I've never taken the MENSA test, but I've aced plenty of standardized tests in my day - I'm just GOOD at them. It's certainly not the only way, or perhaps the "best" way to measure intelligence, but it is one way, and I think it's best seen that like that.
That said, MENSA and other test designers are usually very careful about questions that are as clearly ambiguous as your example. Some are bound to slip through, but then again, standardized tests often have 50-200 questions, so no single one makes or breaks the results. Standardized testing as a sole means evaluation is wrong, and unfortunately the case in some locations. But in some situations, it's really the only good choice.
As for MENSA, I can take it or leave it - so far I've not joined because it's primarily a social club, and my social card is full with other activities and groups that feature people like me - just like most people enjoy. That's all MENSA is. My Atheist group requires atheism as a condition for membership, most LUGs require some computer expertise or desire to learn, and MENSA requires a test. No problems there.
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Date: 2007-08-16 05:19 am (UTC)That said, MENSA and other test designers are usually very careful about questions that are as clearly ambiguous as your example. Some are bound to slip through, but then again, standardized tests often have 50-200 questions, so no single one makes or breaks the results. Standardized testing as a sole means evaluation is wrong, and unfortunately the case in some locations. But in some situations, it's really the only good choice.
As for MENSA, I can take it or leave it - so far I've not joined because it's primarily a social club, and my social card is full with other activities and groups that feature people like me - just like most people enjoy. That's all MENSA is. My Atheist group requires atheism as a condition for membership, most LUGs require some computer expertise or desire to learn, and MENSA requires a test. No problems there.