# Test The Nation on Fox...How'd you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759 "2003-06-10T01:41:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/21 "2003-06-10T08:23:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Max Carnage \* > \*\*I was with you there too, infact had marked that as my answer until I realized that parquet, carpet, and linoleum are all floor _coverings_ and are laid on something else, whereas asphalt is a floor itself. > > I did mark that one as a potential argument though. \*\* I thought of that as well, but Where ‘they are used’ strikes me as less important than ‘essential nature’ and texture is part of composition which is part of essential nature I stand by my objection. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/22 "2003-06-10T08:28:57Z")
I forgot part of my thought there. In terms of SQL. what I meant to say could be edited by the statement c/ Where ‘they are used’ /Where ‘they are used’ and how they are applied/ ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/23 "2003-06-10T16:23:21Z")
[Mensa International](http://www.mensa.org/) has a lot of info about IQ tests in general and the Test The Nation stuff in particular. There’s a link to info about IQ testing in the US. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/24 "2003-06-10T16:41:00Z")
Interestingly, I got the same score (within 2 points) as the last time I was tested, 40-odd years ago. I would’ve picked up a few more points if I had a few more seconds to check my work–I blew the “who has how much money question”, even though I knew the numbers were $10k/$20k/$40k. I just picked the wrong son. I agree about the asphalt question. I can also see some justification in the claims that IQ tests have a cultural bias. And I thought a better analogy to grape:wine would be flour:bread, not flour:dough, but that’s a nit. ---
**Author:** ![Back\_Lot\_Brawl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Back\_Lot\_Brawl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Back_Lot_Brawl)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/25 "2003-06-10T17:42:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolfman \* > \*\*I’m a 57 out of 60 too. But I officially protest one of them The > > Parquet, Carpet, Asphalt and smothing else one, The carpet is most different in my mind since it doesn’t have a hard smooth texture, and I have seen Asphalt in several houses. > > All the ones I missed were in language, I aced all the rest. \*\* I agree, I think that question could be interpreted more than one way. I got 120, which confirms what I already knew-- I’m above average, but certainly not a “genius.” Not that I actually believe IQ tests “intelligence,” but it’s the best we have for now… I thought they went WAY too fast with the language questions – other than math (where I KNOW I absolutely suck!), I missed the most on that portion. I know that’s one of my strongest areas normally – I’m a writer, for God’s sake! ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/26 "2003-06-10T17:46:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **wolfman** > I officially protest one of them Parquet, Carpet, Asphalt and smothing else one (linoleum), The carpet is most different in my mind since it doesn’t have a hard smooth texture, and I have seen Asphalt in several houses. Absolutely agree with you on that wolfman. I got it wrong for the exact same reason. 120 (50/60) BTW I don’t have my scorecard but the memory section if I remember gave me the most trouble. I think I missed 2 of them. I hate it when they ask knowledge questions on IQ tests. The one **wolfman** and I protest should not have been asked. Lack of specific knowledge has no bearing on intelligence.[spoiler]I’ll bet a whole lot of people don’t know what parquet is. I’m in Architecture but just because I know what parquet is does not mean that I am smarter than the Physician. I can also say that carpet stands out because it can be made from unnatural materials. All of the others pretty much are all made from natural materials. This is a case where too much knowledge can work against you on an IQ test.[/spoiler]See? Knowledge can affect your score despite your intelligence. Ignorance is not an equivalent to stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/27 "2003-06-10T17:51:57Z")
I scored 129. Which is annoying; it’s like winning the silver medal instead of the gold. I’m _right_ under their supposed Mensa cutoff! My only wrong answers were in the beginning. Once we hit math, I breezed through (although I’d be more proud of it if the number pattern questions didn’t use the same damn pattern every time). It’s kind of like my GRE scores: average verbal, near-perfect and perfect math and analytical scores resepectively. Which is strange, since I have degrees in English and Journalism but not math. Once again, despite my education, it’s been proven that I’m just one gigantic left brain. ---
**Author:** ![Echo9er](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Echo9er](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Echo9er)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/28 "2003-06-10T18:12:23Z")
52 out of 60 137 based on age group ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/29 "2003-06-10T18:25:50Z")
48/60 1. Go me. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/30 "2003-06-10T19:44:28Z")
1. How do you find out your national ranking? ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/31 "2003-06-10T22:17:14Z")
Sweet hopping mary, I am a genius. But I’m not as smart as Dr. Drew. The lord giveth, and then his judgement comes, and that right fast. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/32 "2003-06-10T22:30:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cat Fight \* > \*\*How many points do I get for _not_ taking a test given by Fox? Isn’t that a bit like Hilary Clinton giving me marital advice? \*\* Bravo **Cat Fight** I am glad to see I am not the only Doper to see the absolute irony of the Fox channel running an IQ test. :rolleyes: Although I would have to say it is more like Bill Clinton counseling teens on chastity. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/33 "2003-06-10T23:13:02Z")
Why does one get a higher score if in his thirties, then someone in his twenties gets for the same amount of correct answers? You would think one’s problem solving skills would get better not worse, or is it expected one in his thirties is already on the decline? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/34 "2003-06-10T23:41:47Z")
49/60 for 118 … though I KNEW I got 2 wrong before the time ran out on the question. They should let you change your answer if you had time left over, I think (it wouldn’t have done much for me… merely given me a score of 121). ---
**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:** [June 11, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/35 "2003-06-11T00:11:24Z")
57 130 ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/36 "2003-06-11T00:16:21Z")
I just took the test online at [http://testonfox.com/home.htm](http://testonfox.com/home.htm), and scored 57/60. Since I’m in the 35-54 age range, that gives me a Fox-rated IQ of 138 according to [this table](http://testonfox.com/247/table.htm). Yay! However, if I’d been just a few years younger, the age-table linked to above would have given an IQ of 130. This is just at the Mensa cutoff, so one would need to take a particularly _special_ cream pie to the first meeting to be accepted by the other Mensans. Does anyone know if other IQ tests have such a steep age correction curve? Also, many of you previous posters know which questions you got wrong. Did they give the correct answers on the Fox show? They don’t seem to be on-line, unless I’ve missed a page somewhere. I’m not complaining about my results – I’d just like to know which ones I got wrong… ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/37 "2003-06-11T00:40:54Z")
yeah they gave the answers on the show. Also what they showed was that single people score lower than married, and married score lower than divorced. They tried to draw some meaning from that, but I was thinking, “wouldn’t it make sense that these things happen as a person gets older? Couldn’t this be explained away by the age curve?” Did anyone else think that? ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/38 "2003-06-11T02:03:55Z")
I’ve taken a number of IQ tests in the past, and I have to think that this one had a lot of age-specific questions (or, at least, questions that older folks would have better odds of answering right–like the proverb comparisons, which are sheer culural exposure, not raw intellect). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/39 "2003-06-12T19:57:16Z")
I know this is a few days old now, but I don’t have internet service at home, so I had to wait until I got to work (heh). I got 54 for 126. (28 years old) I don’t know what a parquet is. But I still guessed asphalt because it was unlike the other 2. Therefore I disagree that knowledge is affecting intelligence, so long as you can logically deduce the answer from your existing knowledge. If I were on top of my game, I think I would have scored a 57 (130). I missed 2 language ones (One I felt really stupid about). I missed the last 2 memory questions, which I don’t feel I would have gotten without guessing on my best day. I breezed the logic… then missed 2 math questions that I really should have gotten. (I misread one, and the other I tried to make more complicated than it needed to be.) Then I breezed the last section. Of course, given that… the time, the style of test… its all factored into the IQ anyway. So, we would all probably get a similar score on a more traditional test. I felt it was pretty good and consistent with other IQ tests. Oh, and I always knew that Dr. Drew was really smart! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759/40 "2003-06-12T21:24:33Z")
Fortunately, I was unable to take this nationally-televised IQ test, because my computer is in a different room from my TV set. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-the-nation-on-fox-howd-you-do/180759.md?page=3)