LogFAQs > #882215533

UT1999 posted...

Do you think higher i.q. people are usually better at upper level math? Do you think there's any correlation between the 2 at all?

I had one of the highest IQs of anyone I knew (148 in college, according to a professionally-administered test and not the usual bullshit online quizzes that score everyone 20+ points higher than they actually are), and my brain was keyed to verbal far more than math. My SAT score was 780 Verbal, 630 Math (which was an almost unheard of spread at the time - nearly everyone ALWAYS did better on Math than Verbal).

IQ is actually kind of a poor indicator of intelligence in a lot of ways, because it really only measures one type of intelligence, while there are actually multiple variations. Even in my own example, I'd say my verbal and logical aptitudes tend to pull my score up, while my math and visualization weaknesses pull it down. I've also known people who were borderline geniuses but who would also sit in a diner and eat the wax off of candles on the table.

I don't think specific aptitude maps to overall intelligence (ie, someone who is "smart" isn't going to be "smart" at everything, and someone who is extremely skilled in one disciple may be incredibly weak in another). It may seem that way to some degree in school because the "smart" kids are likely going to excel in all of their classes, but that's less because of innate ability or interest, and more because the kids willing to devote a ton of time to study and work in one subject are likely doing the same for all subjects. Especially if they have parents pushing them to excel, or otherwise feel like they NEED to be "the best" academically.


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