Government Adviser: IQ Tests Best for University Selection

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The discussion centers around the proposal that IQ tests could be a more effective method for selecting university students than traditional A-levels. Proponents argue that IQ tests may provide a fairer opportunity for working-class students who may have underperformed academically due to inadequate schooling. Critics, however, contend that implementing IQ tests would significantly reduce the number of applicants, which could harm universities financially, as they rely on a broad customer base for funding. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of education access, with some participants asserting that everyone deserves an education regardless of IQ, while others emphasize that educational opportunities should be based on merit and capability. The debate reflects differing views on the purpose of higher education, the role of standardized testing, and the societal implications of educational access.
  • #31
Hold up. Who's to say you're smarter than anybody? Who's to say that I'm smarter than anybody?

Nobody! That was very rude of you to say. It doesn't matter if you know more than everyone in this forum or not. Why are we getting so off subject in here?

No, don't say you're smarter than anybody. For all you know, you could be telling a lie. I'll tell you right now that obviously some of us are smarter than you, since we're not rude enough to claim that we're better.

You shouldn't put yourself down like that.
 
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  • #32
Yes, many have told me that I'm a rude individual; I understand that many find this distressing. But IQ test scores and a background in psychology together provide the basis for my judgment on who is smarter than whom.

Consider this analogy - laymen might be tempted to say that we can't state whether the Sun or the moon is farther away from the Earth because we can't tell by just looking. But men of science have known for thousands of years, and the question can be rather easily resolved with the application of simple physics. Admittedly I can't be sure about this, but this uncertainty is largely a pedantic detail, since we can't be sure of anything and must always rely on the best information available in making judgments. So I'm sorry if you can't tell when one person is smarter than another, but I can.

If you think this discussion has veered off topic, and if that bothers you, why don't you address the original subject?


--Mark
 
  • #33
Originally posted by Nachtwolf
Consider this analogy - laymen might be tempted to say that we can't state whether the Sun or the moon is farther away from the Earth because we can't tell by just looking. ... So I'm sorry if you can't tell when one person is smarter than another, but I can.

So you're saying that you can tell one person is smarter than another just by looking at them? talking to them? But how do you know unless you ask their IQ and take the same test as they do?

The point of the matter is everyone deserves what they earn. That's already been said. And I do agree that if someone is positively unable to ensure themselves a decent education, then one should not be offered. It's a waste. I think that's what we both agree on.
 

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