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5
6
Yes, they should. No, they should not.
Debate Score:11
Arguments:11
Total Votes:12
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 Yes, they should. (5)
 
 No, they should not. (5)

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Harvard(666) pic



Should IQ Scores be Just as Admissible as SAT/ACT Scores for College?

Each test variation is a measure of intelligence; so, why not (assuming the IQ test was taken within a reasonable timeframe)?

Yes, they should.

Side Score: 5
VS.

No, they should not.

Side Score: 6
1 point

IQ scores ARE admissable.

In that, the student can submit his IQ score as a part of his application process.

This of ocurse does not mean that it will do him any good with the Admissions Board. It may or may not. I snuck mine into the conversation when I was applying for Grad School. I will refrain from divulging here what it is, so as not to be accused of bragging.

A agree though that IQ scores really would bring nothing of import to the table for an Admissions App. Like you said, the correaltion between a high IQ and a good SAT or ACT or MCAT score is all but indisputable. Pretty much a no-brainer.

That is, for students who were raised in this country. (We will assume for my argument here that we are speaking of US colleges and Universities, OK?)

But how about for, say, a kid from Kenya? Since we all know that SAT scores are culturally biased, the Kenyan might not do so well. He might get a middling 1200 but his IQ could be up there in the 150-160 area, putting him in the 98th percentile or so.

And sure, most IQ tests are also biased. I know the one most of us know about and probably took, the ubiquitous Stanford-Binet, surely is. But say the Kenyan managed a high IQ score back in his homeland on a more fair test?

For the sake of further debate: I would be interested in hearing what you personally think a fair and objective measure of intelligence is. I will tell you MY opinion afterwards. But I WILL say right now that in now way do I think that knowing what Pi is or being able to multiply fractions or conjugate verbs or discern which word in a set of four does not belong, is an especially accurate method.

Especially remembering names and dates is highly overrated. Like that column in the newspapers that has been running for years, with that Marilyn Vos Savant (really?). Many of her usual answers prove nothing of a high intellect. They just show she is an adept researcher, and knows her way around Google! LOL.

Anyway....back to point: on the OP question, I say, sure, why not? But it's not really helpful.

I will eagerly await your opinion on an accurate measure of IQ.

thanks.

SS

Oh....I ALSO don't equate verbosity and flowery psuedo-intellectual posts with a high IQ. So if you could put your answer in your own words, and not attempt to impress us with your syntax and George Will imitations, I would really appreciate that.

Side: Yes, they should.
1 point

I don't think the SAT actually measures intelligence. It only measures specific knowledge. Since it is measuring your knowledge it can give an indicator of what colleges would look for since they can test for knowledge they think will be useful in college. Just having the intelligence to handle college might not be enough if you are missing the basic knowledge needed in college.

Whether the SAT does that is another debate.

Side: No, they should not.
Harvard(666) Disputed
1 point

Virtually all psychologists agree that SAT scores correlate highly with IQ scores, i.e., if you have a high IQ it is very unlikely, under typical conditions, that you will do poorly on the SAT. Having the mental capacity for academic rigor, to me, seems to be a sufficient indicator for potential scholastic achievement (not wholly, though).

The tests that adequately fit your position are tests such as GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.

Side: Yes, they should.
1 point

I think the SAT should be updated to be more like the GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc. I was under the impression that the SAT doesn't actually correlate with success in college.

Side: No, they should not.

I live in Ohio and they've started a new method of High school graduation testing I don't feel like explaining. Anyway only 21 percent of us scored a "proficient" or higher on the math exam. So that funny.

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/06/scores onohioshighschoolmathtestsmuchlowerthanexpectedsparkingdebateovergraduation_requirements.html

Side: No, they should not.
1 point

Although that's a novel idea it comes nowhere close to predicting the possibility for success in college.

1) IQ proves nothing about subject matter knowledge

2) IQ proves nothing about work ethic

3) IQ proves nothing about language skills, including even whether you speak the language of instruction

4) IQ may be high in people with other serious impediments, such as autism spectrum disorders

5) IQ tests are not one standard universal test accepted by everyone. There are many different tests of differing content and lengths

Side: No, they should not.
Harvard(666) Disputed
1 point

Are you suggesting, then, that the SAT accomplishes all of what the IQ test does not?

Side: Yes, they should.
Grenache(6053) Clarified
1 point

Not at all. I believe many factors need to go into consideration for college admission. Neither IQ nor SAT/ACT by themselves provide enough information.

Side: Yes, they should.