The Smartest of US: An Online IQ Contest
Sometime last week, Martin Walker (of MindSparke) directed my attention to the Smartest of US site.
Oh, and btw… while I wasn’t watching, Martin introduced a Jr version of Brain Fitness Pro, intended for kids. Pretty cool. I think I might need that version - the other one TOO seriously challenged my brain!
Anyway. What was I writing about again? Oh yeah…
Today I started to write a post about The Smartest of US, but I thought he explained it a bit better than I would, so I’m just going to paste it here.
Tori,
In the past couple of days I’ve become aware of an effort spearheaded by Kerry Grinkmeyer of The Best of The US. After Kerry’s daughter was diagnosed with a tumor in her foot (which required amputation) after many years of misdiagnosis. Kerry decided he would dedicate his life to the idea that not all professionals are equally competent. Hence, The Best of The US allows people to find exceptionally qualified professionals.
With The Smartest of The US Kerry wants to raise the profile of “intelligence” or intellectual ability in the US. As he puts it, the White House now has a smart guy in charge after eight years of a guy of average intellectual capacity. He’d like everyone in the country to have a SUS score.
The setup is very cool. The site delivers a timed IQ test (30 minutes) with questions drawn from a large database of good quality questions, so no two tests come out the same. Multiple attempts are encouraged. Test takers get more tests by inviting friends. There’s a leader board for the year and for the month. For $10 the test taker can get a detailed assessment of his or her score.
I have told Kerry that I will donate ten copies of Brain Fitness Pro – Family Pack as runner up prizes. (He already has laptops as first prizes.) I’ve also told him that I will do what I can to help him publicize his effort.
Martin
So this morning, I trotted on over to the site, and took their IQ Test. I won’t be winning a laptop any time soon, but my my score left my intellectual vanity intact! And no, I’m not telling you my score; a lady needs SOME mysteries.
(But if you really want to know, the top rankings are listed on the site. Hint: if you DON’T want the world to know your results, don’t use your actual name as your username ; )
I’ve taken a number of online tests in the past few months, trying to find a good one to measure progress after brain training. Honestly, I found it the most comfortable of the online tests I’ve tried, and I scored well within the range I’ve had for ‘official’ tests as an adult. Other tests online have scored me much lower - I’ve never been sure if that’s a difference in their standards (which I know vary widely) or if their formatting threw me off. In anycase, IQ tests are not considered any sort of gold standard measurement of smartness.
And I love the idea of raising the profile of intelligence . So go on over and see how you fare. Who knows, ya’ll are a pretty brainy bunch - maybe one of YOU will win a laptop or a MindSparke Brain Fitness Pro Family Pack.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
… and before anyone asks, I have no affiliation with The Smartest of Us Site. But yes, those are affiliate links leading to MindSparke Brain Fitness Pro. If you look, Martin’s ad is in the sidebar, over there ———->
It’s the mostly orange one. And he’s a good guy. So no snarking!
This sounds like an excellent opportunity, though I am a bit hesitant to take another IQ test: It might burst some self-pride balloons I have! But I’ll try it when I’m feeling reasonably alert.
Thanks for another great post!
I’ve tried several different ways to get into the site and my computer will just not let me even open the site due to the malware warning.
Okay your blog site lost my last comment. So here goes again.
My son has XXYY syndrome and I’ve had to educate every medical professional my son has come in contact with. Especially with the internet info out there is always blows my mind. I mean THAT’S how I found out about it all.
AND don’t get me started on the media. Several months ago CSI Miami did a show maligning his disorder. Our organization tried to get the network to retract or at least add a comment about what they did and added it to their packaged DVD’s of the series but they pretty much laughed in our face. So not only were they ignorant about the disorder but they misrepresented the disorder to a HUGE portion of the public and packaged it up. DUH