Typically, intelligence can be described as “the ability for complex thinking and reasoning“( Ceci, 2001, p.47). Regarding the significance that is given to the IQ in life important decisions, it seems ironic that there is still great discrepancy amongst psychologists what intelligence tests actually measure as there is to date no standard definition of intelligence. This rigorous procedure affects the future of millions of people, closing doors to those who only achieved comparable low scores on the intelligence tests in question. Universities looking for the best students as well as employers selecting the top candidate for a position often base their decision on a sole number referred to as the Intelligence Quotient (IQ).

Intelligence testing plays currently a significant role in judging a person‘s suitability for certain positions. However, there is an individual sense of self-fulfillment which always relies on personal traits and motivation, hence the predictive validity should not be overestimated and regarded as the ultimate indicator of future success. In conclusion, the intelligence measured by IQ tests is a fairly accurate predictor of objective success in terms of academics and professional achievements. Hence it seems justifiable that multiple forms of intelligences exist what proves the IQ to be a too one sided measurement of intelligence as it does not regard human personality and behavior as a whole. However, the analysis of research that puts the predictive value of the IQ in a questionable position suggests that intelligence is not only context dependent and influenced by personality, but can also be expressed in different ways. The investigation of studies concerning the correlation of IQ and a likely college graduation or IQ and financial success has shown that IQ can in a certain way be predictive of success in life. It was essential to primarily discuss the definition of intelligence in relation to IQ with reference on its impact on success in life, whereby it was revealed that even amongst psychologists there is no agreed standard characterization of intelligence in humans as well as there is no consistent perception of success.Īs intelligence measurement is such a disputed yet highly important psychometric paradigm to determine the future potential of an individual, this investigation analyses both supportive as well as critical views towards the IQ in terms of its reliability in predicting academic, professional, financial and social success while simultaneously considering its weaknesses and limitations. This essay investigated the research question: To what extent is a person‘s IQ a reliable predictor of success in life? Supportive view on the IQ‘s predictive reliabilityĬritical view on the IQ‘s predictive reliability

Reliable intelligence test