents can administer at home, and they are not a substitute for medical evaluation. This page is educational only and does not provide scale items, administration methods, or "pass criteria." If you are concerned about your child's development, visit a qualified child health or developmental-behavior clinic where trained staff can conduct a proper assessment. Nothing on this page should be used for self-diagnosis.

What the Erxin Scales Are

The Erxin Scales are a developmental diagnostic instrument widely used in Chinese child health care to evaluate children's developmental behavior level and help professionals determine whether development is within the normal range. It is not a simple "question-and-answer quiz": a professional uses a standardized test kit (examination table, crib, small tables and chairs, stairs, etc.) in a quiet, well-lit environment, and assesses the child by observing and having the child actually perform the items.

Unlike monitoring-style milestone checklists, the Erxin Scales are diagnostic: the administration procedure, pass criteria, and scoring are strictly regulated by the national standard, and examiners must complete professional training and obtain qualification before they may administer the instrument.

The Five Domains

The Erxin Scales evaluate developmental behavior across five domains:

  • Gross Motor — body posture, head balance, and the ability to sit, crawl, stand, walk, run, and jump;
  • Fine Motor — the use of the fingers, such as grasping, pinching, and drawing;
  • Language — the ability to understand and express language;
  • Adaptive Behavior — the ability to respond and adapt to the natural and social environment;
  • Social Behavior — the ability to interact with people and to manage daily self-care.

30 Month Groups

The scale is organized into 28 month groups from 1 month to 84 months (7 years): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72, 78, and 84 months. Each month group contains 8-10 assessment items — 261 items in total — covering all five domains.

What the Developmental Quotient (DQ) Is

The Developmental Quotient (DQ) is one of the core indicators used to measure a child's mental development level, reflecting development in gross motor, fine motor, language, adaptive behavior, and social behavior. It is calculated as:

Developmental Quotient DQ = Mental Age ÷ Chronological Age × 100

The Mental Age is the age level derived from the items the child passes. For example, a 3-year-old who passes the 3-year-old items has a mental age of 3; if they pass the 4-year-old items, their mental age is 4.

DQ Reference Ranges

DQ Rating
> 130 Excellent
110-129 Good
80-109 Average
70-79 Borderline low
< 70 Intellectual developmental disorder

Note: The table above is only a reference range. Interpretation of the DQ must be carried out by trained professionals in the context of the child's overall situation (birth history, caregiving environment, health status, and so on). A single score does not tell the whole story and should never be used to label a child.

Why You Cannot Administer It at Home

Administration of the Erxin Scales has strict requirements:

  • Trained examiners — examiners must complete professional training and hold the relevant qualification;
  • Standardized tools and procedure — a matching test kit is required, and the examiner must strictly follow the operational methods and pass criteria;
  • Environment — quiet, well-lit surroundings, with no prompting, hints, or leading from parents;
  • Integrated interpretation — results must be interpreted by professionals together with the child's overall condition, with special care for children with developmental delays.

For these reasons, any "Erxin self-test" found online cannot replace a proper assessment — parents who self-administer are likely to be misled by non-standard procedures and unclear pass criteria.

When to Seek a Professional Assessment

Consider consulting a pediatrician or child health specialist and asking about developmental screening or assessment if your child:

  • Is not meeting age-appropriate milestones (see the CDC Developmental Milestones or the Developmental Milestone Tracker);
  • Has lost skills they once had;
  • Is noticeably behind same-age children in language, motor, or social skills;
  • Has been repeatedly flagged by kindergarten teachers or early-learning staff;
  • Has perinatal risk factors such as prematurity or oxygen deprivation at birth, and a doctor recommended follow-up.

The doctor will choose an appropriate screening or diagnostic tool (including the Erxin Scales, Gesell, DDST, and others) and guide next steps.

Erxin Scales vs. CDC Milestones

CDC Milestone Checklists Erxin Scales (ERXIN-II)
Nature Monitoring / communication tool Diagnostic instrument
User Parents + professionals Trained professionals
Age range 2 months - 5 years 1 month - 7 years
Items About 159 milestones 261 items
Purpose Daily observation, prompting conversations Assessing developmental level, supporting clinical judgment

The two do not conflict: use milestone checklists for everyday observation and record-keeping, and let professionals use formal scales for assessment when concerns arise.

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Last updated: 2026-10-20

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