IQ Tests

Who here has experience with IQ tests?

I recently undertook one at my university because the psychology faculty needed volunteers for a study on the accuracy of self estimates with regards to intelligence.

(A friend signed me up, because apparently I am rather arrogant and he wants to put my concietedness to the test haha)

Anyway, I sat down for the test and have not yet received my results haha. Not sure what to expect, there were some questions and stuff that just absolutely baffled me.

For instance one of the sections was to make a narrative out of a sequences of pictures, and then select the answer from multiple choices. I had no idea what was happening. When I made a narrative out of the sequences, the corresponding number sequences wouldn't appear as a possible answer!

Haha, it was really challenging, and at many points I had to think, and visualise shapes and orientation. It was a lot of fun.



Anybody else done one? What are your thoughts on them in general?

Also if you're gonna brag about your IQ, lol source it mother ♥♥♥♥ers. Because I am sure everyone on the internet has and IQ of 130 and a 9 inch penis to boot.

So please don't lie haha.

I've never taken a legitimate IQ test - mostly because I don't really care. I don't think IQ is something that can be measured in numbers; it's an extremely abstract concept, and there are different types of intelligences.

I'd estimate my IQ to be about 104, based on this test, which is said to be the most accurate onlne IQ test.

Otherwise, other online IQ tests are bull♥♥♥♥. They're made to be easy and the scores are inflated.

IQ tests are excellent at measuring some things, such as spatial reasoning (I'm good in 2D, suck at 3D), pattern recognition, logical deduction, and basic reasoning.

They don't measure intelligence. Indeed, the fact that it's possible (and fairly trivial) to study for IQ tests should be sufficient proof of that.

Nah, never done one, though a few years back I was pretty obsessed about learning how smart I was since I pretty much thought I was the smartest thing ever.

Nowadays, I know what I'm capable of and what I'm not. I don't need a test to tell me that.

I'm terrible at 2D spatial processing.

Originally Posted by Anithene

I've never taken a legitimate IQ test - mostly because I don't really care. I don't think IQ is something that can be measured in numbers; it's an extremely abstract concept, and there are different types of intelligences.

I'd estimate my IQ to be about 104, based on this test, which is said to be the most accurate onlne IQ test.

Otherwise, other online IQ tests are bull♥♥♥♥. They're made to be easy and the scores are inflated.

That test is nothing but pattern recognition with a tiny bit of spacial reasoning. Part of an IQ test, but not a whole one.

Originally Posted by John

They don't measure intelligence. Indeed, the fact that it's possible (and fairly trivial) to study for IQ tests should be sufficient proof of that.

You don't think that it is possible to change ones level of intelligence?

Originally Posted by Anithene

I've never taken a legitimate IQ test - mostly because I don't really care. I don't think IQ is something that can be measured in numbers; it's an extremely abstract concept, and there are different types of intelligences.

I'd estimate my IQ to be about 104, based on this test, which is said to be the most accurate onlne IQ test.

Otherwise, other online IQ tests are bull♥♥♥♥. They're made to be easy and the scores are inflated.

According to this, my IQ is 133. Time totally ran out on the last question, and on a few ones I was like "♥♥♥♥ EVERYTHING RANDOM ANSWER". But it was really fun to go through

So yeah, I call bull♥♥♥♥ on measuring intelligence in a number, especially when you measure it by simply recognizing and understanding patterns.

I may be kinda good at this, but there's so many stuff I also fail miserably at that this thing doesn't even get close to, that it can't really be a good way to super globally measure the intelligence level of a person.

But whatever, the tests are fun

Originally Posted by AzraelBlack

You don't think that it is possible to change ones level of intelligence?

I'm sure it's possible, but not via cram session. Intelligence is, at least in part, a habit and a way of thinking, whereas studying teaches you facts, which are different.

I suspect I'm a bit above-average for intelligence (don't we all), but I know I'm very good at remembering certain types of facts, which makes me seem much smarter than I am.


Or, to put it another way: If you know things, but aren't intelligent, then you're Google. If someone asks you the right question you can give an answer, but you can't look at a problem and figure out how to solve it.

Originally Posted by John

I'm sure it's possible, but not via cram session. Intelligence is, at least in part, a habit and a way of thinking, whereas studying teaches you facts, which are different.

Ah right right, yes I agree.

I do think it is possible to increase intelligence. I mean practicing reasoning actually creates more connections between neurons in one's brain. I think the physical evidence is enough to suggest it is possible.

But I agree, not in a cram session, but prolonged training.

Nah ich bin sehr doof. Ich war nie klüg o.o

lol jk I would say anyone is samart in their own way. Not everyone has to be a know it all genius like the next person. But ones intelligence can be increased if one wishes to learn. A IQ test is just another sorry excuse to get you frustraited on something stupid.

I got 118 according to that test. Yay?

I've taken a bunch online. I mean, what arrogant teenager hasnt? I don't really think they should be seen as anything remarkable, reasons for this have already been given.

Don't think I could be assed to take an actual IQ test. I'm kind of bad at taking tests anyway so I'd probably stop giving a ♥♥♥♥ 70% through it and just bull♥♥♥♥ answers.

i began the test but by the time i hit 25 i was really bored so i clicked random answers for the remainder. still got like 112.

wonder what i wouldve gotten if it wasn't so tedious.

Although IQ tests can be good occasionally for giving general indications of intelligence, I wouldn't say that they are always accurate indicators of intelligence at all. For one thing, a person's score for IQ tests can vary wildly depending on how they're administered. Secondly, as John has already mentioned, preparing for the test even for a mere few hours or so beforehand can easily provide boost your score.

As for my personal experience with them, I was administered some tests as an 11 year old, and obtained an overall score of just over 130 based on a combination of visual and auditory tests (with an additional "memory IQ" being a bit lower at 120). A couple of years ago, however, I was diagnosed with CAPD (central auditory processing disorder). My psychologist at the time gave me a different kind of IQ test, one that entirely eliminated auditory input (ie. no spoken cues from the tester) and solely tested visual intelligence. Based on this, he estimated my visual processing IQ to be roughly 160. Honestly though, I think that's too high, so I'd take the numbers themselves with a grain of salt.

What I do agree with, however, is the substantial difference between the scores for tests based on visual and hearing comprehension - I've known for a long time that my strengths don't lie in music or anything else related to processing sound! And that was something that the IQ tests were able to quantify somewhat. This is what I mean by IQ tests being useful as general indicators only.

Back in high school I ended up doing a 15 minute presentation on IQ, and standardized test, so I've done a fair amount of research into the subject.

IQ can give a very general idea of a person's intelligence. Beyond 120 though, it has very little influence on a person's success (financial), because after that point, it's other characteristics that have a greater influence. Social aptitude and whatnot.

And online tests are generally complete jokes. They intentionally make them easier, and inflate your score, to get you to feel good about yourself, and to pull you into paying for a "more in-depth analysis". There are also all sorts of other problems with them, especially with some of the pattern recognition questions. In more sophisticated tests, you'll generally have 8 images forming the pattern, and you need to guess the 9th blank image. There's definitely something wrong when a test only shows you 3 images, and expects you to guess the fourth. There can easily be interpretations for the sequence and how it should proceed beyond the immediately obvious. Which means a correct answer might be registered as a wrong one.

Other questions (they've got these on Mensa tests) ask you to unscramble letters, to form an English word. Problem with these is that they can easily end up testing your knowledge rather than your intelligence. Yes, more "intelligent" people will generally have a wider vocabulary, but they will all (almost always) still have gaps in that vocabulary, and it's really hit or miss if the specific question is thus "fair". I encountered such a question, the solution was a word that I had never seen or heard before, and as a result my score was lowered because apparently I don't read enough books. Which would suggest that intelligence can be raised, at least by their definition of it. Of course if there are enough questions, a single wrong answer won't have much bearing on the final result.

I've done online tests, I've downloaded some more "legitimate" tests, and I've had a couple of them back in school. My opinion these days is that they're a complete waste of time. It's not like they tell you anything you don't already know; everyone has at least a general idea of where their strengths lie. The best it can do is kill your motivation, if/when you get a lower score than you were hoping for.

Originally Posted by Anithene

I've never taken a legitimate IQ test - mostly because I don't really care. I don't think IQ is something that can be measured in numbers; it's an extremely abstract concept, and there are different types of intelligences.

I'd estimate my IQ to be about 104, based on this test, which is said to be the most accurate onlne IQ test.

Otherwise, other online IQ tests are bull♥♥♥♥. They're made to be easy and the scores are inflated.

Just took it and I basically just guessed everything. At first I had a very little idea of what I was supposed to figure out. and even once I got the basic idea down. I just guessed anyways.

In the end I got 101. lol

I thought about taking an IQ test before online. But I was smart enough to guess that those weren't accurate. That and I was never good at test taking that and I just get bored.

I have never taken a serious IQ tests and - to be honest - I don't even understand what they measure. I have yet to grasp what intelligence is, I'm afraid, and I'm having a hard time defining that on my own.

I'd be really excited to get scored properly once, mainly because, uh, this'll sound arrogant, but I do consider myself smart and I want to see it proven. :'>

Saúl, when you get your scores, make sure to share them and tell us about why you think you ended up getting that and such! c:

Originally Posted by Super Nes

I have never taken a serious IQ tests and - to be honest - I don't even understand what they measure.

From what I understand, they measure your ability to solve problems, not actual intelligence. As is, there is no real definition for what intelligence is, so how could you make a test to measure it?

Me, for instance: I'm good at memorizing things. I know a lot of facts because of this. I'm better at memorizing text than things I hear. However, I'm terrible at problem solving because I can't recognize patterns very easily - I'm also horrible at math, something that requires you to recognize patterns. Reading and writing, though? Good at that, because it doesn't require pattern recognition, at least not the way math does.

I already know I'm bad at recognizing patterns and solving problems, so what good would an IQ test do me? I don't need to be told it's a weakness of mine.

Let me tell you something interesting:

Did you know that I had to evaluate IQ tests made by children in the local hospital for children with disabilities as part of my job as research assistant?

The IQ test that I mainly evaluate is the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and I had to compare those with Autism Spectrum Disorders with the control group.

There are four parts to the WASI tests: Vocabulary, Block Design, Similarities, and Matrix Reasoning.

For the vocabulary section, participants have to define particular objects and concepts. Examples of terms used include bird, alligator, bell, vacation, police, cart, lunch, impertinent, presumptuous, niche, trend, decade, panacea, dance, entertain, famous, blame, ruminate, devout, and so on and so forth. They are scored based on how close they are to the correct definition. Using the example of decade, the participant is given a maximum of 2 points if he/she said "a period of ten years", 1 point for saying "many years", and 0 points for saying "[any number that is not ten] years."

For the block design, participants have to use a given set of blocks to create a certain design. They are timed, with more points given if correctly set up quickly.

For the similarities, participants have to state the similarities between the two. Examples of similarities include red-blue, pen-pencil, bowl-plate, freedom-law, capitalism-socialism, peace-war, more-less, photograph-song, tradition-habit, and so on and so forth. They are scored based on how close they are to the correct similarity. Using the example of red-blue, the the participant is given a maximum of 2 points if he/she said "primary colours", 1 point for saying "colours on the American flag", and 0 points for saying "candy flavours."

Finally, for matrix reasoning, participants are presented a sequence and he/she has to identify the picture that would correctly complete the sequence. Each correct sequence is awarded one point.