IQ Testing...Effective measurement of intelligence?

[CaptainMcLusty]

I'm a college student, and for one of my classes, I was assigned to take an IQ test. It was fun, and full of "trick questions", but when I recieved my results, I was kind of shocked. I scored a 138.

Now, I'm a straight A student, and I consider myself to be pretty sharp, but the average American has an IQ of about 100, so I'm doubting my score a little bit.

Has anyone else ever taken an IQ test? How did you score? Were you surprised with the results? Do you think these are an accurate way to measure an individual's intelligence?

:scratchchin:

[gibbonboy]

My wife was a gifted teacher, so she used to give tests all the time. When a good test is given under controlled conditions, they are fairly accurate. I don't trust any test given online, or any self-administered test. The recent trend in relativism and "everybody's a winner" have tried to de-emphasize IQ.

I haven't taken one in a long time, but supposedly scores do not change that much. I don't give mine out, most wouldn't believe it anyway. It caused me a lot of problems with classmates, being labeled as the "brain" in the class was and is a pain in the ass.

138 is a pretty high score, in the "moderately gifted" range. But that don't pay the rent, and like I said, mine has caused me more grief than a silly number is worth.

edit:
My wife just told me that their threshold for "gifted" students is 130, also other factors are considered.

[P_chan]

Have you ever talked to the average person? I could see why the average might be considered low. I took an IQ test a long time ago and IIRC I got a 120 or 118 so you're smarter than me:thumbup:

[CaptainMcLusty]

Have you ever talked to the average person? I could see why the average might be considered low. I took an IQ test a long time ago and IIRC I got a 120 or 118 so you're smarter than me:thumbup:

Dude....I'm really NOT that smart....lol

[DougP]

Average intelligence = ability to use the quote function. That's the standard. :)

[gibbonboy]

My cat can use the quote button

like, meow, man.

See, he did it!