IQ tests measure intellectual ability in areas such as fluid intelligence, memory, processing speed, and quantitative reasoning. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales are commonly used for adults. Tests for children include the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Nonverbal tests like TONI and UNIT are useful for hearing-impaired individuals and non-English speakers. Online tests are unreliable. Formalized testing can be biased towards those from affluent families with richer learning environments and native speakers of the language of the test.
Intelligence quotient (IQ) tests are designed to measure an individual’s intellectual ability compared to the general population. A person’s mental performance in several areas, including fluid intelligence, memory, processing speed, and quantitative reasoning, can be estimated using these standardized tests. These tests can be used in adults to measure brain damage after illness or trauma or even as a pre-screening for employment. IQ tests are often used to predict future academic success by ascertaining a child’s learning potential.
For adults, the most commonly used IQ tests are the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales. Both tests are highly accurate, and subsequent tests reveal only small discrepancies in previously recorded IQ scores. However, Stanford-Binet is divided into more subsets than WAIS&trade and may take longer to administer. In contrast, WAIS is more limited in testing working memory.
Assessments of child intelligence are generally used when the child has shown substantial retardation or obvious talent. These tests are mainly used to ensure that adequate services are provided to these children. IQ tests for children may include the latest versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children&trade (WISC&trade), the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children&trade (KABC), or the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence&trade (WPPSI). Of these, the WISC and WPPSI are primarily paper tests, while the KABC is primarily based on manipulative and verbal responses. The WPPSI is one of the few tests designed to measure general intelligence in children under the age of three.
Because many IQ tests rely heavily on speech and language skills, individuals who struggle in these areas often require special tests. The Test of Nonverbal Intelligence&trade (TONI) and the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test&trade (UNIT) were developed to act as assessments of intelligence without reading and speaking. These tests are particularly useful in hearing-impaired individuals and non-English speakers. For autistic individuals, the tests often give a more accurate reading of true intelligence than traditional tests. However, the results can be skewed as tests are usually done by people who are unfamiliar with the condition.
There are many intelligence tests available online. Typically, these tests are extremely unreliable and bear only a passing resemblance to scientifically developed standardized tests. These tests often score very high and should be taken for entertainment purposes only.
Formalized intelligence testing has been criticized as potentially biased. In many cases, the layout of some tests measure learning rather than learning potential. In these cases, those from affluent families who have been exposed to richer learning environments often score higher than those from economically disadvantaged families. Additionally, most intelligence tests are designed for individuals from the countries where the tests are administered. Since most tests involve written or oral components, non-native individuals are routinely disadvantaged.
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