Expert: Annette Revel Sheely, M.A. - 4/16/2000

Question
Hi my name is Rob,Im 22 in the US airforce and have never taken one of these tests. Im not the brightest guy by all means believe me but before I further my education I would like to know where abouts do I stand. I was just wondering if theres a way for me to take it over the internet. Thanks

Answer
hi Rob : )
    Absolutely!  There are lots of places on the internet where you can take an IQ test.  (Use a good search engine like www.ask.com or www.google.com and enter the words "online IQ test" and I know you'll find dozens of them.)  However, I have to tell you that those scores don't always correlate with whatever score you would get if you took a regular IQ test with a psychologist.  Here's one reason why:  the standard IQ tests are given to many, many people before they are released to the public.  They are tested and retested to see if the scores they give are accurate.  It costs literally millions of dollars to do all that testing but when they are done, they know that the test measures what is says it will measure.  The online tests don't do that.  Anyone can create an online IQ test and put it on the web and give people IQ scores based on the test they create.  The online tests aren't checked for validity and reliability, so you never know how good it is.  
    I have taken a few online tests myself, just for fun.  One was pretty close to what I know my score is and the other was about 30 points above that.  It made me feel good but I didn't know how seriously to take it.  
    Anyway, take one and see what you think and have fun with it.  Then, if you decide to have a regular test done, go for it.  I see that you're in the armed forces.  I bet you could ask for a test to be done on your or you could ask and see if you had to take one (without realizing it) when you first joined.  If you can't get it done that way, email me back and I might be able to help you find a good tester.
Best wishes,
Annette Revel Sheely, M.A.
Gifted Development Center
Denver, CO