Does an I.Q. test measure general intelligence or just academic skills?

Answer 1

it tests abstract intelligence, memory power, mechanical intelligence. academic skills and high IQ are two different terms. a person who has high IQ forced to join a course in which he has no aptitude may show dismal academic skills.

Answer 2

The original i.q. test, many years ago, I think it was called the Binet test, and later joined Stanford, we developed for a very specific reason: to test to see if French students were capable of advanced school studies. Period.

That is, it was a predictor of academic performance.

I do think i.q. itself is an inherent ability to comprehend or figure out things.

The problem is the test. Most tests assume a certain culture; a certain education background; a certain vocabulary; a certain social class; etc, then require you to use that background to solve problems.

Mensa at one time, when I was involved, had several tests they used, and several more they accepted. The most common are somewhat vocabulary and math oriented. There are also types of tests which measure ability to observe shapes and forms.

So, it is certain that different tests look for different talents of the mind.

25 years ago, there was a man who produced a test for very high i.q's saying standard tests did not properly measure that level of high i.q.

If you bought the test, it was open book, use calculators, take all the time you wanted. I got the sample question, and did find the answer -- and it took me several days. The test clearly required the person to synthesize a new technique to solve it. None of your past skills applied.

Still, that test could be assumed to be a test of creativity, rather than intelligence.

So, while I think i.q. is a brain function, the test is the weak link.

Answer 3

IQ tests can test both depending on what test you take or give. What most people won't tell you is that IQ tests are also effected by socioeconomic status and past experiences. Take this as an example: Runner is to race as boat is to ______.
A. Relay
B. Sail
C. Regatta
D. Anchor

If you come from an urban area and are pretty young, the chances are you've never even heard of the word regatta. Anyway, that's one argument for racial / socioeconomic bias in IQ tests.

Now for academic or General intelligence testing. No matter what test you select, the outcome will be based on experience and practice with the given tasks. Tests can focus on abstract intelligence, general intelligence or academic ability, but will be dependent on experience.

Answer 4

An IQ test measures overall intelligence. That would of course include education too.
But in many cases, a very bright person might not pick the right answer.
Suppose the question is: What is the best material from whicj to build a home?
a. wood
b. brick
c.clay

The person who see the beauty in clay or wood might choose those answers whereas the less asthetic person might choose brick because of its conventionality and durability. In these cases, neither is really wreong, but one's answer could detract from his overall IQ.