Thanks Mom

I learned something new today. My mom asked me if I had ever taken an I.Q. test. Well, my theory on testing in general was actually brought back to the forefront of my thinking. I again wondered why tests have always been such a trivial part of my education over the years. I always denied that a test could demonstrate mental ability. I am referring to the tests we all participate in throughout school and life. Final Exams and Driver's Tests. The one's we all tend to take, like an I. Q. Test or Personality Test, at some point in life. I had never taken an I.Q. test, so I set off to try one online. Here's what I learned.

The I.Q. test is built upon some principle question types. I can find the numeric patterns and word patterns they ask for without much trouble. Vocabulary and Math are not difficult for me. I had not done well with the spacial relationship questions... of which mastery would only benefit a cartographer. I noticed that the spacial relationship questions were difficult to answer in 20 seconds, but I knew there must be a pattern to resolving which was the correct answer and doing it quickly. So...I took a look at the practice tests and was able to find the pattern used to specify an answer to the spacial questions. I learned this pattern (system) and went back to the I.Q. test.

I was able to raise my I.Q. by handfuls of points by simply learning how these people ask questions and what systems they use to determine answers. And I did all this about an hour. So, is it really a test of intelligence to get the answers correct? I believe not. The system is the key, not the answer per se. Once you can trust your understanding of the system, the answer can be found readily.

I have found this to be especially true of Personality tests. The series of questions are all the same yet reworded. You are really only answering about ten questions and if you know what those questions mean, you can adapt your personality to suit whatever the needed outcome may be. Just tailor your answers to meet the desired result. Easily manipulated. The fun part is keeping track of all your answers to the question sets, so the results don't show the manipulation. They have a system to ferret that out too.

So we're back to the mundane tests we all take in life and are judged with by others. I refuse to share the outcome of my I.Q. test(s) because of the huge swing in results. And because I don't care what they say I know or do not know. I know their systems and that is enough to know the outcome.

Today I learned that the point of the I.Q. test is to demonstrate one's ability to learn and apply systems. Therefore, with some time spent mastering these specific systems, a genius level score could be generated. And this person would truly be a genius of I.Q. test taking. Hopefully that means something to the rest of mankind. I have become bored with these trivialities again already.