The Wechsler and other IQ tests are similar in that they tend to consist of questions that some might call brainteasers.
Today, the most commonly-used IQ test is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The IQ was calculated by dividing the individual's mental age (determined by performance on the test) by his or her chronological age and multiplying by 100. On the Stanford-Binet test, an individual's score was represented by a single number, called the intelligence quotient or IQ. The new test, called the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, soon became the standard intelligence test in the U.S. When the test was brought to the United States, Stanford University psychologist Lewis Terman used American students to adapt the test for use in the U.S. Early test results led Binet to develop the concept of mental age, which was a measure of intelligence based on the average performance of students of a certain age. With help from Theodore Simon, Binet developed the first intelligence test, known as the Binet-Simon Scale.īinet and Simon developed questions that focused on things not taught in school, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. The IQ test got its start in the early 20 th century when French psychologist Alfred Binet was asked by the French government to develop a means to identify students who would need extra help in school. So, if you don't rely on grades or test scores, how might you determine how intelligent you are? One tried and true method that's been in use for over a century is the IQ test. There are plenty of smart people who don't necessarily get top grades or test scores for a variety of reasons.
Not everyone does their best under the pressure of a standardized test. Not everyone performs well in a typical school setting. Of course, your school grades and standardized test scores aren't the only indicators of intelligence. After all, that's what grades and tests are supposed to measure, right? If either of those is the case, then you might rightfully claim that you're smart. Are you a smart cookie? If you answered "yes" to that question, how do you know? Do you get good grades? Maybe you've achieved a top score on a standardized test you took at school.