3 ms·

Have you taken one? It certainly felt like the kind of test that could be improved with practice. Not as easily as the SAT, sure, but certain patterns seemed t

Have you taken one? It certainly felt like the kind of test that could be improved with practice. Not as easily as the SAT, sure, but certain patterns seemed to appear, in a way I bet I could prep for. I haven't tested that hypothesis, but if anyone wants to fund me to take a bunch over the next year... let me know ;) (Why did I take it in the first place? Curiosity. Maybe also a bit of vanity. "Rationality" seems like a false idol to focus purely on in general, for decisions.)

gizmo686 4y ago
IQ has a map/territory problem as well. The theory is that you have some underlying IQ, and the test is a tool to determine what your IQ is. It is well established that practice can improve your score on an IQ test. However, that does not imply an improvement in your underlying IQ.
- chongli 4y ago
  Close. Improving your score on an IQ test does improve your IQ. Your IQ is literally that score. What it does not improve is g, your underlying general intelligence.
s1artibartfast 4y ago
IQ scores do change over time, largely as a function of curiosity and conscientiousness. You could be a genius toddler but if you fail to learn, your IQ continually diminish relative to your peers
mgkimsal 4y ago
I've taken at least 5 over the course of my life. Possibly a 6th that I didn't know about (possibly age 5 or 6?), but I know of taking multiple between ages 9 through mid 30s. Regardless of the test, the percentile numbers didn't change. I've read people claim on and off for years that you can "study" for them and "improve" your scores, but that's not been my experience. Any variations you get might be slight, but you're extremely unlikely to get any statistical difference... unless.... I had a test at age 9 for a specific 'gifted' program starting in our school district. 2 months later, we moved districts, and I was given the exact same test again. I aced it, because I'd asked my parents some of the questions I didn't understand the first time. I 'confessed'(?) to the test giver in the second district that I'd already had these exact same questions 3 months earlier, which they noted. I'd already 'qualified' after the first test, so again, I don't think there was any significantly different outcome (I 'qualified' after the second test in the new district as well).

gizmo686 4y ago

IQ has a map/territory problem as well. The theory is that you have some underlying IQ, and the test is a tool to determine what your IQ is. It is well established that practice can improve your score on an IQ test. However, that does not imply an improvement in your underlying IQ.

chongli 4y ago
Close. Improving your score on an IQ test does improve your IQ. Your IQ is literally that score. What it does not improve is g, your underlying general intelligence.

s1artibartfast 4y ago

IQ scores do change over time, largely as a function of curiosity and conscientiousness. You could be a genius toddler but if you fail to learn, your IQ continually diminish relative to your peers

mgkimsal 4y ago

I've taken at least 5 over the course of my life. Possibly a 6th that I didn't know about (possibly age 5 or 6?), but I know of taking multiple between ages 9 through mid 30s. Regardless of the test, the percentile numbers didn't change. I've read people claim on and off for years that you can "study" for them and "improve" your scores, but that's not been my experience. Any variations you get might be slight, but you're extremely unlikely to get any statistical difference... unless.... I had a test at age 9 for a specific 'gifted' program starting in our school district. 2 months later, we moved districts, and I was given the exact same test again. I aced it, because I'd asked my parents some of the questions I didn't understand the first time. I 'confessed'(?) to the test giver in the second district that I'd already had these exact same questions 3 months earlier, which they noted. I'd already 'qualified' after the first test, so again, I don't think there was any significantly different outcome (I 'qualified' after the second test in the new district as well).