IQ tests. How valid are they?

[OinkBoink]

I've administered hundreds of the things, so I have at least a passing familiarity with them: I wouldn't say the "real" ones take hours, but you're correct in that online tests may not give you an accurate idea of your IQ, at least as would be measured by a traditional IQ test.

As for the question regarding the accuracy of IQ tests in measuring intelligence: it depends on how you're defining intelligence. Plenty of highly successful individuals score in the average or above average (rather than, say, superior) range on IQ tests, in part because, as has been said, there are plenty of things that IQ tests don't measure, with memory and drive/motivation being two of those constructs.

Hello. Could you please address the queries in my OP (all of them preferably and a little bit in detail if that's possible) and in post #22 ?

Also, can one not train to score well on an IQ test by repetitively doing questions on pattern recognition, symbol processing and everything else that IQ tests cover? So how good are they at measuring "innate intelligence" and potential? I'm not asserting anything. I'm merely inquiring as I do not know enough and I've never really taken an IQ test.

 

[JMapleton]

Intelligence is far more than what is tested on most IQ or college entrance exam tests. Intelligence is also more than being a sponge for useless historical or scientific information.

Creativity, reason, philosophy, common sense, and mostly the ability the create knowledge or concepts organically in your brain is what defines intelligence. And I'm sure even more than that.

I've always said running a business is the most demanding pursuit. It requires you to be disciplined, logical, mathematical, manage people, invent and conceive concepts, and predict outcomes where all of these factors come into play at once.

 

[OinkBoink]

Once again, can you train yourself to score high on IQ tests by practicing the kind of questions IQ tests contain? Or are they designed in such a way that prior preparation does not help much? People who've taken these tests may be able to answer this.