IQ and MCAT

[wjs010]

I was reading a readers digest article and it says that research has shown many ways in which average IQ individuals can obtain a gifted IQ, no joke. It sort of blew my mind, but you can actually significantly increase your IQ. This got me to thinking. I wonder how much of the MCAT is pure IQ, how much of it is " hard work with the prereqs" and how much of it is critical thinking skills. I suppose all three of these are independent. I don't see myself as being born genius...although smarts does run in my family. The brother is a surgeon and the dad a lawyer.

I would love to know if you think which one of these three aspects really truly trumps on the MCAT. Obviously it is great to have all three. If you know your IQ, dont be shy...please state your IQ. I'd like to see if there's any correlation here. It will blow my mind to see a 41S with a lower IQ and a 25 with a higher IQ. Please do share 😀 P.S, I don't know my IQ, lol. I guess that it is normal . I am just now becoming an avid reader so maybe it will increase.

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[911 Turbo]

75. I'm not too bright

 

[Dailux]

You can reach your maximum IQ, fundamentally the definitive criteria used to quantify intelligence, but never exceed it. An average person can appear to be intelligent by illusion (expanding vocabulary) or by excessive focus in one particular area (a football coach), but all humans are innately limited. It's important to differentiate between what society views as smart and someone's ability to grasp and extrapolate on varying concepts.

That is not to say that everyone is currently operating at their maximum. Substance abuse, poor diet (particular foods with synthetic preservatives), or living a sedentary lifestyle will all lead to a significantly lower IQ than the true maximum.

To answer your original question, the MCAT is a test where IQ is measured to a degree but ultimately reaches a point of diminishing returns. Someone who is above average (1 standard deviation above the norm, in this case a 115 IQ) would likely not score much higher than someone considered exceptional (3 standard deviations above the norm, or a 145 IQ) given that they come from similar academic backgrounds and put forth an equal amount of studying toward the test.

 

[zoner]

Hmm. I don't think so. Because with mcat you have all that time constraint and stress factor. they always costed me 6 to 9 points points due to silly mistakes thay I could have caught with more time

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using SDN Mobile

 

[lobo.solo]

I say hard work + critical thinking

 

[darkjedi]

Your IQ is your LizzyM score times 2, everyone knows that.

 

[Doudline]

You can reach your maximum IQ, fundamentally the definitive criteria used to quantify intelligence, but never exceed it. An average person can appear to be intelligent by illusion (expanding vocabulary) or by excessive focus in one particular area (a football coach), but all humans are innately limited. It's important to differentiate between what society views as smart and someone's ability to grasp and extrapolate on varying concepts.

That's just so wrong.

 

[Bangersandmash]

I'd say IQ has relatively little to do with an actual MCAT score. I have a friend who is very gifted in taking tests (perfect SAT, 176 LSAT) and has an extremely high IQ, but he hasn't done a science course in 3 years. I doubt he would score well on the MCAT unless he put in TIME and EFFORT to study for it. Might he get a 40 because he is such a good test taker? Yes, but his innate IQ won't compensate for his studying.

 

[StarlessNight]

I agree with the other posters that said the MCAT isn't really IQ-based. It's knowledge+hard work+critical thinking. My cousin has an IQ of 150 (determined by a real psychometric psychologist), and he only scored a 33 on the MCAT.

 

[bob99]

Your IQ is your LizzyM score times 2, everyone knows that.

I actually laughed out loud when reading this. 👍

 

[Dailux]

That's just so wrong.

So, you are suggesting that a maximum can be exceeded? If you accept that you live on planet Earth, then what you're saying is contradictory.

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Hasn't the IQ test been shown to be a terrible indicator of intelligence?

 

[wjs010]

the research that the readers digest writes about suggests that doing certain things like reading more, listening to classical music, solving tons of puzzles, etc. can increase your IQ from below avg to avg, and from avg to gifted .lol...the other guy may be right...quite possibly I may score average on the IQ test, yet my genetic and innate capability may be above average

 

[Aerus]

IQ and MCAT scores are somewhat correlated, but it's mostly hard work.

Of course, hard work can only get someone so far. After that, it's natural intelligence and luck.

My IQ is around the mid 140's, I believe. Then again, there is so much cultural bias and extraneous factors in an IQ test.

I haven't taken the MCAT yet.

 

[nabilesmail]

I don't get how people predict einstein to have like a 155 IQ, and then 6060608 people claim to have IQ's from test above 150- is there IQ inflation lols

 

[wjs010]

I think critical thinking is a form of knowledge instead of natural intelligence, which is a hopeful thing to say. I am liking to hear that the MCAT is mainly hard work and knowledge...I think that is just about right. I didn't know einstein's IQ was 150 lol

 

[Narmerguy]

I don't get how people predict einstein to have like a 155 IQ, and then 6060608 people claim to have IQ's from test above 150- is there IQ inflation lols

IQ means very little. There are a ton of people with "brilliant" IQ's that are just mediocre in life. It's probably related to this very discussion about the MCAT--success in life usually takes some combination of intelligence and hard work. Fortunately or unfortunately, there comes a point where the limiting factors to success is seldom additional "intelligence" and instead social skills, personal charisma, diligence, organization, creativity, perseverance, etc etc.

 

[theseeker4]

I don't get how people predict einstein to have like a 155 IQ, and then 6060608 people claim to have IQ's from test above 150- is there IQ inflation lols

I imagine that type of claim is very similar to the "I just got a 40 on my MCAT everyone on SDN!!" Type posts. Or they are counting one of those "instant IQ" online quizzes as an actual IQ test.

And yes, an IQ test, like any other test in existence, is flawed and not 100% reliable.

 

[Samiamm]

So, you are suggesting that a maximum can be exceeded? If you accept that you live on planet Earth, then what you're saying is contradictory.

You're whole comment was ignorant, especially the part about food preservatives being linked to your IQ

 

[wholeheartedly]

I imagine that type of claim is very similar to the "I just got a 40 on my MCAT everyone on SDN!!" Type posts. Or they are counting one of those "instant IQ" online quizzes as an actual IQ test.

And yes, an IQ test, like any other test in existence, is flawed and not 100% reliable.

Yeah, I'm a bit skeptical of some of the scores I've seen thrown around here on some of the threads. I've taken those online "IQ" tests that a couple friends have sent along and on one I scored like 78 and on another 147, so.... lol. I've had two full-length IQ tests administered by a psychologist in my life (not by my choice). I'm just happy that my true IQ was closer to the 147 side than 78,

IQ tests have documented flaws like cultural bias etc. The other thing is there are different types of intelligence, some define creativity as a form of intelligence. Plus we've all met people who are book smart, but have no common sense.

In the end I'm not sure it matters a ton. Regardless of the relationship between IQ and MCAT, you're still going to study your butt of for it if you have any sense.

 

[Doctor Strange]

If anything, I think the best indicator of your IQ on the MCAT would be the verbal section. You can't really study for it at all, and it's purely based on gathering information and sorting it out in a short amount of time.

At least that's what I'd like to think since I scored pretty well on verbal. >___>

 

[ilikevegetables]

Both the IQ and MCAT are just flawed tests. A lot of times IQ gets talked about as if it is some defined number that is unchanging for any given person, but really, the number is a test result the same way as the MCAT is. Similarly to the MCAT, too, there are the same other factors that go into the MCAT - test design, test day conditions, etc., not to mention that the scoring scale itself has only the meaning we give to it.

Plus, did you guys know that IQ is age-dependent? The test technically measures your 'mental age', and then that divided by your chronological age and multiplied by 100 is your IQ (that's why the average is 100). So, if you score a 140, then your mental age is 1.4 times your chronological age. This makes sense to a point - if you're a 10 year old with a mental age of 14, you're clearly pretty smart. But what about a 35 year old with a mental age of 49? A 50 year old with a mental age of 70? What would such a high 'mental age' even correlate to? Probably not what the IQ test measures.

...Anyway, I digress.😀

 

[Bangersandmash]

IQ test are more like scores of your thinking ability in certain areas (vocabulary, critical reasoning, etc.) rather than a measure of "intelligence" or ability to do well in school. If you think of it that way, anyone who isn't severely mentally handicapped has the ability to perform well on things, it just may be slightly easier for someone with a better thinking quotient.

 

[notbobtrustme]

You need a properly administered IQ test which is not an easy thing to do. It's not as simple as taking a 60 minute online IQ test.

FWIW, I had one of those IQ tests done like 10 years ago. Administered by a psychologist and all that jazz and I scored like 107 or something like that. Slightly above average but not overwhelmingly so. I also managed to score a 37 on the MCAT, pull great grades in undergrad/grad school, and score quite well on medical school exams so far (only two subjects under 90% at this point).

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You need a properly administered IQ test which is not an easy thing to do. It's not as simple as taking a 60 minute online IQ test.

FWIW, I had one of those IQ tests done like 10 years ago. Administered by a psychologist and all that jazz and I scored like 107 or something like that. Slightly above average but not overwhelmingly so. I also managed to score a 37 on the MCAT, pull great grades in undergrad/grad school, and score quite well on medical school exams so far (only two subjects under 90% at this point).

It's not like the SB5 is a magical test that objectively quantifies intelligence and almost all psychologists think it is bunk. We're going to move away from IQ tests sooner or later and probably in the next 50 years IQ will be measured either through behavioral-analysis models or through imaging as more objective measures.

 

[Charles Darwin]

If anything, I think the best indicator of your IQ on the MCAT would be the verbal section. You can't really study for it at all, and it's purely based on gathering information and sorting it out in a short amount of time.

At least that's what I'd like to think since I scored pretty well on verbal. >___>

It means you have good reading comprehension, not a high IQ.

 

[Karbon]

There is very little to do with IQ and mcat.

 

[Dailux]

You're whole comment was ignorant, especially the part about food preservatives being linked to your IQ

It's probably not wise to call someone ignorant in the same sentence that you misuse a very simple pronoun.

I also probably can't make any reasonable assumptions about your knowledge of the digestive system, so an explanation would likely be moot.

 

[NickNaylor]

I've never been officially tested, but from all the (silly) online IQ tests, I estimate my IQ to be around 140+ish. I scored a 2380 on the SAT and just got a 42 on the MCAT. Definitely more hard work and studying than anything, though. Prior to any studying, I got a 28 on a practice MCAT as a freshie.

SDN: where people estimate their IQ to be at or above the genius level.

(sent from my phone)

 

[alamofire]

x

 

[CuttingCorneas]

I've never been officially tested, but from all the (silly) online IQ tests, I estimate my IQ to be around 140+ish. I scored a 2380 on the SAT and just got a 42 on the MCAT. Definitely more hard work and studying than anything, though. Prior to any studying, I got a 28 on a practice MCAT as a freshie.

 

[Karbon]

SDN: where people estimate their IQ to be at or above the genius level.

(sent from my phone)

I know I'm boasting, but that doesn't mean it's not true. 🙂

 

[circulus vitios]

I'm at the threshold of mental ******ation and I do alright.

 

[sliceofbread136]

You can reach your maximum IQ, fundamentally the definitive criteria used to quantify intelligence, but never exceed it. An average person can appear to be intelligent by illusion (expanding vocabulary) or by excessive focus in one particular area (a football coach), but all humans are innately limited. It's important to differentiate between what society views as smart and someone's ability to grasp and extrapolate on varying concepts.

That is not to say that everyone is currently operating at their maximum. Substance abuse, poor diet (particular foods with synthetic preservatives), or living a sedentary lifestyle will all lead to a significantly lower IQ than the true maximum.

To answer your original question, the MCAT is a test where IQ is measured to a degree but ultimately reaches a point of diminishing returns. Someone who is above average (1 standard deviation above the norm, in this case a 115 IQ) would likely not score much higher than someone considered exceptional (3 standard deviations above the norm, or a 145 IQ) given that they come from similar academic backgrounds and put forth an equal amount of studying toward the test.

I always hear this but never really believe. I'm pretty sure the greatest geniuses of the ages had very poor diets.

 

[Praefectus]

75. I'm not too bright

Sounds like you have a promising future in surgery! 🙄

 

[Samiamm]

It's probably not wise to call someone ignorant in the same sentence that you misuse a very simple pronoun.

I also probably can't make any reasonable assumptions about your knowledge of the digestive system, so an explanation would likely be moot.

It is probably wise to realize that iphones and ipads come with an auto-correct feature that automatically changes my original "your" to "you're", but, of course, I'm sure you know that, you just chose to single that out of my comment, instead of defending YOUR ******* theory about food preservatives' link to IQ

 

[MedPR]

My IQ is 91. Top 90% son.

 

[Praefectus]

My IQ is 91. Top 90% son.

Mine is a 45. Top 100%. Do you think it's good enough for Harvard?

 

[Dailux]

It is probably wise to realize that iphones and ipads come with an auto-correct feature that automatically changes my original "your" to "you're", but, of course, I'm sure you know that, you just chose to single that out of my comment, instead of defending YOUR ******* theory about food preservatives' link to IQ

Periods; they work.

You were literally trying to put forth a grammatically correct rebuttal and failed.

By the way, it's not my theory. If you accept that alcohol has an effect on cognitive ability then saying nitrates do not is contradictory.

 

[Cambino]

146, 42 r

 

[passerine]

This thread is a perfect encapsulation of everything that is wrong with SDN. Yikes, guys.

 

[Samiamm]

Periods; they work.

You were literally trying to put forth a grammatically correct rebuttal and failed.

By the way, it's not my theory. If you accept that alcohol has an effect on cognitive ability then saying nitrates do not is contradictory.

Attacking someone on their grammar and sentence structure is old, no one is writing an essay for you. I wasn't trying anything except to get you to explain to me how unhealthy eating has effects on your IQ, which you again failed to do. Alcohol does have effects on your cognitive ability, while you're DRINKING. If you're a frequent drinker, it might have further effects. Ethanol is also different from food preservatives

 

[487806]

Hasn't the IQ test been shown to be a terrible indicator of intelligence?

Depends. Trolls in preallo boasting about their high MCAT scores actually are found to have low IQs linked to low intelligence.

 

[Anathema]

Well to be fair I believe alcohol does have an effect on long term potentiation and memory. Hence why people say not to drink after several hours of studying because all that time is wasted.

 

[Samiamm]

Well to be fair I believe alcohol does have an effect on long term potentiation and memory. Hence why people say not to drink after several hours of studying because all that time is wasted.

I could see that, which is why I said if you're a frequent drinker, and also that alcohol is very different from food preservatives.

 

[Testosterone]

You know, the physicist Richard Feynman had a high school IQ of only 125, but he ended up becoming a genius.

 

[BlueLabel]

I don't know my IQ exactly, but the average of three estimates I have taken is almost exactly my MCAT score + 100. Maybe this could be an estimator... like, max heart rate is 220 - age? ha

 

[sliceofbread136]

I don't know my IQ exactly, but the average of three estimates I have taken is almost exactly my MCAT score + 100. Maybe this could be an estimator... like, max heart rate is 220 - age? ha

So someone who gets a 0 has a 100 IQ?

 

[BlueLabel]

So someone who gets a 0 has a 100 IQ?

Well I think the lowest you can get is a 3, so the baseline would be 103. Of course I don't actually think MCAT score is strongly correlated to IQ in any way, except maybe at the very high ranges of both. I could be looking at this wrong, but the point is that my original post was a joke 😀

 

[Laurlaur]

FWIW, the WASI/any variant of the Wechsler scale of intelligence has been shown to have high test/retest validity throughout one's life, and the score stays fairly constant over time. Whether or not this means that the test is the ultimate indicator of one's intelligence, I'm not sure, but it is a highly valid and consistent test. Two of the test's measures are vocabulary (can you define a word, and if so how thoroughly) and forward and backward digit span (which measures working memory). Obviously intelligent people would hopefully have more of a grasp on these concepts, but with changing theories of intelligence, it is hard to know what one really means or considers to be "intelligence".