My predicament is thus: My girlfriend recently invited me to take an IQ test with her, because she wanted to know exactly how smart I was. I always assumed I was pretty smart because I generally do well on standardized tests and my essays have always been exceptional (by the word of my teachers and professors). However, I took a couple online tests and my average was 122...
122 is only 2 points above average intelligence, really, and this concerns me immensely. I enjoy reading and doing research, and although my math skills aren't advanced and I don't have more than the basic prerequisite background in science, my English and Reading comprehension scores were always very good. My logic and problem solving skills tend to vary from test to test, suggesting that it is neither a particular strength or weakness.
Anyway, should I be worried about this score? I really hope that I am intelligent enough to do something good with my life, and I don't want to be too stupid to be happy.
2007-11-25 12:16:34 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
I wouldn't worry about it for four reasons,
1. Performance on an IQ test doesn't have anything to do with happiness and has very little to do with one's ability to make a meaningful contribution to the world. This is because happiness has everything to do with one's outlook on life (also some genetic component) and the ability to contribute something depends far more on one's ability to work hard and get along well with others than one's innate intelligence.
2. Related to the above, IQ tests were and are designed to measure someone's ability to do well in academics (i.e. "book learnin'"). Certainly academic intelligence is part of what we think about when we say that someone is "smart" but there are other components to being smart as well.
3. 122 is actually above average. 100 is defined as the average but usually the tests will say that 90-110 is average or 80-120 is average depending on how inaccurately the test measures IQ.
4. Many of the online tests are not professionally normed - that is, they weren't tested against 1000 people to weed out questions that don't work well and to generate a proper performance curve to assign scores. If you have a tendency to stress out about IQ scores (and some of us do), be sure to take a professionally developed and tested one so that you're at least stressing out about the results of a reliable test!
2007-11-25 12:27:27 · answer #1 · answered by Doxycycline 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You definitely do NOT sound like you have an IQ of 75. Probably more like 110 or 115 (just a guess). I doubt the validity and reliability of the test you took online. If I were you, I would get an appointment with a psychologist who is skilled at IQ tests, and retake the test. Hopefully this will cancel the damage done to your self-confidence! But IQ tests don't test everything, that is all mental aptitudes. There are many factors that go into success. One of them is bullheaded, stubborn, never-quit persistence. The most important thing in life, re achievement, is desire--how much do you want it?
2016-04-05 22:21:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the IQ test is a ratio of mental vs actual age that is multiplied by 100. The average IQ score for a given age group should be 100.
122 is not 2, but 22 points above average.
If you've taken an online test that claims that you're scoring about average for online test-takers, then you have to consider what kind of people take online intelligence tests: educated internet users who like to take IQ tests for fun! This is hardly an 'average' group of people.
A good IQ test should be measured against the general population so that a score of 100 represents the average, and so that people can't take the test several times to improve their score.
2007-11-25 12:35:22 · answer #3 · answered by Benjamin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those tests are ridiculous. I took one a few years ago, and I scored well below 122, but I was a straight A student in school both when I was younger, when I was in college the first time, and when I went back when I was almost 40. I was asked to participate in all kinds of academic things for smart people, but on paper I'm retarded. Oh, and did I mention that on my ACTs when I was a senior in high school I scored in the bottom 5th percentile in the U.S.? Like I said, on paper I'm a dummy. Also, in spite of being a moron, I'm quite happy, well-adjusted, and successful in my career and my personal life. Forget about the IQ test. It's nonsense.
2007-11-25 12:29:30 · answer #4 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Typical IQ tests are usually not even close to accurate because there are many sorts of intelligence. IQ tests focus mainly on mathematical intelligence. Also it has been shown that people who have experience taking IQ test do much better than those who don't, showing that it doesn't really show how smart you are as much as it shows that you already know how to figure out those particular problems.
And you can never be too stupid to be happy. Some of the most unhappy people I know have very high IQs, and conversely, people with fairly low IQs tend to be much happier in my opinion. It all amounts to enjoying your life.
If you were to practice IQ testing, I'm sure you could do much better on your next test though.
2007-11-25 12:22:59 · answer #5 · answered by jerrri 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People with a higher than average IQ tend to have other difficulties -- one issue is lacking the ability to relate well to others, which leads to a lonely life. Trust me, having a high IQ does mean that one will automatically contribute great things to the world. What good is an IQ of 160 if you are too depressed to get out of your apt most days?
Be glad for the intelligence you have and your ability to use it! :)
2007-11-25 12:29:21 · answer #6 · answered by susanmaried 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow 122 is fine! You should not be concerned. It is just an IQ test and often a test can't really tell you how smart you are. You will still be able to go somewhere in life, I think you are taking this test waaayyy too seriously!
2007-11-25 12:21:07 · answer #7 · answered by noname 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they mean very much. I worked for the phone co. and probably a lot of people I worked with would fail one. but these guys were just super at working with their hands, they could fix just about anything. I was always amazed at what a cable splicer could do.
I do think English and reading skills are important, since I did have to read a lot of technical stuff on the job. (I was a telecommunications tech).
2007-11-25 14:19:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
read up on logic and that will raise your score. if you can get a college book on logic. not only will it help you to think better but it will also raise your iq. if you dont have the time for that then just read about categorical syllogisms (not sure if thats spelled right).
also, with the numbers just look for a pattern. square things, subtract things, add things... do it in a pattern, like a computer algorithm.
2007-11-25 12:28:10 · answer #9 · answered by the_honorable_spm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
122 is impressive, i used to go to a fancy catholic school for intelligent students and their IQs mainly are about 115.
2007-11-25 16:40:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋