IQ testing began in 1904, when the French government enlisted the assistance of Alfred Binet in creating a test that would differentiate the intellectually inferior children from those who were considered normal. Later, this system was adapted to identify different levels of students ranging from normal to imbecile. In 1989, the IQ test was listed by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science as one of the 20 most significant scientific discoveries of the century.
IQ tests are used with adults and children to help determine their ability, compared with other test takers. The idea is that the test is unbiased by culture or ethnicity. These tests can then be used to determine whether a child qualifies for special needs or gifted programs. For adults, these tests are sometimes used for admission to academic programs or honorary organization, such as Mensa.
There are a number of types of IQ tests available for children and adults. The most common test for adults is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III). For children, the most commonly used tests are the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI). The WISC-IV is used for children between the ages of 6 and 16 and the WPPSI is used with children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 7.
There are also a number of tests available for free on the Internet, though these are not considered to be true tests and may not accurately measure intelligence.
There are many benefits of undergoing IQ testing. First, for individuals who feel they or their children are below average, an official score on an IQ test may provide them with extra assistance and access to benefits. Children taking IQ tests may use them to gain access to special schools or classrooms that allow them to work at a different pace and level than other students. For adults, these tests may open doors to certain career pathways. In addition, many social networks are provided to adults who have proved that they have high scores on an approved IQ test.
While IQ tests provide information on where an individual ranks compared with other test takers, they do not necessarily provide information on how well an individual will perform in school, in the workplace, or in life. Though IQ tests are supposed to be unbiased, studies have found that there are a number of factors that contribute to how a person performs on IQ tests, including culture, socioeconomic status and test-taking ability.