Testing For Intelligence (IQ)

[TheSeanieB]

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Are there any known and reputable tests to access a person's analytical ability, problem solving, and quantitative abilities and is less geared toward memory, vocabulary, and overall knoledge?

 

[erg923]

Are there any known and reputable tests to access a person's analytical ability, problem solving, and quantitative abilities and is less geared toward memory, vocabulary, and overall knoledge?

Yes, but you would then (arguably) not be assessing "intelligence," right...

 

[IT514]

Yes, there are, but known and reputable are less important than reliability and validity when considering the population and purpose of an assessment. I'd recommend that you consult with a psychologist or neuropsychologist if this is in regard to a specific case. I'm hesitant to recommend specifc tests because I've seen a number of assessment tools horribly misused.

 

[thewesternsky]

I agree with IT514. Well said.

 

[WisNeuro]

Can you provide more specifics on what the purpose of the assessment is?

 

[PhDToBe]

Are there any known and reputable tests to access a person's analytical ability, problem solving, and quantitative abilities and is less geared toward memory, vocabulary, and overall knoledge?

I agree we need more information, but tests that measure executive functioning come to mind (e.g., Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Booklet Category) possibly.

 

[WisNeuro]

I agree we need more information, but tests that measure executive functioning come to mind (e.g., Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Booklet Category) possibly.

The WCST is very good at differentiating age in the examinee, mixed finding in predicting other deficits. There are better executive tasks, FAS, Animals, TMT.

 

[PhDToBe]

The WCST is very good at differentiating age in the examinee, mixed finding in predicting other deficits. There are better executive tasks, FAS, Animals, TMT.

I thought of those, but didn't think they are as thorough or comprehensive as the OP might want.

 

[PhDToBe]

The WCST is very good at differentiating age in the examinee, mixed finding in predicting other deficits. There are better executive tasks, FAS, Animals, TMT.

I thought of those, but didn't think they are as thorough or comprehensive as the OP might want.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Yes, there are, but known and reputable are less important than reliability and validity when considering the population and purpose of an assessment. I'd recommend that you consult with a psychologist or neuropsychologist if this is in regard to a specific case. I'm hesitant to recommend specifc tests because I've seen a number of assessment tools horribly misused.

This is exactly why a neuropsychologist should be consulted, as there are too many variables involved to provide any kind of useful recommendations. If it is for personal reasons, then that is the only way to go about this ethically.

 

[TheSeanieB]

Sorry. I should have been more specific. Of the generally accepted IQ tests, are there any differences (even if slight) on how they evaluate intelligence? Does any favor test takers that are better at math than reading?

 

[IT514]

There are tests of non-verbal intelligence (e.g. Test of Nonverbal Intelligence), if thats what you are thinking of. Most intelligence tests have composites that aim to separate verbal and non-verbal abilities (e.g. Wechslers, Reynolds). Math and reading are a different conversation - intelligence tests are more predictive of those abilities than dependent on them per se.

Again, the answer is that it depends enormously on patient characteristics - age, neurological condition vs not, etc, etc.

And again, consult with a psychologist (Ph.D or Psy.D) with experience in this stuff if this is in regard to a specific case. There is a big difference between being able to give a test, whatever it might be, and doing an assessment, that is, being able to integrate knowledge of the patient, the test and the underlying construct it aims to measure, psychometrics, conditions that may influence performance, etc, etc.

 

[erg923]

Sorry. I should have been more specific. Of the generally accepted IQ tests, are there any differences (even if slight) on how they evaluate intelligence? Does any favor test takers that are better at math than reading?

Are you talking about achievement testing or IQ or intelligence testing. Mathematical ability is not really considered to be part of "G."

 

[WisNeuro]

Sorry. I should have been more specific. Of the generally accepted IQ tests, are there any differences (even if slight) on how they evaluate intelligence? Does any favor test takers that are better at math than reading?

Depends if a learning disorder is present to a slight extent. Although in that case you'd see more pronounced differences on tests of achievement rather than intellectual ability.

I'd simply say that you would have to give a full IQ test and then look for subtest scatter and significant differences between indices.

 

[TheSeanieB]

I'm a 26 yo female that wants to take an IQ test to join mensa. I haven't had an IQ test since I was 16. My IQ was tested 6 times between ages 7 and 16 with scores ranging from 118 to 143. I am simply looking for a recommendation of which IQ test to take based on the fact that I am good at math, analysis, and reasoning but not as strong at reading and memorization.

 

[WisNeuro]

Well, none of the most widely-used IQ tests have a math portion (and before anyone tries to correct me, arithmetic on the WAIS really isn't math, it's verbally mediated attention). And they all generally have a vocab, or analogies type portion. Verbal measures tend to load highly on to a theoretic 'g'.

Long story short, doesn't really matter, take any one. If you don't "pass", there are many other groups you can join, some with less pretension 🙂

 

[erg923]

I'm a 26 yo female that wants to take an IQ test to join mensa. I haven't had an IQ test since I was 16. My IQ was tested 6 times between ages 7 and 16 with scores ranging from 118 to 143. I am simply looking for a recommendation of which IQ test to take based on the fact that I am good at math, analysis, and reasoning but not as strong at reading and memorization.

That's not really your decision. It's the professional (almost certainly a psychologist) who is doing your assessment.

By the way, none of things you mentioned are really considered part of IQ.

 

[thewesternsky]

The commonly used, reputable tests of IQ all measure the same general thing. I agree that requesting a particular test won't be useful. It's the assessor's job to make this decision.

That said, if you only want to use the results to join Mensa, the Mensa test will be your cheapest option.

 

[edieb]

That's not really your decision. It's the professional (almost certainly a psychologist) who is doing your assessment.

By the way, none of things you mentioned are really considered part of IQ.

@

 

[MBellows]

My advice would be to avoid paying any amount of money for MENSA... That is unless you can make payments now so that you never have to talk to a member of MENSA again. That organization tends to draw in members with the same insipid personality that only talk about one thing: Being a member of MENSA.

 

[futureapppsy2]

It has been determined that the topic of this thread does not fit with the pre-professional nature of the forum, and it is being locked. As a general reminder, SDN is not an appropriate place to seek personal medical or psychological advice; our members should direct any such concerns to local, licensed professionals.