S/O - how does everyone know their IQ?

[Anonymous]

The thread on high IQs got me thinking - I know I had my IQ tested as a child, and I know that I asked my parents what the score was and they didn't tell me. I'm an excellent standardized test-taker, so I suspect it was well above average, but I have no clue how far. Did your parents tell you your IQ when you were a child or did they wait until you were an adult? And if your children have taken/will take an IQ test, will you tell them their results?

FWIW, I think my parents made the right decision - had they told me, I'm sure I would have defined myself by that number, beat myself up when I didn't live up to it, and probably gotten all high and mighty when I thought I was smarter than someone else. My kids haven't been tested, but if they are, I doubt I will tell them the results.

[Anonymous]

I had to have my IQ tested for admission into a special school program as an adolescent. My parents didn't tell me the result at the time. I didn't even know that they'd received the result until much later, and my dad finally told me the number a couple of years ago.

My kids haven't been tested. I don't really see the point for them.

[Anonymous]

When my DS did not test "gifted and talented" (the end of the world around these parts) because of a learning disability (I came to find out), I was shocked. I asked my mother if I was "gifted and talented" which I already knew to be "yes." She told me my IQ was 135 and I was blown away. I thought maybe 120ish. I knew I was smart and did VERY well in school and IQ tests but had no idea it was that high.

I really don't think a parent should make a point of giving a child an exact number. My parents always encouraged me and alluded to my intelligence. Even that sort of gave me a big head!

That said, now I will make a point. I am currently back in school after being a long-time SAHM but I loved every second with my kids and never thought it was "beneath" me. It is the most important job in the world.

[Anonymous]

I had my son's tested, as part of school admissions. I did not tell him.

[Anonymous]

Tested in first grade by the school, teacher told me the results.

[Anonymous]

I tested in school with some friends for fun -

[Anonymous]

My sister and I were part of a study about identical twins when we were kids, and they tested our IQs as part of the study. Interestingly we got the exact same score - 147. The scientists loved us!

[Anonymous]

Tested as a child to be tracked into GT programs and early K.

[Anonymous]

I had a week-long psychologist-administered IQ test (paid for by my schools' G&T program) when I was a child. As far as I know, that was the gold standard at the time, and I scored 148. My school also did the p&p standardized tests, and I always scored way higher on those (and they were much more limited in what they tested) -- they were REALLY easy.

I think most people have never had the psychologist-administered test. Those standardized versions aren't very accurate or precise.

[Anonymous]

I was tested as a child (got a score high enough to enter our school's gifted program) and still don't know the results, which is how I prefer it.

[Anonymous]

To the best of my knowledge I was never tested. I grew up in Europe and stuff like this wasn't a big deal.

I am curious what it is, but since I'm 40 it probably doesn't make much difference at this point.

[Anonymous]

I distinctly remember my 5th grade teacher telling us that because last year's class was very upset and a lot of kids cried when he told them their IQ scores, that he wasn't going to tell us ours because he didn't want to deal with it. So I suspect mine is on the higher side but I have no idea.

This is the same teacher who took weeks to explain the difference between fusion and fission to a bunch of 5th graders. I wish there were more teachers like him

[Anonymous]

Tested in middle school - my parents wanted a more 'official' opinion to bring to the school since I was unhappy and they were getting the 'everybody is special' blow off.

I know I found out the number eventually, but they didn't tell me at the time, so I'm not sure how I eventually knew the number. And while I *think* I know the number, I wouldn't swear to the accuracy of that memory.

[Anonymous]

We were tested in middle school in the late 70s, and I was shocked when the teacher read the scores by name to the whole class. That was incredibly inappropriate. I remember one poor kid was 90.

[Anonymous]

Mine was tested at least twice - once for school admission (my parents wanted me placed into first grade rather than K, so I did skip K) and once was part of my high school entrance exam. The numbers were different, mostly because I didn't complete one part of my high school entrance exam as I arrived late for the test and didn't realize I only had 15 minutes for the first section I scored high enough on the rest of the sections to get a partail academic scholarship to attend that HS.

I think the real answer is somewhere between the 2 numbers, because I believe my test at 5-years old was ridiculously skewed because I was an early reader and already doing simple math.

I have no reason to test my kid right now. We don't have the money for exclusive private school, and I don't think she could skip K anyway. She's bright, but I don't think she is profoundly gifted. Time will tell, right?