I have hesitated over this post for ages, because it’s really hard to write about having a high IQ without sounding like you’ve got tickets on yourself!
Yes, I have a high IQ. No, I don’t think it makes me any better or more special than anybody else. I just happen to be good in the areas measured by IQ tests.
There is plenty of other stuff that I suck at: sports, dancing; swimming; and sewing; to name just a few.
People think having a high IQ is so great, but I really haven’t found it so.
Having a High IQ as a Child
I knew I had a flair for words from an early age. I won the Year 2 spelling bee out of at least a hundred children. It came so easily to me, it just didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.
When I was in Year 4, my teacher took me aside and said I had a real gift for writing. I was chuffed but had no real clue as to what that meant!
It was a comment that was repeated frequently over the years. I was a good student – I won an academic merit award for “general proficiency” in Year 8, and was the runner up for the French award about three years in a row in high school (so frustrating!).
In senior, I dropped back to what we called “vegie maths” – practical maths, not that high falutin’ x equals y stuff. Yet without any effort at all, I topped the Year! Most peculiar ๐ .
So I had my highs but also my lows (failing home economics in Year 8 because sewing a simple skirt was completely beyond me) – certainly nothing too exceptional academically (though this might have been partly due to the extreme pressures I was facing at home).
How I Found Out my IQ
So when I did an IQ test in teacher’s college over 30 years ago, I knew I would do well. Although we were never given the precise results, our lecturer did let slip that a couple of people got over 140 (the average is 100) – and I was one of them.
Funnily enough, the hubster also has a high IQ. He did the test as part of the recruitment process for a job, and received the highest score out of the group – and it’s around the same as mine!
And yet … what good has having a high IQ done for us? People think it’s a big deal – but is it, really? I don’t think it’s led to riches, fame or anything else in particular – we’re not brainiacs, rocket scientists or millionaires – we are just regular, ordinary, everyday adults.
Upon reflection, the only thing I have noticed is that sometimes in conversation, I feel like I get a bit too deep and meaningful for some folk to cope with – we are just on completely different wavelengths. But I’m not sure if that’s an IQ thing, or different personality types, or what.
Do you know what your IQ is? Do you think it has much bearing on your path in life?
Joining up with some of my fave bloggers for:
Theresa says
I don’t know my score on a test like that. I’m pretty good with most of the abstract math concepts which to me is closely linked to how I understand, decypher and apply myself to creative pursuits like sewing a skirt or a patchwork quilt, for example . I can write well but I’m no wordsmith,. Success at life is how you apply yourself to it.
Janet Camilleri says
See, that’s a skill set / area that I am COMPLETELY lacking in Theresa. We need all sorts of people in this world!
Jo says
I have no idea. But I suspect I’m as thick as a plank. I’ve never had to do an IQ test and I hope I never have to do one. If I found out I had a low IQ and it was a kind of self-fulfilling prophesy I think I’d think well, that’s it then, I might as well crawl into a hole and die! LOL! Always knew you were a bright spark ๐ I think you should be very proud of yourself, and your achievements ๐ You Go Girl! *Cheering from the sidelines* #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
I highly doubt that you are thick as a plank Jo, quite the opposite x
Julia says
You and Dad are so smart yet I bet if I did an IQ test mine would be below 100 haha!! Wish you guys passed your intelligence down to me ๐
Janet Camilleri says
You shouldn’t put yourself down Missy Moo. You are much smarter than you give yourself credit for x
Sue says
I don’t know my IQ but you shouldn’t worry about having ‘tickets on yourself’. If you are achieving that is great so keep going! Sometimes, unfortunately, I’ve known people who are so intelligent but they haven’t been able to use it to their full potential.
Janet Camilleri says
Hey as long as we are happy I reckon that’s what matters x
Kathy Marris says
I think I have an average IQ and I was an average student at school. However I think my strengths are communication, organisation and improvisation. My daughter has a high IQ (and is a doctor) but her practical skills are somewhat lacking. I think there is a place in the world for people of all types of intelligence. You don’t need a high IQ to be successful in the world.#TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
It’s funny how these things tend to balance themselves out. We are all good at something. And your daughter must have got her IQ from somewhere Kathy!!!
Vanessa says
I think we were supposed to do an IQ test in high school, but I looked at the questions and got bored and decided I had better things to do with my time than care what a number said. So on that basis alone, I assume I have a high IQ haha ๐
I think we all have areas where we have strengths. Some things I’ve studied at postgrad level I get high grades in with little effort. The ‘wrong’ areas and woah, do I fail like there’s no tomorrow ๐ I was the same in high school. I failed 3 out of my 6 year 11/12 subjects and was in the top few of the class for the other 3 subjects. Interest matters to me a great deal!
Janet Camilleri says
Yup, too smart to fall for that crap!!!
Deborah says
I’ve never had my IQ tested but worry it’d be lower than I’d like. Or just low.
I like to think that my emotional intelligence is pretty good though and I know many others I couldn’t say that about…. (so I’ll take solace in that!). ๐
And I wouldn’t worry about what others think… it’s good to highlight our strengths!
Janet Camilleri says
I really doubt that your IQ would be low Deb. But I agree, EQ is more important and hopefully we both have decent scores where that’s concerned!
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
I have no idea what my IQ is but I have very bright children – all did extremely well at school and uni and I’m so proud. I’m nowhere near as bright as them but I have always been good with English and writing. I always won the spelling bees at school. They were so easy to me. Writing essays was a joy. Words, writing, spelling – all that stuff comes easily to me. Be proud of your high IQ Janet – yay for you! I suck at sports too – might have something to do with my short legs?? lol
Janet Camilleri says
Having met you Min, pretty sure you have an IQ that’s well above average too!
Lyndall @ SeizeThe Day Project says
I don’t know what my IQ is, and I doubt I’ll ever find out at this point in time. We had a guy who had a super high IQ in our class at school. He was very intelligent and won a prestigious scholarship to Sydney University. However, he had no life skills or social skills and struggled to cope with life in the modern world, which is very sad. Everyone is different and we all excel at something … we just have to find it! ๐
Janet Camilleri says
I know without you doing an IQ test that you are one smart woman!
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
No idea what my IQ is. But then again, I’m not much into uniform testing so I have avoided it. Perhaps I’m just afraid to find out that I’m not as “intelligent” as I think I am. LOL.
#TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
Pretty sure you’re on smart little cookie Leanne!
Jo Tracey says
I have no idea what mine is. I was always smart at school (until year 12 maths) & did well at Uni. I was (and am) a voracious reader – which is, I think, why I was great at essay type of subjects. It’s also meant that I can talk about a really wide range of subjects with a wide range of people, yet remain convinced that other people couldn’t possibly have any interest in me! Love that we’re all so different.
Denyse Whelan Blogs says
In the 1950s and 1960s IQ testing was done in NSW Public Schools and I found out what mine was. In a great non-professional way! In those days student record cards had every test/attendance and more added to them. When I did my first prac for teacher’s college I went to my old primary school for it and the principal said ‘I’ve got your record card, do you want to see it, it also shows your IQ”. So I did, and I know I am more than above average.
However, what is disturbing somewhat about any standardised test is the assumptions some people can make about the results. I got caught up in that decades ago when the school counsellor where we were teaching and our daughter was enrolled too did an IQ test on her. It was high. We, as young parents, had high expectations of her…not the way to go!
Another thing about IQ tests is that they dont always show potential or other skills and I know you have alluded to that.For instance, I am totally useless spatially!!
All that aside, it is not something we can change or do anything about and the reason IQ tests were originally designed was to ‘grade’ people in school. Hence the use of mine when I went from Year 6 to Year 7 I was put in the top grade.
Good topic and interesting discussions here Janet!
budget jan says
Reading through your comments I notice you used the term Missy Moo, and I do too. Unfortunately I don’t think this puts us in the same IQ bracket. I have done an IQ test at school and I don’t remember what my IQ was, but I think it was average.
Janet Camilleri says
LOL I’m sure you’re one very smart cookie Jan x