In this study, cognitive processes hypothesized to be relevant to the digit symbol task of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) were examined. Fifty-two undergraduate education students were divided into four groups to receive four different treatments. All the students took the digit symbol test, followed immediately by a test of their memory for the nine symbols. Then they were given a verbal paired associate learning test. After that, one group studied codes to help them remember the digit symbol pairs; the second group practiced a letter symbol test; the third group had repeated practice on the digit symbol test; and the fourth group worked on a social studies reading task. After eight minutes, all the students took the digit symbol test again and then a second test of memory for the nine symbols. All four of the groups obtained somewhat higher mean scores on the second administration of the digit symbol test, but there were no significant differences among the four groups in the amount of gain. Possible reasons for this outcome are discussed, and suggestions are made for further research. (Author/CTM)