How accurate is this IQ test?

[BZ00000]

http://www.emode.com/tests/uiq/

[ski]

Well, considering I got 136 while slightly inebriated, I am either a truly amazing genius or it's a crock.

Since I am a genius, I say it's a crock.

[Achernar]

Not very, and here's the giveaway:At the end of the test, you will get your IQ score and Intellectual Type absolutely FREE! You also will be able to PURCHASE a Self Improvement Program — which includes a Personalized Report, "Expand Your Mind" eBook, a Certificate of Intellectual Achievement, and four follow-up emails, all for one low price!

[Geek Mecha]

I would not take the results seriously.

The test is online, and I imagine it's quite a different story giving someone an examination online as opposed to one in person in a controlled environment.

It claims the test was assembled by smartypants "scientists" but it gives no names nor lists their credentials or associations.

This test had a relatively decent set of questions, but there's no way it can give a deep, insightful glimpse into the inner workings of my brain in only 30 questions.

I am skeptical of their claims that my brain may function uniquely, or that there are intellectual "types". The description of my type and my assessment overall is worded vaguely and generically. Not only do I feel the assessment is baloney and at best an exaggeration of the depth and breadth of my mental facilities, I don't see how it's specific to me.

If this were a legit, valid test, why is it here, and not on a more respectable site, like the APA's? Why is it on a "fun" site, and not something more professional or academically inclined? For that matter, why are they charging for the expanded results, and not to take the test to begin with. If it was worth its salt, they wouldn't let any schmoe on the 'net take it for free.

What makes me most skeptical is that it collects information from you before it gives you your score. I am automatically skeptical of anything whose conditions includes surrendering personal information. I highly doubt that any organization that wants personal information would be willing to offer anything of substance in exchange for that information. I expect to be deluged with spam as soon as I check that e-mail account.

[OrganicMatter]

I answered the questions randomly. This earned me a score of 82 along with this interesting summary:

"The first thing we can tell you about that is [sic] you are equipped with a verbal arsenal that enables you to understand complex issues and communicate on a particularly high level. But that's just scratching the surface."

I am also still equipped with my $14.95.

[Bryan Ekers]

They say 135, and my hotmail account is already deluged with spam, so no big deal.

[susan]

I agree with AudreyK--a legit IQ test (1) wouldn't be on line; (2) would tell us who these PhD scientists are.

I'm curious what their ceiling is. My IQ (on legitimate instruments) is always 16 points higher than the score I obtained on this one.

[susan]

Further experiments--when I answer all questions incorrectly (to the best of my ability), I get a score of 75. This is above the cutoff for mental retardation.

Congratulations! Your IQ is 75!

[OrganicMatter]

I also answered all of the questions incorrectly (presumably) and got a score of 77. I was rated as an "Inventive Inquisitor," the phrase proudly displayed next a picture of Ben Franklin -- apparently my intellectual equal. :rolleyes:

I was also crisply informed that my math and verbal skills were equal. I found this especially amusing. Dr. Turing, please pick up the white paging telephone...

[Ariadne]

I got a 135, which is within ten points of both of the real IQ tests I've taken in the last ten years, so I thought it might be a decent test, until I read "The first thing we can tell you about that is you're equally good at mathematical and verbal tasks." Lol, my real IQ and personality tests said my verbal skills are much stronger than my math skills.

Oh, and they just sent this spam, "Visionary Philosophers love chocolate. 57% of them reach for it when a food craving strikes."

So, from reading the new posts, it looks like anyone who's not drunk is getting a 135. I'm going to go back and answer "c" to everything. "people who answer "c" to everything enjoy turnips..."

[Achernar]

Originally posted by OrganicMatter
I answered the questions randomly. This earned me a score of 82...Ha ha, dummy! I answered randomly and got a 90! ;)

[quicken78]

I did the test and got bored when I realised that I had to do the second page (I thought that there would only be one). I got 109. Presumably this means that the score is skewed towards the first page's answers (based on reported results above)?

[Bob55]

Originally posted by OrganicMatter
I was also crisply informed that my math and verbal skills were equal. I found this especially amusing.

haha me too, I got a 136 and my math is almost 2X as good my verbal.

[dylan_73]

I don't get this. I got 138, answering all questions correctly (I checked and couldn't spot any mistake; anyway, they were all easy). How come some people only got 2 less than me? I'm guessing it must be to do with the age you put down. I think for my age group, 138 is the max...Anybody get better than 138? (Maybe someone younger could try it?)

[Ethilrist]

I just picked the first answer to all the questions and got an 82.

[Cat Fight]

Ha ha. I just did the test in about a minute and got 136. All those years of speeding my way through tests without reading the answers properly or checking my work have finally paid off!

[Cat Fight]

Ha ha. I just did the test in about a minute and got 136. All those years of speeding my way through tests without reading the answers properly or checking my work have finally paid off!

[masonite]

Hmm ... I got 138 as well, but I guessed on a couple. I doubt if it was a perfect score on that test, but I suppose it could've been.

[Cat Fight]

I forgot to add "...in the form of an online IQ test. That is of no use to anyone."
I think the real IQ test is who gave their REAL email address w/o expecting to be deluged by spam.

[Ethilrist]

Notice how everybody who got more then 106 has gotten something between 135 and 140?

[BZ00000]

So, I finally took this test (I started the OP) and surprise, surprise 136 and I too did not spend any time on this.

The reason I asked is I have never taken an IQ test and would have nothing to compare it to.

How does one go about about taking an accurate IQ test?

[Primaflora]

One goes to a psychologist in real life and pays them substantial sums of money.

[Geek Mecha]

A psychologist or your local Mensa folks could probably hook you up.

Keep in mind, though, that a high IQ test score doesn't mean much, or at least not as much as most people think. A high score doesn't guarantee of future success, as success is partially dependent on factors an IQ test doesn't and can't measure-- ambition, drive, work ethic, etc.

My psych professor often said that the best predictor of performance in school isn't IQ test scores, but prior performance in lower grade or school levels. And how well one does in life beyond high school or college depends mostly on the work and social habits and skills they picked up while in school.

[susan]

GRE scores correlate pretty well to obtained IQ scores.

[Achernar]

I'd never heard that, Shoshana. Is that really so? If it is, I think the GRE designers did a bad job. The GRE is not supposed to test for intelligence or IQ; it's supposed to predict performance in grad school.

[dylan_73]

Did it again, changing a couple of answers.

With birth in 1973:

All questions correct = 138
1 question wrong = 136 (in second section)
2 questions wrong = 135 (again, both in second section)

Of course, I'm assuming I did indeed get all questions correct the first time...

[susan]

Achernar, I'll see if I can dig up a cite. Yes, there's a lot of slippage between ability and achievement measures.

[Dr_Paprika]

I got 138, which is far lower than what I got on more official tests. I certainly could have made some mistakes. But many of the questions were much easier than Stanford-Binet. I think it's a crock.

[LennyG]

Are there any good free sites where I can test my IQ. I mean like a real test with all the questions, not simply 30 questions. I live in the Seychelles, so we don't do IQ tests at school. I would however like to do one.

[Gyrate]

FWIW, I managed a 142, but filled in random answers to the personal details (including a fake email address). Some of the questions were far too easy compared to other tests I've taken (Hand is to Glove as Head is to....), while others required a fair amount of brainpower.

All this really proves (and this goes for GREs/SATs/ GMATs/ etc) is that I'm good at taking standardized exams. I've yet to find a practical use for this skill in the real world, alas.

[dylan_73]

Oops. Yeah, I screwed up the perfect squares question.

But....

27. Which one of these five things is least like the other four?
Coconut
Grape
Banana
Apple
Pear


Coconut is a better answer than grape! I stand by my choice...

[Gyrate]

Originally posted by dylan_73
Coconut is a better answer than grape! I stand by my choice... On what basis? I was assuming that grape was correct because all the other fruits grow on trees (and yes, nuts are technically fruit).

[dylan_73]

Because it's a nut, rather than a regular fruit. I know nuts are technically fruits but they're usually considered seperately. That seperation was the most obvious to me.

But perhaps it's just me...it wouldn't be the first time I've preferred my odd one out to the "correct" answer... ;)

[Gyrate]

Maybe it just means that you're the odd one out. ;)

[dylan_73]

Yeah, but that's because I'm a nut... :)

[Honey]

Birthdate 1964 - Score 142 (within 4 points of other tests I've taken). I still put no stock in on-line IQ tests.

I chose coconut because it is hard-skinned and hollow, not soft and fleshy.

And apparently, I'm a linguist.

[Tomcat]

Funny that, I got 135...Did anyone get between 110-130?

[Gyrate]

Originally posted by Honey
And apparently, I'm a linguist. Yes, but are you a cunning one? :p

[Honey]

Originally posted by jr8
Yes, but are you a cunning one? :p

Not yet. But I still have a lot of years left. ;)

[Steak]

I also got a 135, which is, by definition supposed to be the top 2% of the population. (130 is the required minimum for admission to Mensa) So either all of us are geniuses, or this test is a farce.

It makes sense from a marketing perspective, though. If you are an average guy and you find out you have an IQ of 135+, you will more likely pay $14.95 for the full report, than if yu had goten 90 - 110.

[Velma]

Originally posted by LennyG
Are there any good free sites where I can test my IQ. I mean like a real test with all the questions, not simply 30 questions. I live in the Seychelles, so we don't do IQ tests at school. I would however like to do one.

Sorry, there is no way to accurately test your IQ without it being given by a licensed professional, in a controlled environment. Portions of a true IQ test require verbal questions and answers, and moving puzzles that require you to manipulate objects in real space. The scoring also can be subjective, so it needs to be done by someone who knows how to interpret your answers. I don't know of any schools that give out full IQ tests to their students, it would be very time-consuming and expensive, and be of questionable value.

If you are interested in doing one, you need to get in touch with someone who is licensed (usually a psychologist) and expect to pay (several hundred dollars?) for it. I don't know how many psychologists will give IQ tests to people who randomly ask for one, though (as opposed to needing one for evaluation as their patient or some such thing.) I got one becuse my friend was in grad school and as part of her training to give IQ tests, she had to actually administer one. (She wasn't supposed to tell me the results, though, so getting one from a student probably wouldn't work).