Essay Sample about IQ Tests

Are people like Tom Brady and Martin Luther King Jr. just average people? According to most IQ tests out there, the answer is yes. A majority of distinguished people fall under the category of average when measured with an IQ test. When IQ tests don’t incorporate skills that are done on a daily basis, they simply aren’t valid. A flawless IQ test should measure abilities that can help people succeed, such as physical ability and the ability to communicate effectively. 

Some impressive individuals have gone to the next level in mastering their physical abilities and I believe this should be reflected on all IQ tests. The short story, The Most Dangerous Game, shows just how crucial physical abilities can be. The main character in this short narrative is being hunted, but with the use of his physical abilities, he is able to survive. This is identifiable in passage 120, “Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong.” The idea behind this story is about decivilization and uncivilized people either becoming hunters or hunted. While being hunted physical attributes are what saves the main character and it truly illustrates just how important physical abilities are. No IQ test should be considered valid without measuring one of life's most affecting values. 

Another quality that most IQ tests don’t measure is effective communication. Effective communication can help people connect with others, build good relationships, and raise kids to have growth mindsets. In the argumentative text The Secret to Raising Smart Kids research is used to support the idea that, “People communicate mind-sets through praise.” When parents are able to pass on good attributes they are more likely to raise better kids: because of this, effective communication is a vital skill and is becoming more important in the world every day. If our ideas of intelligence are based on IQ tests then effective communication needs to be added because it can help people become successful and achieve more in life. 

An opposing point to this is, IQ tests are already valid the way they are. However, the idea that IQ tests are acceptable is inaccurate. This is because people base the idea of success on IQ scores but, when some of the most famous individuals are considered average under an IQ score, there is an issue. The idea that IQ tests are fine the way they are currently is harmful to society, you can see that in the text, The Origin of Intelligence , it quotes, “Comparative IQ scores…argue that one group of people is superior to another. Such an argument is not only racist, but it is also hopeless.” This is illustrating the struggle that an unfulfilled IQ test can have on both the test taker and society as a whole.

Given these points it’s clear that IQ tests aren’t and won’t be accurate until they start measuring life skills. Currently most IQ tests only measure skills that are taught in school. While the current IQ test is inadequate, it could be fixed by adding new skills. A logical IQ test would include factors such as effective communication and physical skills. IQ can mean a lot to many different people but to Kaley Cuoco it is all about guys, “Obviously, I don't have a high IQ, but I've always liked nerds and quirky guys.” - Kaley Cuoco.