# Have you ever had an IQ test? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444 "2010-05-14T16:31:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/81 "2010-05-16T11:56:23Z")
The fact that I was a\* failing\* student at one of the **dumbest** schools in our state at the time alerted my mum that something was somewhat amiss. I took an IQ test and rated up in (depending on the ‘aptitudes’) between the 94th and 99th percentiles. She transferred me to a smart school straight away. I got all bolshy and transferred back to me’ old school. I regret it now. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/82 "2010-05-16T14:19:35Z")
I had one to find out what might be a good career for me when I was out of high school. It was good in that it showed me my areas of strength and weakness and what jobs matched my talents. I got into a tech school and work was fun for me. It was a good match for my skills. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/83 "2010-05-16T14:40:11Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > I had one to find out what might be a good career for me when I was out of high school. It was good in that it showed me my areas of strength and weakness and what jobs matched my talents. > > I got into a tech school and work was fun for me. It was a good match for my skills. This sounds more like a career aptitude test than an IQ test. To answer the thread, I had an IQ test in grade school, same as a lot of other people. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/84 "2010-05-16T16:24:04Z")
Once at age five because I knew all the subjects in first grade prior to getting there (they let me skip that grade), and again at age nine. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/85 "2010-05-16T18:12:59Z")
Two in elementary school, one from a psychology grad student who lived across the street, one from a psychologist who was a friend of my parents. ---
**Author:** ![nuggz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@nuggz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuggz)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/86 "2010-05-16T21:28:09Z")
I had an iq test a few years ago because I opted to take part in a study for University of Michigan… The result wasn’t: You have an IQ of 140!, instead, it was a percentile ranking based on catergory. So, say there were 10 catergories (I can’t remember exactly), I could rank anywhere from 1% (worst) to 100% (best), 50%, I assume, being average. Some of the catergories I sucked in… like 3rd percentile bad. Others I excelled in, like 98 percentile. I did some referencing online and gained a ballpark idea of what my IQ is, based on the average percentile I had per each catergory. I have no idea if I’m right, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/87 "2010-05-17T05:39:30Z")
In reply to Olivesmarch4th’s question about the IQ study that my family participated in back in the 50s… Yes, the study showed that there is an interplay of genetics and environment. So if you have the genes for a high IQ, in the best situation the genes will be fully expressed. On the other hand if you have the genes for a high IQ, in a poor environment, you will wind up smart, but not as smart as those with the better environment. And a similar relationship exists for those with genes that allow for a lower IQ. Nothing new now, but at the time, Nature/Nurture was not well understood. And our family (Mom, Dad, two sons) learned our IQ scores. I’m sure that wouldn’t happen if the study was conducted today. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/88 "2010-05-17T13:51:03Z")
> [@sunstone](#): > > In reply to Olivesmarch4th’s question about the IQ study that my family participated in back in the 50s… > > Yes, the study showed that there is an interplay of genetics and environment. So if you have the genes for a high IQ, in the best situation the genes will be fully expressed. On the other hand if you have the genes for a high IQ, in a poor environment, you will wind up smart, but not as smart as those with the better environment. And a similar relationship exists for those with genes that allow for a lower IQ. > > Nothing new now, but at the time, Nature/Nurture was not well understood. > > And our family (Mom, Dad, two sons) learned our IQ scores. I’m sure that wouldn’t happen if the study was conducted today. That’s cool, thanks for sharing. It fits with some recent research I read about the way impoverished children’s brains don’t develop properly thus limiting their intellectual capacity. [QUOTE=nuggz] I had an iq test a few years ago because I opted to take part in a study for University of Michigan… [/QUOTE] Hey I’m a Michigander (transplanted to East Coast) and attended University of Michigan. Are you/were you a student there? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/89 "2010-05-17T13:51:19Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > In school. I think about 7th or 8th grade. Likewise, though I think a bit later in my case. > [@ErinPuff](#): > > I don’t remember doing it, but apparently I took one to get into advanced classes in high school. I don’t know my score. I was offered advanced classes after mine but I don’t think that was the reason behind the test. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/90 "2010-05-17T15:58:44Z")
I also took one in school. It had to be past age 7 or 8, because I remember it fairly clearly, but not enough to remember exactly when. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/91 "2010-05-17T16:27:29Z")
I was tested in junior school, senior school and when I joined the armed forces . ---
**Author:** ![HeadNinja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b4bc9f/32.png) [@HeadNinja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeadNinja)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444/92 "2010-05-17T18:31:23Z")
Helped a friend in grad school by being their test subject. Most of our friend group did too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-had-an-iq-test-why/539444.md?page=4)