A MABC-2 score at the 16th percentile indicates which level of motor difficulty?

• A. No significant motor difficulty
• B. Delayed motor development
• C. Moderate motor delay
• D. Severe motor impairment

Answer: (A)

Understanding how MABC-2 percentile ranks relate to motor difficulty helps interpret the result. The MABC-2 compares a child’s motor performance to age-matched peers, producing percentile ranks that indicate where the child stands relative to normative data. A percentile around the middle or higher is considered typical; lower ranges flag concerns.

A score at the 16th percentile sits just above the commonly used cutoff for at-risk performance (roughly 6th–15th) and above the threshold for significant impairment (often at or below the 5th). Therefore, the 16th percentile falls within normal variation and does not indicate significant motor difficulty. Severe motor impairment would be at a much lower percentile, and a moderate delay would typically fall in the at-risk range (6th–15th).