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Author Topic: Where to get an iq test?  (Read 7211 times)

Il Palazzo

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Re: Where to get an iq test?
« Reply #15 on: October 12, 2011, 01:43:23 pm »

I just wanted to throw my twopence in defence of the IQ tests. There is certainly a large bullshit part to it, and it mostly lies with the unfortunate naming. The IQ tests won't tell you much about your intelligence, but they can tell you how proficient you are with one particular skill, that is quickly finding patterns. It is a skill that can be trained, and that might be useful - some employers might even use a similar test to evaluate their prospective employees. For example, should you ever apply for a position of an air traffic controller, you can expect to have such a test. It does not mean that the airports need inteligent people as such, rather they look for people who can quickly analyse and respond to what's going on.
So while taking these tests won't be a definite evaluation of some vaguelly defined quality that we call intelligence, it might help you find out what kind of jobs you might be good at.

To answer your original question, you can take the so calle "workout" test from the MENSA's webpage - you have to time yourself, and there is just one set of questions I believe. It serves no other purpose than telling you how good you might actually be at doing such tests. You won't get any written confirmation of your score or anything - it's just for your own knowledge.
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sambojin

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Re: Where to get an iq test?
« Reply #16 on: October 20, 2011, 05:03:23 pm »

A high IQ isn't worth a great deal in the real world. I supposedly have what is considered a genius level (huh?) IQ and can happily say that I'm often dumber than many people around me. Way dumber.

I'm good at pattern matching. Good at analysis of figures. Good at logic. Good at maths and even not too bad at physics and chemistry.

Guess what? I work as a public area cleaner, haven't finished high school and sort of dream what a real job would be like. One day maybe....

An IQ test certainly does measure your aptitude at some things. But the fact that you can read, write, spell, sound polite and are willing to take advice are probably attributes that are far more necessary in life than having a high IQ.

My pattern matching skills make me good at amatuer aerial archaeology for which I don't earn a cent. Your writing abilities and ability to take advice may get you that job I always wanted.

Although, if you do find a free, legitimate place to do an IQ test, I'd love to hear of it. More so for the "how much dumber I've become after 15 years of drinking and no academia" than anything useful. I believe they attempted to measure the IQ's of dolphins, dogs, etc. I want to know how I lost my monkey :)
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Il Palazzo

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Re: Where to get an iq test?
« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2011, 07:29:27 pm »

There's a very nice post on some aspects of IQ tests on Steven Novella's blog:
http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/iq-and-motivation/
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Africa

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Re: Where to get an iq test?
« Reply #18 on: October 23, 2011, 10:27:11 am »

Basically what people have been saying. Intelligence is very multifaceted thing, and IQ tests measure certain aspects of it.

If you want to know your skill at the domains that IQ tests measure, take one, but calling that "intelligence" is misleading since just about every human behavior is a form of intelligence.
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sambojin

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Re: Where to get an iq test?
« Reply #19 on: October 23, 2011, 06:38:18 pm »

I actually find one of the most interesting aspects of IQ tests is the psychology of those that take them. Whether the results are what they want, like many things, it's how you use them,

In a nutshell it can be summed up like this:
Whether you have a high IQ or a low one, and never really mention it unless asked, you'll be fine. If you have a high IQ and go bandying it about as though it's an interesting topic for discussion, you're a socially retarded git.

High IQ's are like personal health problems in a way. No-one really want's to hear about them. It's one of those things that you could see a doctor (PhD) or specialist about if it's bothering you :)
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