What's your opinion of I.Q tests?

I think they might be ok for giving people ideas about what they might be good at too, but I don't think that someone should limit themselves to what the results said..not if they had a passion to do it. I think that it would be very hard to take a standardized test and give it to a diverse group of people and be able to judge who was "the smartest." I don't think it would be as accurate as they would like to think. Thanks for responding!

Yes, anyone can excel as long as they put their minds to it! it's not just about IQ. I've heard of not so smart people, who are successful in life, happy, rich and all. the high IQ people, some of them develop this superiority complex, that gets them into problems when socializing with other people. No problem!

Nah...don't put that on your shoulders....you know those kids make their own choices after they reach a certain age. I haven't had one that I can remember. I would like to take it just to see what it said..lol. I worry about those tests as far as the numbers staying with a person..I think that intelligence grows. Thanks for responding.

I think that it might be helpful when testing a group like that to see where their weaknesses and strengths are in an atmosphere where the same things are being taught. I can see why your test might have worked better for the purposes though. The problem I see with them is that, like your high school records, the number stays with you. I think that intelligence is ever changing and it would be hard for me to imagine having the same number now as I had when I was in high school. Thanks for responding!

I can see how a test taken over a course of time could possibly give an idea as to what the person's IQ is within a certain range but even then...not sure. My dad worked with kids at Genius level...they would flunk in other areas of life. He used to bring some of these kids home and sometimes...oh..I don't know as I'd place a lot of importance on IQ level. My own brother is border line genious with ADHD if you can imagine. Rather than the accuracy of the tests, I tend to question the importance. I could tell you stories about my brother and some of the students my dad brought home that would make you question the importance of a high IQ. My experience has been that people with average to maybe even just above average IQs tend to have more common sense and social skills...not sure if that is true but just my experience.

See..those are situations that can greatly effect test scores. I have a tough time thinking that a person's future can be placed in a bracket that has the possibilities of being swayed by so many factors. People are different and I don't think a single test can judge how smart they are. Thanks for responding and take care.

IQs aren't so important sometimes are they? I can see how you would come to that conclusion. There is a guy at work that is supposed to be super smart and he us the hardest person to talk to in the world. It's like he doesn't know how to talk to people.

Teachers and parents can take those numbers and ruin everything. There is a lot of stock put in them and if they can find a gifted child in their school system, they are actually granted so much extra money to create personalized programs...I haven't seen personalized programs...just more work added. There is a difference I think. Thanks for sharing!

That's right...there are people that are "test talented" and then there are those that knows a ton about something and can't pass a test. Test anxiety is a problem that alot of people have. It's hard to judge someone based on a few questions for sure. Thanks for responding!

Heyya Lakota! I can't remember ever taking an IQ test before. I would like to see how I would do on it but if it was a low grade...I would be mad as a hornet..LOL...sounds like you did pretty good. I would probably see flying skunks and aliens in the ink blots and they would lock me away for life...no wait...they are closing those mental institutions! I'd be ok...

The ink blots wasn't really a serious experiment, I just got involved with a group of people in a seminar once it was more like for fun, but I found I could see things from the shapes where most people just saw, well, ink blots. I was in my mid-late 20s at the time. Before that my career was in music as a piano/keyboard player, but slowly "canned" music took over from us expensive musicians so I had to have a career re-think as I had a family to support, so I went into psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, and then Zen came into my work... I don't know what I really turned into then.. I guess I used a bit of everything that I had learned from my courses over the years.. _Derek

Nothing wrong with crazy and unintellectual provided that there is plenty of happiness involved. What was the ages that you did ink blots? I found some very interesting information out about memory,learning, and age relation. Most photographic memories and even certain unpleasant disorders, such as night terrors, stop at late adolescence or early adulthood. It seems that there is what is referred to as a "self pruning" process that occurs where neurons in the brain are given an end or are allowed to continue. They think it is based on what evolution says we need or maybe it is what we use the most of that is allowed to remain. There is some talk of genetics too but there is nothing in stone about any of the reasons why. This pruning process is amazing to me. I think that being able to experience a subtle and conscious release of energy has to be a form of intelligence, but it is not one that can be measured by a stuffy old test..lol.

good lord this loaded so fast I did not even have time t o finish my last sentence. darn I was saying I have to make sure my roomie gets to her meals as she forgets each day even when she has ate already. I feel so sorry for her as she has something she wants to ask the front desk but when she gets down to ask it she will blurt out "I am sorry I forgot what I wanted to ask you? " I try to remind her before she goes down, at 85 I am mama to a 83 year old Alzheimer victim. she was as bright as a new penny when I first moved in with her so we do not know what happened to her mind.so I tell her what year it is, what day of t he month and so on, that way I can help her. I think some of the so called IQ tests are flawed but some of the older ones are pretty accurate. I just wish I did not make typos then miss them until after I have hit post. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I was really wanting your response...that's why it pulled it out so fast. That Alzheimer's is a thief in the night. It seems to work very fast too. I wish they would figure out something about it...I have heard that it is genetics, brain use, corpus callous stuff...who knows? I saw they did find a certain protein that seemed to be only in the victims too. It's great that she has you to help her.

Hi Ms. Hately! I would like to take one just to see what it says. Sounds like they did work out for you and your family. Thanks for the response!

There is a lot of stock put in them for sure. I would like to take one just to see what I would make on it. Thanks for responding.

Hi teamrose! Those are good points! I can't imagine being limited to what a standardized test told me I could or couldn't do. I bet there are a lot of people that do it though. They trust these results. Thanks for the response and it's good to see you.

Very interesting link. I think it would be more beneficial and not so set in stone feeling to have one of those tests instead. I've not taken one before and I didn't see an example of the questions...can a person deceive the test based on the job they want? I was wondering because there was this one test I saw that a local store gave their applicants and it was what they would do under certain situations...is it like that?

Check out what I made! Your score indicates that you have an above average EQ Remember you responses need to have been as honest as possible. If you feel that your score does not reflect you, please retake the test and answer each question in the way that best represents the way you typically feel. People that typically score in this range are able to recognise and understand their feelings as well as being able to express them in an appropriate manner. They are comfortable with who they are. They are not afraid to show love, empathy and compassion for other people. They are comfortable with intimacy and comfortable about giving of themselves to other people. They are also very good communicators. They are very in tune with themselves and those around them. In most circumstances they know how to say the right thing at the right moment. They are good friends and partners. They are able to show anger in appropriate ways and are not afraid to stand up for what they believe. They are not afraid to cry if they are hurt. They are not afraid to admit that they are wrong, or embarrassed to say they are sorry. They are typically happy, well-rounded people. They easily accept challenges and are able to stay motivated and focused in the face of setbacks. They are able to set and achieve goals for themselves. They are positive and optimistic about themselves, the others around them, and their future. Remember that emotional intelligence never stops growing. Because people are always evolving, EQ is something that needs to be nurtured. If it isn't your emotional intelligence will disappear. Continue to utilise the emotional intelligence that you have and continue to identify and work on areas that need work. If you do this, your EQ will continue to flourish! We wish you the best of luck." I was hoping that it would be good...I was nervous.

I found this link which I searched for, just for you! http://www.ivillage.co.uk/test-your-emotional-intelligence-eq/74101 In my life I have come across those with a high level of IQ but do not have the qualities that are required to be a success in life - perseverance,tenacity, patience, zest, et al. I have two nieces who are a fine example of what I have just said. The one with a high level of IQ is in fact reporting to the one who we all considered having far less. This niece is successfully running her business at an international level having well over 600 people reporting to her. Most IQ tests are to be answered with limited time at one's disposal which makes it difficult for some who like to work at a tarried pace. Why not anyway? Why should anyone be made to work under pressure!

Great points! I think there is a lot more to people than what a test can measure. There is that thing called drive too. Thanks for the input!

I agree..the test you are talking about could be heavily influenced by what has been taught to a person...not so much what they are capable of. I think it would be very hard to measure that which continues to grow...intelligence is what we gain too not just what we have learned so far. Thanks for responding!

True that. Also, I know a friend who has no idea in maths and is always failing maths class but yet he know how to earn money and how to squeeze money out of people.. for me, that's intelligence, and not finding x in some mathematical equasions(although that demands a certain intelligence too, of course). I'm just saying there are lots of types of intelligence, not just those things they give us in IQ tests.

Agreed. There are a lot of different definitions for intelligence.

Agreed. I have seen many people that know material front and back but when a test is laid in front of them...they choke. They might even have more knowledge about the subject than the person in class who made that A. Test taking is a skill and the way things are presented can make a huge difference. Thanks for responding!

Wonderful points! There are alot of different things to consider and the attentions that a child has received from here or there and on what specifically really makes me think that I.Q tests would be highly questionable. It also makes me think of people that are "book smart" or "street smart" or in some cases both. Neither is overly intelligent nor mentally challenged. Doesn't make the one skilled in both a genius either..lol. Thanks for responding Sharra!

Heyya Lash! Great to see you. One of the thoughts that I had too was how can you measure something with a standard with the diversity we all face. I also think it is impossible to measure things and give them a specific number when tomorrow, I have learned something new. Does that give me a point? I can't imagine limiting myself to certain fields and interests just because a test said I wouldn't be any good at it. Thanks for responding!

Thank you thesids I'm glad you used your experiences as an example. I would hate to think that anyone would limit the things they dreamed of doing just because an old uptight test told them they wouldn't be good at it. Wouldn't we miss out on all the things that make life worth living if our future depended on what someone else told us our mind was able to or not able to do? I am glad you still pursued what you wanted to do and didn't limit yourself to what a test said you were capable of. I bet people that do are often disappointed and feel unfulfilled. Thanks for the response!

I think that EQ is a much more relevant set of points to put our attention on. Fluid intelligence can not measured...it is always changing. If I stop experiencing and learning...yes...maybe it could be measured...but you can't measure things that change. Thanks for the response!

I think it is a shaky way at best to determine talent or lack of. I think it would be tough to measure things that are always changing anyway. Thanks for the input!