How do IQ tests work?

Question

How do IQ tests work?

Answer 1

For elementary students there are two types of tests. The first is a group test primarily used to identify gifted students. The test is individual, each child is given a booklet. The one we used had very little reading, except for a short direction or comparison ststement. It measured a students reasoning. There were questions that showed for different drawings and the student had to pick the one that didn't go with the others. Also, things like water is to ocean as dirt is to _____.

A second test was individual and often used to identify children with learning problems. It was longer and administered by the school psychologist. It tended to be more developmental and more academic trying to see if a child had reached the academic benchmarks. I have also been present when an IQ test was given to a child by a psychiatrist in a non-school setting. They were asked to recite sets of numbers, forwards and backwards, and given blocks with patterns on them and asked to place them to form a pattern on a picture. There were general questions that most people just know, what month is it? Who is the President? When is your birthday? This test was identifying low performing adults. Hope this helps.