How valid are IQ tests?
IQ tests can range from completely silly to scientifically accurate. The criteria for judging them are: The mean score and the resulting standard deviation from the mean. The validity of the questions (do they really test what we’d consider “knowledge” and “intelligence?” How biased they are towards on group over another (an IQ test in english will disadvantage a non-english speaker) In the best scenario, a test will have: A reasonably small standard deviation. Highly appropriate questions that can gauge the entire population. The least amount of bias possible. There is no ONE test that is regarded as the most reliable. However, there are tests out there that are deemed as more valid than others. For example, I took two tests that are generally accepted as highly valid. On one, I scored 124, or the 94th percentile (according to that scale) and on another I scored 143, or the 98.9th percentile. Why the huge difference? Because the tests are standardized to different groups! Basically, t
