# How Smart Are You, Anyway?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-are-you-anyway/313105>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 19, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-are-you-anyway/313105 "2005-07-19T04:55:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-are-you-anyway/313105/121 "2005-07-24T14:38:50Z")

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> [@Cuckoorex](#):
>
> So is the difference in test scores mostly a result of memorization? Can a person of “average” intelligence test on the level of a genius if they cram for a few nights before the test? I think it’s possible. It’s a measure of how well one can prepare for a specific test; and much of school is the same way, in my opinion.

Not memorization, but the process of thinking itself. The more you have to solve problems the better at it you get, the more your brain adapts to that activity. People develop connections between neurons all their lives. Those that do challenging things develop more connections than those that do not.

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