How IQ Tests Make You Smarter
Photo by Jeff Blazer
When you learn how to solve one type of problem, your brain remembers the “trick” that solved that problem and stores it for future use with new similar problems.
So, the more different types of existing problems and solutions you are willing to let your mind play with, the more solutions to future problems you will have at your mental fingertips in your own portable personal computer that is your incredible brain.
Which is also why playing with IQ tests and brain teasers actually makes you smarter. To be smart means knowing: (1) a lot of useful stuff, especially how to solve problems; or (2) how to learn new things quickly and apply them to new situations in useful ways. Notice all the emphasis on “useful?” (Trivial Pursuit
So, these games are actually quite practical. For example, if you learn how to solve about a dozen basic patterns of them, that’ll help you a great deal on standardized exams that test your analytical reasoning skills, such as the Law School Admission Test (”LSAT”). But, more to the point, the reason why the LSAT and other standardized exams even test such skills is because your ability to answer these IQ test-type questions does translate to solving serious problems in the real world.
MY ORIGINAL FEAR AND LOATHING OF IQ TESTS
Growing up, one of my sisters was very jealous of my looks and I was very jealous of her IQ. She told me she had gotten tested in the second grade and apparently had a very high one, though she never did tell me what it was. Anyway, after that, whenever she wanted to really hurt my feelings, she insulted my intelligence. One example: “You’re not only a bitch, you’re a stupid bitch!” Those were harsh words at the time because she was the first one in our family to start using that word.
She also took every chance to mock me and embarrass me in front of my friends. I was terrified of playing any games with her for a long time (though I did my best not to show it and acted like I was merely disinterested—yeah, we were pretty dysfunctional), especially the ones that were supposed to show off (or expose our lack of) intelligence, such as Scrabble, Poker, Chess, Taboo, or Trivial Pursuit.
Of course, I avoided all IQ test-type questions, too. She loved them and seemed to be naturally very good at them. I assumed it was a gift that she got and I didn’t.
Whenever such puzzles popped up in class or in discussions among friends, my mind quickly wandered off. “This was not my area of expertise or interest, so why waste my time with it?” I thought. If a teacher or friend pressed me, I tried my best … for a little while. Then, I quickly gave up. “What’s the answer?” I asked impatiently. If they insisted I try harder, I grew even more frustrated. My mind shut up even tighter. I thought I was still trying to solve the puzzle, but my mind was too focused on my anger and shame at always being so bad at these “useless” puzzles!
AN OLD LADY KILLED ME AT SCRABBLE—A LOT!
When I was an undergraduate at UCLA, I lived for a short time with an elderly couple rent-free in exchange for doing light chores around their home and house-sitting while they traveled the world. They were in their 80s but they were still quite active. The wife apparently loved to play Scrabble; and, one time, she asked me if I wanted to play a game. I explained that I wasn’t very good at it. She didn’t mind, so we played. She slaughtered me. I think she dumped her rack three times. (If you’ve never played, that’s using all 7 tiles in one move for a bonus 50 points on top of whatever else you scored on the board from the multiple new words you just created with those 7 tiles. And, she did that 3 times in one game!)
It was a quick game. She looked at me in shock and dismay, shaking her head in disbelief. Here she thought I was a smart young kid about to go to law school and what kind of game playing was that? She told me she thought I could do better and asked me if I wanted to try again. Sure, I said, not wanting to let my hostess down … let alone an elderly one … let alone one who was starting to talk smack. She was right, though. I hadn’t given it my best shot; but, now, it was on! And, guess what? She killed me again! She just laughed and clucked pitifully. I asked if she wanted to play another. She gave me a wry grin and said, “You’re hooked.” Then, she stood up and said, “Okay, set it up while I get some coffee. You want a cup?”
“No thanks,” I said. I did not want a cup. I wanted to keep playing, watching and learning from the master exactly how to whip my sister’s butt at her own game. My sister had always made fun of me whenever I made any 3-letter words in Scrabble, but this dear old lady was killing me with 3- and 2- and even 1-letter words! Words I’d never even heard of (so I challenged them often); but, they were in fact bona fide words (so I lost my turn often), as she was more than happy to confirm for me in her ginormous Oxford English Dictionary, laying always open on an equally massive podium prominently displayed between the dining room and the living room.
In time, I learned most of her tricks and she was only able to dump her rack once every other game or so with me. But, I could absolutely kill everyone else I played. I was also more than happy to teach anyone and everyone who wanted to learn all that I knew about play that game to win it. So, their skills all improved rapidly, too. Yes, I did beat my sister many, many times before I taught her all my tricks. I’m no angel. I enjoyed it while I could, sort of assuming she’d eventually pick up on my tricks just by watching me, like I did with the old lady. But, I realized my sister was too angry at herself for losing to me that she couldn’t open her mind to the lessons available there. So, I went ahead and shared all my secrets. Then, we had some real fun! All night long Scrabble tournaments between just the two of us with the majestic sights and sounds of Lawrence of Arabia
Right about then, it dawned on me: If I could learn how to play Scrabble so well just by really trying to instead of being angry about being bad at it, then maybe I could learn how to be good at IQ tests, too, starting with changing my attitude.
It worked! So much so that I was surprised to scored higher on my LSAT on the Logic Games portion of it (involving more numbers and space relations), than on the rest of the exam (involving more word relations and argument comprehension).
TWO MORE IQ-TESTS TO GROW YOUR SMARTS
If IQ-tests frighten you, please don’t let them. They’re not a measure of your innate intelligence like so many people incorrectly believe. They are merely learning tools to help you develop ever newer and better ways of problem-solving. Use them to make yourself as smart as you need or want to be. You don’t have to tell anybody how you learned the answers, or how long it took you to truly understand them. All they will see is a smart person. The truth is, that’s how most of us do it!
- 1. Doorway to Heaven or Hell
You stand in a room with only two doors and one man in front of each door. One door leads to Heaven and the other to Hell, but you don’t know which leads where. One of the men always tells the truth and the other always lies. What single question, if asked to both of them, will correctly yield the information you need?
- 2. Make 4 Gallons Out of 5 & 3
You have a 5-gallon jug and a 3-gallon jug, but you need exactly 4 gallons of water to save your life. Can you use the two jugs you do have to get exactly 4 gallons?
This time for the answers, you will have to do some internet research or ask around. The ability to find answers for yourself, which always begins with the all-important burning desire to know the answer, is a necessary step to success.
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