How well does the SAT correlate with IQ?
Congratulations on your score- I scored the same when I took the SAT and immediately thought collegeboard.com must be broken! I would automatically assume that the new SAT would correlate with IQ less than the old SAT. This is largely due to the removal of the analogy questions ad some of the trickier math questions, which were similar to what one would find on an IQ test, and the addition of more knowledge-based rather than aptitude-based questions. Still, it's likely that there will still be some correlation between IQ and SAT scores, just not as high as r=.82.
How do SAT scores work?
There are three sections on the SAT: Math, Critical Reading, and Writing. These are each divided into smaller, twenty to thirty minute sections. They are all multiple choice, but the Writing includes an essay that you have to write. This is graded on a scale from 1 to 6 by two different graders, and then their scores are added together to give you something between a 2 and a 12. The Math section is also a little different, because it includes "grid-ins" which means it's not multiple choice, you have to fill in the number yourself. For each question you get right, you get one point. For each question you get wrong, you lose a quarter of a point (except grid-ins, which you don't lose anything for a wrong answer). For each answer you omit, you get zero points. Added up, this equals your "raw score." You do not see your raw score. The scores CollegeBoard sends you are your scaled scores. This means that the scores for each section have been converted to a score between 200 and 800. They have also been raised or lowered a little based on the scores of everyone around you (this makes the test more fair, so if it was too easy, everyone gets a little lower than if it was really hard). If you get a 200 on a section, it means you got every single question wrong. This is nearly impossible. You must have heard "you get 200 points just for signing your name!" This is true, but you actually get about 370 points for signing your name (this would be your score if you omitted all questions). If you get an 800, it means you got every single question right, or, if the scale that time around is generous, you may have omitted one or two (or even gotten one wrong). When you hear people talk about scores like 1120, they are talking about their composite score, which is the sum of all three sections, out of 2400. It is possible that if you hear a score that sounds low, they are talking about it the sum of their math and reading scores (excluding the writing section), which is out of 1600. There are also the SAT IIs, which are also known as subject tests. People usually take 2 or 3. These are in math, languages, sciences, etc. They are graded on a scale of 200-800, like each individual section of the SAT. People do not talk about their composite scores for SAT IIs, they talk about them individually. I hope this helps!
Is it right to discriminate based on IQ, or perceived intelligence? If so, how do you do so tactfully?
No it's not. The tests are private. The results are private (unless they are shared by the test taker). Taking the test isn't compulsory. So if you are selling wedding cakes, choosing to only sell cakes to people within some defined range or not would be incorrect, although it may not be illegal. I think legally, discrimination is only against the law based on a few defined basis.Now, if you are hiring job applicants, or starting a company and looking for partners, trying to find people who have the best qualifications for the specific job is the right thing to do. And those qualifications are usually a combination of skills, experience, attitude, aptitudes, personality and motivation. Does IQ really help in this?Now many employers are interested in intellectually deep, motivated, team workers, who can critically think, who can assimilate a great deal of information, who can make effective decisions with incomplete information, who are good communicators. Some of those people may have done well on an IQ test. But the IQ test specifically is kind of irrelevant. How did they do in the SAT, or the MCAT or the LSAT, or the medical test or the other domain specific tests that qualify knowledge. And even then, for most jobs, it is not how someone did in those domain specific tests that is relevant, it is the qualifications beyond test taking and test performance that makes a difference.
What test does one take to measure an IQ above 160?
OK. Captain Obvious would like to know why are we trying to quantify intelligence as if it were a cup of sugar?However, for those statistically hampered individuals obsessed with just "having to know" everything...there is no test. Life experience will prohibit any others from actually being able to perceive what would be labelled as "more intelligent" than such and such level. If I were to guess what would be present in a person with a very high Intelligence Quotient (i.e. one thing divided by another) it would rely, of course, on the common denominator.Suppose you grew up in a vacuum and never had any diversity of experience, but you were very intelligent and could figure out just about anything. What intelligence level would you be able to achieve? The common denominator here would be measured with an average 100 score intelligent person and what they would be able to figure out.Obviously, we don't live in a vacuum, so the very intelligent person has the opportunity to seek out experiences and delve into anything he or she wishes. What choices do they make? what kind of personality do they develop? How is their intelligence folded into a social fabric? When we see those with markedly more intelligent story lines what do we see? Are we impressed with their latest achievement, their best discourse or expository on their creations or experiments? No. We imagine some esoteric or phenomenal mental process that is beyond what we can understand.The higher the intelligence quotient in a person, above 160, should be indicated by the common denominator that is what we can see. This person is going to be measured by the fact that they have the whole world to live in and they did such and such with it, or at least attempted to do so. What that person may describe as their "intelligence" would be so beyond our understanding that we would not value it or be able to relate to it. The most intelligent of these people will be able to balance this type of intelligence with the life experience itself. Happiness cannot be measured, but I would hope to think that the most intelligent of people on earth could not only find happiness for themselves, but provide it for others.
Score this SAT I essay on a scale of 1-6?
It's very weak in regards to how you restate the assignment's points about 3 times and how the concepts your using as evidence are very very shallow... and.... very... well, cliched. Your writing style however, is exquisitely elegant, just not so much the concepts you're trying to convey.
SAT scores-What if one subject has low scores? ?
Don't sell yourself short. If you have a whole year to prepare, you can definitely raise your reading score (and your math and writing scores too)! The two best ways to improve your reading score are to read challenging material every day and to work on your vocabulary. I'm a huge fan of the McGraw Hill SAT 2009 book, because it has a very comprehensive vocabulary section (it breaks about 2000 vocab words down into 49 lists of words with similar meanings and roots). It also has a power reading list to give you ideas of the kind of reading that you need to do on the SAT. I would focus entirely on the Critical Reading section for a while. When you do reading practice, you should focus on the main ideas of the passage and the structure. Focus on each paragraph as a piece of the author's argument, and jot down a few words about the main idea of the paragraph in the margin. Don't try to understand all the details, just understand what larger point they are supporting. Make sure that you constantly review your work - not just the questions you missed. Pay attention to what clues in the passage led to the right answer. If you get frustrated, here's a good exercise: take a reading section and start by marking the correct answers (before you actually look at the questions). Then go through the questions and try to explain to yourself why each right answer is right and why each wrong answer is wrong. This exercise helps you focus on the patterns of the test and not worry about whether you got answers right or wrong. About two months before the test (or over the summer, if you want an earlier start), then I would start working on the math and writing sections again. I think that the McGraw Hill book does a good job with these as well, but if you need more specific advice about how to prepare, feel free to email me. I know I didn't technically answer your question, because I think that you can definitely improve your reading. Having great math and writing scores will definitely help, but you really should stop right now saying things like "no way i can get my reading to a 700! " You sound like you're dedicated to doing well on this test, and part of doing well is thinking positive. Good luck!
Why is it so hard for many people to improve their SAT scores even after practice/SAT prep courses/tutoring?
In my experience (15 years of SAT prep) most average scoring students can easily improve roughly 100 points in each subject area by learning SAT specific strategies and practicing problems of the appropriate level.My expertise is in mathematics, so I'll comment a bit more on this subject. Almost every student already knows all the math concepts tested on the SAT. Assuming there are no huge gaps in basic mathematical knowledge, there are two ways to improve SAT math scores, one easy, one hard.Every student has a certain level of mathematical maturity. Roughly speaking this is the how deeply a student understands and can reproduce mathematical concepts. For example, a student that needs to see every type of problem solved before being able to solve one himself or herself has a lower level of mathematical maturity than a student that can reason out how to solve a new problem knowing only the essential definitions. Here is an article I have written on mathematical maturity Gaining Mathematical MaturityNow if a student stays at a certain level of mathematical maturity, then there is a certain maximum SAT score they are capable of achieving. They can achieve this maximum simply by learning test taking strategies and practicing problems of the appropriate level. But once they attain this maximum their score will no longer improve without doing something more.If a student wants to break through that maximum, then they need to increase their level of mathematical maturity. Increasing this level of maturity will increase their potential score, but not necessarily their actual score. In other words, they will still need to learn strategy and practice SAT problems to increase their score up to their new potential.Yes, it is possible for a student to increase their level of mathematical maturity and their SAT score simultaneously. One way to do this is to really try to gain a deep understanding of each question instead of just coming up with a single solution. Try to solve each problem several different ways using different techniques, and then ask yourself why these methods are working. This way you are practicing SAT problems (thus increasing your current score) and also gaining a deeper mathematical understanding (thus increasing potential score).
Why is SAT no longer correlated to Intelligence anymore?
SAT is a standardized test. Just like any standardized test, it is really predictable. With correct approach and resources, you can train yourself to do well on SAT. So SAT and Intelligence does not have any correlation.Intelligence is a very vaguely defined term. In general usage, intelligence means smart. It is used to convey the meaning of being able to think and apply knowledge. I would perceive someone as intelligent because they would know more than me. Intelligence is difficult to be measured in an absolute sense. So SAT is certainly not a measure of intelligence.SAT tests you at specific subjects. Does performing well in those subjects constitutes to being intelligence. In theory, there are different types of intelligence such as analytical, linguistic, creative, emotional etc. Does SAT measure these? I have been studying math for years and have a decent foundation in the subject. I would do really well at that as far as SAT is concerned. Someone else who has been into humanities and literature might not perform as well as I would. On the other hand, a person who has English as a first language does have a distinct advantage over the person who does not have English as a first language. So SAT performance is heavily influenced by the background of the person. Intelligence, ideally should not be an innate ability which can not be manipulated.Doing well on SAT does indicate that you are smart. You can be intelligent. However, it does not absolutely measure. There might not be any correlation.This also depends on how you measure intelligence (which is a subject of debate). If you are using IQ test, SAT and IQ are highly correlated. Read: Does the SAT really correlate with IQ? (Does the SAT really correlate with IQ? There are claims that “SAT scores cannot be improved more than, say, 100 points.” I managed to improve my score from 1100 to 1990. Does the 1100 best reflect my IQ?) for more information.In conclusion, correlation depends on definition and measure of intelligence.
Does IQ really reflect intelligence?
We're always growing and changing. I would say an IQ test is like a snap shot for how you are at that time. But my own experience is that we are not static. For instance when I was growing up I was just an average student. I had to work hard just to get into college. I took engineering. I almost failed the first year. But the second year i did ok. Then things started going downhill for me and i ended up leaving the program. I took a few years off from school. And went from low paying jobs. I never had much self esteem and I always felt like i wasn't that smart. Certainly my teachers growing up never made me feel smart. But then I started to change. I started getting interested in all kinds of subjects. I studied the arts and Science in my spare time. Eventually I went back to school and got a Computer science degree. I even graduated with distinction. My marks in most of my courses were near 100%. I credit my success to the experience i gained the first time at college and by the fact that I was more motivated and interested in the subject matter. As well as my increased intellectual ability. As well as psychological factors (internal beliefs) that were different than the first time. I did take an online IQ test awhile back. It gave me a score of 136. But it doesn't mean much compared to what I was able to accomplish and how i overcame adversity. I also thank God for his help. What i learned was most of us don't tap into the potential that we have. Because of the way we were brought up or the negative thinking about learning (for example it wasn't cool to like learning as a kid) or a negative view about ourselves (perhaps our teacher never took much interest in us), and we fall into a rut. However, i believe that we can overcome those limitations. We just need to change our thinking (and believe in ourselves even if others don't).
Why do people care about IQ scores?
Wow, that's rather...presumptuous.Let me introduce myself as one of the people who have been asking a lot of questions and researching IQ, just so I can show that I am speaking from experience.First of all, don't be so judgemental. You ask a question about a certain behaviour some people have and why they have it, then state that it's meaningless. Either be able to open-mindendly accept an answer to your question or don't ask it and continue to judge people.Now that we've got this out of the way, I'll tell you why I am 'obsessing over IQ'. See, intelligence is fascinating. Other than being an attribute shared by all of the people on earth, and the (supposedly) reason we are not still in the savannah throwing feces at each other and climbing trees, it is one of the traits that affects a person down to his most basic patterns of behaviour. Allow me to assume for fun that you did take the minimal amount of time to read about IQ and what it means, and have come to a conclusion that it is a fairly reliable test for the ability to solve problems and to think creatively. Or atleast the best one at our disposal yet. Psychologists and psychometricians have found high statistical correlation between certain personality silhouettes and IQ score. Which means that gifted individuals and people with learning disability are fundementally different from each other. Isn't that interesting? Analysing how different levels of processing speed, creative thinking and problem solving abilities can affect your personality?Maybe not. To you, atleast. We all have our interests.You are only born with one brain.Kind of obvious, I think. Which raises the question; "If [said attributes] can cause such a difference in personality, I wonder where and when that happens". The problem is, you can't know the answer to your question based solely on your experience, since you've only lived with one IQ score your whole life*. So, people like me, who are curios about and fascinated with intelligence, come to this wonderful little place, to ask just these question, and recieve mature, and honest answers.Different people have different interests. Perhaps, instead of judging them and saying that their curiosities are meaningless, try to understand and accept them.*Except for a few people I have run into on Quora, who, due to an accident, have suffered reduced cognitive ability, and have been able to take a glimpse at what a difference different levels of intelligence can make.