| Most people are familiar with the fact that a high IQ | | | | at all things, but there is a strong correlation between |
| score is a sign of intelligence, but few people | | | | high IQs and an occupation in higher mathematics and |
| understand what an IQ test really is or how it can | | | | sciences. Getting an IQ score is thus a great way for |
| improve their life. The "IQ" stands for Intelligence | | | | someone to determine what sort of job best fits their |
| Quotient. This number is determined through a complex | | | | mental abilities. This way they do not choose a career |
| set of formulas and data developed over a century of | | | | that will bore them with easiness or frustrate them |
| research into the human mind and how it processes | | | | with difficulty. Many companies even now like to look |
| information. While early IQ tests may have been | | | | at the IQ scores of potential employees since a high IQ |
| simplistic and gave poor results among certain ethnic | | | | score indicates that someone will be very good at a |
| groups, modern IQ tests are designed to very | | | | task involving higher math, language or scientific |
| accurately reflect the intelligence of the test taker. | | | | concerns. |
| Studies have confirmed that there is a correlation | | | | An IQ test may also be a gateway to scholarships or |
| between how well a person's brain works and how | | | | other academic attention. While the vast majority of |
| well they can do on an IQ test. The only limitation is | | | | people score within 20 points of the median score of |
| whether or not the test taker understands the | | | | 100, people who score exceptionally high are sought |
| language the test is administered in. | | | | after by institutions and "brain trusts" who need very |
| The primary benefit of an IQ test is that it lets test | | | | smart people to complete complex tasks. It is very |
| takers know how smart they are and how they | | | | hard to determine a person's intelligence based on |
| should apply those smarts. Low IQ scores do not | | | | everyday tasks. Someone who is merely a competent |
| necessarily mean that the person taking the test is | | | | bus driver or mechanic may in fact have the |
| dumb, but it does mean that they do not possess the | | | | intelligence necessary to study astrophysics or |
| sort of raw intelligence needed for a highly technical | | | | engineer advanced electronics. Gauging a person's |
| occupation such as brain surgery or rocket engineering. | | | | intelligence with an IQ test is the best way for them to |
| High scores are also not a sign that someone is good | | | | ensure that they do not waste their potential. |