Over the years I've done IQ tests here and there. The other day, one of the Belgian channels was 'Testing the Nation'. I missed it, but I did the test on their web-site (
www.rtltvi.be/legrandtest - it's in French though). I got 121, which is above average.. I've done a Mensa test in 2003 (result 123) and again in 2005 (I think it was exactly the same result as the one in 2003) and another non-Mensa test last year (
www.IQTestClub.com) where I got 137!? As I'm always 'above average' I tried another one tonight (link below) and I got 126 (I’m addicted..
).
I don't understand! I really really don't think I'm an intelligent person. Well, certainly not above average! I was just about 'average' all through school. I was doing very well in some subjects in school (mathematics, French, Geography), but in general, I belonged to the not so brilliant pupils. I never had the ambition to excel and show off. I did what was expected and not much more. University was a bit different of course, but nothing exceptional.
In company with friends or colleagues and when I meet new people, I quickly loose track and don't know how to keep a conversation going, especially when it's about 'important' stuff like politics, economics, philosophy, religion etc. I might have my opinions, but they don't go very far or deep and I just feel that I don't know much at all. I envy those 'intellectuals' you see in hour-long tv-debates or other (on politics, literature, religion and stuff). I would never ever be able to keep up. On the other hand I'm crap at small talk and it exhausts me. I'd rather shut up than 'talk small'.. So, what's these 'above average' results I keep getting? I know an IQ test doesn't give the whole picture and there are emotional intelligence tests and so on, but I wonder what the results really mean. One friend once told me, that I probably hadn't found the right job yet, were I could really excel and shine.. He also told me, that I had probably not been challenged enough as a child, hadn't made enough use of my capacities and probably 'gave up' early.. Hmm... Dunno..
There are a variety of different IQ test, which are all calculated slightly differently. I found this one to be quite good -
www.intelligencetest.com/. On the link provided, after taking the test, you can convert your result into Stanford Binet and Cattell versions of IQ tests, though I have no idea what the difference is!
Some of my result report says:* All 30 questions answered
* Questions answered correctly: 25
* Percentage correct answers: 83 %
* Your age adjusted IQ score is 126
* Your Grade ** Above Average **
* Your score was above average and within two standard deviations of the mean score (top 85 to 97.73% of the population) Typically, people with scores in this range can see logic in their surroundings and perform very well academically. You like to conceptualize ideas and gather your own information which means that you have the brains to go far. You should be able to handle all academic challenges and if you think of intelligence as an ability to adapt adequately to new situations then you are heading in the right direction. - I find that last comment a bit silly, really..
Test yourself and post the result (if you want) or your comments and opinions about IQ tests.
j. U. d. E.