# What is your IQ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561 "2009-10-29T03:51:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/121 "2009-10-31T19:09:03Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > I read something last night in the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of _Scientific American Mind_ that seems pertinent and interesting to this discussion: one researcher has evidence (laid out in the article “Rational and Irrational Thought: The Thinking That IQ Tests Miss”) that intelligence and _rationality_ are weakly correlated at best. > > It’s commonly accepted that IQ tests measure “something” about “intelligence” because people who do well on one type of IQ test pretty much do well on all the other types also. Yet those same people who frequently do well on IQ tests and their like (for example, top undergrads at MIT) do NOT score much better on these types of questions compared to a control group of average IQ people. > > Here’s a sample question used to illustrate the point: > > \*\* ( Jack ) =\> ( Anne ) =\> ( George ) > \*\* > \*\*Jack is looking at Anne, but Anne is looking at George. Jack is married, but George is not. Is a married person looking at an umarried person? > \*\* > \*\*(A) Yes (B) No (C) Cannot be determined > \*\* > > The correct logical answer is **(A) Yes**, because Anne is the unknown factor and has only two states: either she’s married, or she’s not. If she is married, then the statement is true because she’s looking at George (unmarried). If she is NOT married, the statement is still true because Jack (married) is looking at her. > > Over 80% of people tested choose (C), because they “lazily” think that the question boils down to whether or not Anne is married (which is the case), which is not given in the problem, and see the available option of “Don’t Know/Can’t Tell” which fits in with their first conclusion, so voila. If the (C) option is _removed_ from the question, then people get the question right. _ **This tendency to “think it through” over “picking the obvious answer” is only weakly correlated with IQ.** _ > > The author of the article (Keith E. Stanovich, professor of human development and applied psychology at the University of Toronto) also recently wrote a full book on the topic, _What Intelligence Tests Miss: The Psychology of Rational Thought_ (Yale University Press, 2009), which I am going to pick up soon. This is one of the most interesting posts I’ve seen in a long time. I guessed C, thinking that it was some question that only dummies would get wrong. I figured that Anne’s status hadn’t been named, so it couldn’t be determined. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/122 "2009-10-31T22:38:30Z")
> [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](#): > > This is one of the most interesting posts I’ve seen in a long time. I guessed C, thinking that it was some question that only dummies would get wrong. I figured that Anne’s status hadn’t been named, so it couldn’t be determined. That’s an example of what Dr. Stanovich calls being a “cognitive miser”. Disjunctive reasoning (thinking through all possibilities) is unnatural, and just because you CAN do it doesn’t mean you do it by default. When the choice (C) is removed from the list of answers, for example, most people get it right. But when (C) seems overwhelmingly the “obvious” answer, AND is given as one of the possible expected answers, it becomes very natural and tempting to simply go with that answer and move on, conserving brain power for something more problematic. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/123 "2009-11-01T00:24:54Z")
Cognitive miser, right. So does that mean I don’t have to feel stupid? > [@Chicken\_Fingers](#): > > As I understand it, the versions of Stanford-Binet and other tests used now do not measure IQ above a certain number. I don’t think that most researchers and testers care whether you’re slightly better at these tests than 99 percent of people, or waaaaaaaaaay better at these tests than 99 percent of people, so they are now saving themselves the work of breaking down the tiny sample at that end of the curve. > > So if you were told years ago that your test score was higher than 160, it’s a valid score, as far as these things go. Different tests score differently, too, obviously. Today’s 140 might have shown as a 165 on a test you took in 1970. Were you “smarter” then? Who knows, but they were attempting to measure the higher numbers. The older tests are actually still valid, though outdated in a cultural sense. So which one only goes up to 150? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/124 "2009-11-01T00:28:29Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > Here’s a sample question used to illustrate the point: > > \*\* ( Jack ) =\> ( Anne ) =\> ( George ) > \*\* > \*\*Jack is looking at Anne, but Anne is looking at George. Jack is married, but George is not. Is a married person looking at an umarried person? > \*\* > \*\*(A) Yes (B) No (C) Cannot be determined > \*\* > > The correct logical answer is **(A) Yes**, because Anne is the unknown factor and has only two states: either she’s married, or she’s not. If she is married, then the statement is true because she’s looking at George (unmarried). If she is NOT married, the statement is still true because Jack (married) is looking at her. > > Over 80% of people tested choose (C), because they “lazily” think that the question boils down to whether or not Anne is married (which is the case), which is not given in the problem, and see the available option of “Don’t Know/Can’t Tell” which fits in with their first conclusion, so voila. If the (C) option is _removed_ from the question, then people get the question right. _ **This tendency to “think it through” over “picking the obvious answer” is only weakly correlated with IQ.** _ This is a good example why you should always, ALWAYS draw a little diagram, no matter how simple, on these sorts of questions when doing any kind of test, a la the **(Jack) =\> (Anne) =\> (George)** above. It really helps one to see “the big picture” and maybe pick up on something you would otherwise miss. Always helped me on things like the GRE. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/125 "2009-11-01T02:18:40Z")
I took the WAIS-R in college, when I was 20. Verbal IQ = 113 Full Scale = 104 Performance IQ = 90 I was being tested for ADHD at the time. I wonder if my scores would be any different now that I’m on medication. I’d like to think they would be higher considering how dramatic of a difference Adderall has made in my life … but it could be I’m just an average bear. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/126 "2011-08-24T04:26:20Z")
I was tested, but never told what the result was. When I asked, those in the know acted as if it were a state secret or something. I think they just didn’t want to bother looking it up. I’ve taken several tests that claim to evaluate your IQ. For what it’s worth, I always came up within a point or two of 135. I’ve been told that genius level is 140. So I’ve always thought of myself as “Five Points Under”. If I ever get adopted into an Indian tribe, that will be my official name. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/127 "2011-08-24T04:43:40Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I’ve been told that genius level is 140. Actually, I believe that 145, or 3 standard deviations above the mean is considered genius level, **10 Points Under**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/128 "2011-08-24T05:50:33Z")
What IQ does a zombie have? Seriously? I’m commenting on my own thread 2 1/2 years later? Goodness ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/129 "2011-08-24T07:50:17Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Actually, I believe that 145, or 3 standard deviations above the mean is considered genius level, **10 Points Under**. 😃 Cool! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/130 "2011-08-24T13:54:28Z")
I was tested three times in school (once in elementary, once in junior high school, once in high school). The first two times, I didn’t even realize it was an IQ test. The third time, I was pissed that they wouldn’t give me the results. Interestingly, I found out the results of all three from my file at a college admissions office, and they were all within one point (two were identical, the third was a point lower). I took a self-proctored Mensa practice exam in college and got the same result. That seems odd to me. I wouldn’t expect that kind of consistency on the tests. I’d expect a ten-point variation depending on what mood I’m in or how much sleep I got the night before. Is this unusual? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/131 "2011-08-24T14:24:12Z")
Are there any reliable (free) online ones? ---
**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:** [August 24, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/132 "2011-08-24T16:38:53Z")
Well, these results explain why I always feel so dumb here. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/133 "2011-08-24T16:51:15Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Well, these results explain why I always feel so dumb here. Or because this forum is full of liars. In a random sample, the peak of the curve should be right around 100. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/134 "2011-08-24T16:55:14Z")
This thread was obnoxious and people here are full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/135 "2011-08-24T16:56:26Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > Or because this forum is full of liars. > > In a random sample, the peak of the curve should be right around 100. This isn’t a random sample; it’s a self-selecting sample which probably _does_ have a slightly-higher-than-overall-median IQ. Not this much higher, though. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/136 "2011-08-24T17:20:43Z")
I was tested when I was in second grade, and scored at 148. They asked me if I wanted to skip a grade or two, but I chickened out. School was never a problem, except for Geometry and Chemistry; I got B’s and C’s in those subjects. I noticed some cognitive decline in my mid-twenties, while I was in graduate school. I probably should have had myself checked out, but never did. Now I’m 50, and that may be my IQ, too, I’m afraid… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/137 "2011-08-24T18:05:05Z")
> [@thatguyjeff](#): > > Or because this forum is full of liars. > > In a random sample, the peak of the curve should be right around 100. The lowest end of that curve isn’t likely to be hanging around the Internet looking for polls called “What is your IQ?” And I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some answers that weren’t 100% accurate 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/138 "2011-08-24T18:09:38Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Are there any reliable (free) online ones? No. IQ tests need to be administered by someone with psychometric training to have any validity at all. ---
**Author:** ![Kelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelby)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/139 "2011-08-24T18:28:26Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > No. IQ tests need to be administered by someone with psychometric training to have any validity at all. There are group aptitude tests, such as the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), that provide a reasonable index of intelligence, but the most valid assessments are ones given individually by a qualifed examiner, as you point out. Some schools used to give group IQ tests, such as the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, which I’m guesing some of the posters here remember taking. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561/140 "2011-08-24T18:33:04Z")
Test in university during a psych experiment. 145. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-iq/515561.md?page=8)