# How accurate is this IQ test? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978 "2002-11-16T03:17:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BZ00000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@BZ00000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BZ00000)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/21 "2002-11-18T21:20:00Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/22 "2002-11-18T22:38:10Z")
One goes to a psychologist in real life and pays them substantial sums of money. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/23 "2002-11-18T22:45:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/24 "2002-11-19T06:59:02Z")
GRE scores correlate pretty well to obtained IQ scores. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/25 "2002-11-19T07:09:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/26 "2002-11-19T11:39:42Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/27 "2002-11-20T04:23:21Z")
**Achernar,** I’ll see if I can dig up a cite. Yes, there’s a lot of slippage between ability and achievement measures. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/28 "2002-11-20T04:42:39Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![LennyG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@LennyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LennyG)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/29 "2002-11-20T11:57:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/30 "2002-11-20T12:25:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/31 "2002-11-20T13:23:45Z")
Oops. Yeah, I screwed up the perfect squares question. But… ```auto 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… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/32 "2002-11-20T14:20:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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). ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/33 "2002-11-20T15:00:11Z")
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… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/34 "2002-11-20T15:11:05Z")
Maybe it just means that _you’re_ the odd one out. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/35 "2002-11-20T15:29:13Z")
Yeah, but that’s because **I’m** a nut… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/36 "2002-11-20T15:40:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/37 "2002-11-20T15:49:04Z")
Funny that, I got 135…Did anyone get between 110-130? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/38 "2002-11-20T16:28:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Honey \* > \*\*And apparently, I’m a linguist. \*\* Yes, but are you a cunning one? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/39 "2002-11-20T16:59:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > \*\*Yes, but are you a cunning one? 😛 \*\* Not yet. But I still have a lot of years left. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Steak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Steak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steak)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978/40 "2002-11-20T19:11:28Z")
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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-is-this-iq-test/136978.md?page=3)