While both aren’t and can’t be 100% representative of a person’s IQ, the SAT Test is standardized, offering a better platform for comparison among the thousands of test takers.
GPA, however, while it shows consistency, can be “fluffed” due to different courses or hooks.
What do you guys think determines the true IQ and intelligence of a person, their GPA or SAT?
Performance in college is more strongly correlated to high school courses and grades and subject matter tests (like AP and SAT subject) than SAT and ACT.
IQ is not quite the same, of course. Of course, different IQ tests tend to measure different definitions of IQ. IQ as defined by a single generic test may correlate better to SAT and ACT. But actual college performance is more relevant.
Performance in college is more strongly correlated to high school courses and grades and subject matter tests (like AP and SAT subject) than SAT and ACT.
IQ is not quite the same, of course. Of course, different IQ tests tend to measure different definitions of IQ. IQ as defined by a single generic test may correlate better to SAT and ACT. But actual college performance is more relevant.
We shouldn’t budge these answers out of ourselves. We can’t go around determining exceptions and acting like the answers will have the impact that’s theoretically asserted. When one says ‘despite X Y Z, this and this is the better determinant’ we’re putting that meaning into ourselves emotionally as well, which can overshadow the rhetorical exceptions made.
So, I don’t think there’s an answer to this. It’s all relative to each person, and you cannot expound millions upon millions of minds with one college projection test. Even the most established researchers are still determining intelligence. It’s all a work in progress… it’s the fault of our human nature to want simple answers to huge propositions like this.
If we havent defined intelligence, we can’t speculate accurately what tool would be used to determine it.
I would say neither considering that both GPA and SAT/ACT can be raised through diligence and hard work. Natural intelligence is not necessarily a prerequisite to have a high SAT/ACT or GPA.
The title of this thread is unclear. What is the variable you are trying to predict? Are you trying to predict college performance or are you asking whether the correlations between SAT and college grades or high school grades and college grades are higher?
I think it depends. I’m naturally intelligent, but my grades & scores are pretty low, since my high school experience was a wreck. I’ve moved through a few schools, for several reasons, and was at one point homeless. I also couldn’t afford an SAT tutor, and I’m not good with tests in general.
I don’t mean to sound like a whiner. It’s just that everyone has a different high school experience. College can be a second chance to prove yourself.
I think in order to do very well on the SAT you need some innate intelligence and have had a good education, whether it’s through prepping or being in good schools with good teachers over the years. I think someone with a high IQ, but a poor education and little to no test prep won’t perform as well. I probably didn’t answer the original question, but it’s late.
I think the SAT is correlated very slightly with IQ. I would say neither because gpa varies WIDELY from school to school. In my nearby high school there were people in my brother’s national honors society club with 3.7+ uw gpas but 1300-1400 sat scores (all 3 sections). However, in my school (competitive magnet), there were people with 3.6 gpas with 2200+ sat scores.
I measure intelligence by talking and interacting with people. I didn’t/don’t know my friends’ gpa or sat but I know they are extremely smart. Gpa and sat just prove you were able to jump through a hoop in my opinion.
IQ is a joke, a total joke. It offers no measurement of anything, because you can’t “measure” IQ. What really is IQ? Remember, these tests were designed to detect mental retardation, not geniuses. So since you can’t define it, you cannot determine it. Who even discusses this anyway? My friend who has a 4.0 while taking all honors and AP classes got less than 140 on the PSAT, but he is in at least the 70 percentile. I’ve taken an IQ test where I got an 87 on the verbal part, but previously I got a 140 on it. They were both administered by Pyschologists. It is a stupid thing to discuss. Ugh.
I think Intelligence is the ability to learn complex things quickly, and explain them simply. It’s not capacity of vocabulary, but being able to use vocabulary in a persuasive and efficient way. Same thing with maths, it’s the ability to learn the concepts, and even come up with your own.
Are the grapes sour much? High SAT scores are correlated with superior intelligence. In fact, 20 years ago you could use your SAT scores to get into MENSA. Now they want you to take their self-administered test or an actual IQ test.