# Are IQ tests of the very young valid?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iq-tests-of-the-very-young-valid/131715>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 10, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iq-tests-of-the-very-young-valid/131715 "2002-10-10T19:03:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Sin\_Serially](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Sin\_Serially](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sin_Serially)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iq-tests-of-the-very-young-valid/131715/21 "2011-03-13T00:14:19Z")

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I had an iq test when I was in preschool. It was supposed to see if you were “underperforming.” My mom loves telling this story since I scored a 144.

I’ve always wondered about the validity of that test. It took about 6 hours, and I actually screwed up and answered more of the test than I should have. It was timed per section and I kept going when I should have stopped. Probably a good thing since I would have been really bored otherwise.

(In primary school I was always the first person done with a test - I can doodle pretty well because of it)

Anyway, I know that these tests can be a test of test-taking.

I’ve just been curious about that “genius” result. I could read before kindergarten if that helps at all. I think that was from actually going to a preschool more than anything though, as they taught me how to read.

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iq-tests-of-the-very-young-valid/131715/22 "2011-03-15T05:44:54Z")

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> [@Sin\_Serially](#):
>
> I had an iq test when I was in preschool. It was supposed to see if you were “underperforming.” My mom loves telling this story since I scored a 144.
> 
> I’ve always wondered about the validity of that test. It took about 6 hours, and I actually screwed up and answered more of the test than I should have. It was timed per section and I kept going when I should have stopped. Probably a good thing since I would have been really bored otherwise.
> 
> (In primary school I was always the first person done with a test - I can doodle pretty well because of it)
> 
> Anyway, I know that these tests can be a test of test-taking.
> 
> I’ve just been curious about that “genius” result. I could read before kindergarten if that helps at all. I think that was from actually going to a preschool more than anything though, as they taught me how to read.

I had a similar test when I was in 3rd grade, at 8 years old. It took half the day, and the final number was 159.

I have come to realize that at age 8, I was above curve of other 8 year olds, to sufficiently to reach 159.

Now, at age 39, I realize that children mature at different rates and it would be foolish to brag about a 31 year old test.

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**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-iq-tests-of-the-very-young-valid/131715/23 "2011-03-15T06:05:12Z")

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IQ tests measure cultural adaptation. they are worthless.

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