My biggest fear.....the IQ test.

I don't really know many people on this site, but I'm hoping that will change. Maybe keeping a blog here will get more people willing to be friends?

I guess, for my first entry, I'm going to write a little bit about one of my biggest fears....taking an IQ test.

I always went to schools for the gifted my entire life. Then, I went to some pretty elite colleges. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a hard worker. I was the classic underachiever. But I think I have some natural ability.

Ironically, I am being both intrigued by and repelled at the idea of taking a legitimate IQ test online.

I know the average IQ is only 100. I'm pretty sure I'd be above that. But I want to be at least 2 standard deviations (95th percentile) above the average.

I mean, if I took the IQ test, and scored a 115, or so, it would wreck my confidence. There are countries like Japan or Germany where the average IQ is 108....I would be just a little better than average. It would kill my self-esteem because so much of my confidence rests on the fact that I perceive myself as intelligent.

Sigh. I'm always afraid of taking a chance, in anything, because I'm content in the uncertainty. My friend D. said that the way I live is like living in a grave. I really appreciated that tough love and honesty from him. I hate being sugarcoated when I'm in the wrong....but this lesson just doesn't seem to get internalized no matter how often I hear it.

Comments

If you had no problems in college, you'll do fine.

I had 127. Idk if that's in the top 5%, but I'm not complaining. 3 points more and I would be a genius. Damn it! lol
 
It doesn't matter. Having a high IQ doesn't do anything for you, because there's more to intelligence than what those tests measure. Having a high IQ doesn't make you function better among your fellows. In fact (and I'm probably not telling you anything you haven't already experienced) it can make it more difficult to relate to others. It won't make you richer. My Wechsler Adult scale IQ is at the 99.7th percentile, and I guarandamntee you that my income doesn't match it. It won't make you kinder, or improve your relationships, or make you more "successful". Even those whose IQ scores are below average often have what it takes to function as decent, contributing members of society. Why? Because they have other gifts that aren't measured by tests.

If having a high IQ score makes you happy, go for it. There are things you can do to help yourself score higher. If you find, after searching your heart, that it really doesn't matte to you, then forget all those numbers, find your bliss, and follow that. And don't look back.
 
You have to turn your belief that the tests really measure intelligence, into dust.
They measure your ability to take that test, that day ... and that's all.
From what you say, you must be at least in the top five percent anyway.
If you performed well, without particular effort, in schools for the gifted, then you are no doubt above two standard deviations above the mean.
FWIW, for years, the threshhold for giftedness was considered an IQ score of 130, which puts the testee in the top 2 percent. In that sense, you may have already demonstrated, to school authorities, that you're more than two standard deviations above the mean.
(Furthermore, the idea of giftedness has also evolved. Now, they look at more areas, including creative thinking, leadership ability, artistic talent, and psychomotor ability.)
 
avoid all thought of IQ tests and percentile of this or percentile of that. is the pathway to madness and really pissing off your friends. stop now while you still can. i'm only half joking.

anyway, according to the tests i have a high IQ. according to real life i am dumb as dirt.
and no where near as useful.

ML
 
If it makes you feel better, I scored 148 when I took it, and I don't feel overly smart. I.Q tests have changed so much...Oh, read rubi's post. It's good.

I'll just conclude by stating that I.Q tests really don't count for as much as they once did, specifically BECAUSE of all the areas of intelligence to look at.
 
There is more to intelligence than what can be tested on an IQ test. I heard recently that the national average in the USA was around 111. I don't feel particularly smart but I tested up in the mid 130's. Shame they can't test common sense, I think that's something that a lot of people I've met with high IQ's don't seem to have.
 
Have I stumbled into a Mensa chatroom by mistake? Anyway, I'm amused that everyone in here seems to be in the top 2%, highly unlikely, but possible, I suppose. One chap, at three standard deviations beyond the mean puts himself at 1 in 1000. Mmmmm. From what I've read in these forums, Noam Chomsky has nothing to worry about. My guess is that people exaggerate IQ much as they exagerate penis size. Oh, and FYI, like everyone esle here, my IQ, does qualify me for Mensa membership as measured by SAT and GRE testing done long, long ago when test taking was not something that you could take a course in.
 
yeah. i don't know....i was interested in joining MENSA....but then again, i don't really see the point. i am a teacher and i'm going to graduate school. meeting intelligent people is not really hard to find for me.

i was looking at MENSA's criteria for admission and i barely would be able to get in with proof of SAT scores (1260...630 verbal/630 math) i'm surprised the 98th percentile on the SAT was so low at 1250, considering i had friends who scored up to 1420.

but then again, i live a sheltered life. i work as a teacher at a school for high achievers, i go to graduate school, and i've attended elite schools my entire life. i've never really encountered many people who were far below my level in my day to day life
 
yeah. i don't know....i was interested in joining MENSA....but then again, i don't really see the point. i am a teacher and i'm going to graduate school. meeting intelligent people is not really hard to find for me.

i was looking at MENSA's criteria for admission and i barely would be able to get in with proof of SAT scores (1260...630 verbal/630 math) i'm surprised the 98th percentile on the SAT was so low at 1250, considering i had friends who scored up to 1420.

i think if i
 
and i certainly believe in the theory of multiple intelligences. personally, i think people often equate intelligence with the traditional verbal/math-logical notion because that's really the only thing that is stressed in schools. i think artistic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, kinesthetic etc. are all just as important.
 
Doesn't IQ tests measure verbal and mathematical skills? What about the other intelligences?

Howard Gardner* Seven Types of Intelligence

Theory of multiple intelligences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can be too smart for your own good. You need to get out more with REGULAR people who think that what Britney Spears is THE most important thing in the world, or people who get upset over "their" team not winning....

Come on down to the little people instead of elite this or elite that....
 
i have nudged past nearly everything in life, always just passed by a slight margin, Mensa rates my IQ at 130, previous iq tests have rated me at 147, huge fear before the test, was so releaved when i got the result, actually i didn't even think that it would be much above 100, always thought that something about me saw things others didn't, or refused to, but i just couldn't understand why i just coudnt get my school work together, now i have formed my conclusions and it all revolves around how i used to organize. still think that my grammar sux. I think that stress, fear and stalling could be the primary factor in us not archiving our best, keeping calm would probably boost your IQ another 10 points. IQ is certainly a help in creativity and solving problems, but it doesn't really always do that much for you in education. i have been fairly successful at a few things out of school. my2c
 
yeah, my iq is pretty good, but it never really helped me out in school, much. granted, i went to some pretty challenging schools, but still. i always had bad grades in foreign language, and often times would get bad grades in math and science.

and the iq doesn't help me feel any more competent at work.

all it does is make me feel that i can discuss a wide range of topics with friends and all in an engaging manner. i don't think it's particularly useful.
 

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