IQ and problem solving
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Question
Hello,
First and foremost, thank you for your time. I am not sure if you are the expert in this sort of thing as my question is sort of strange (even to me). Really sorry if I end up wasting your time. If this is not your area and/or if I have asked this question in the wrong section of the allexperts website, I would really appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction. Please read on for my situation and question.
I did some IQ tests (2-3) online last year (2011) to see whether I was “gifted” in any way. The results I got varied from 145-148 IQ score and I know that this is quite above average (100) and I understand most things taught at school quite quickly. I know that these tests are not perfect but because of how well I do in school, I believe I am a bit above average intelligence.
However, this year I chose the subject Philosophy and Reason and in term 1 we studied logic. We got logic problems such as a truth teller and liar puzzle (see link below this paragraph) and I did not get an answer at all to any of them while some other students (one of whom also did an IQ test and got a lower score than me and doesn’t grasp concepts taught in school nearly as quickly as I do) got it in a fairly short while.
(an example is in the first paragraph)
We did other sorts of puzzles such as those “rearrange the match sticks to formshape” and again I had no answer while others got it quite quickly. In general, I struggle to solve these types of problems. So now I am a bit confused and slightly worried as problem solving is essential in school and probably after school but I just can’t work it out.
Whenever I try to do problem solving questions, I have this weird feeling that I don’t know how to think in a problem solving situation (if that makes any sense to you?). I don’t know how to “think outside the box”. All that comes to my head is the usual stuff; nothing creative or extraordinary. I sort of just let the ideas pop into my head and don’t actually go through some process in my head to get the answer. It just feels like I am not thinking about the problem to get an answer, but simply hoping I get that, “AHA! *light bulb*” moment. However in ALL other aspects of school thinking, I do quite well and I can ‘feel’ that I am actually thinking in some way (such as thinking of what to write in an essay).
So my question is (they all sort of relate to each other):
Is something wrong with me?
Do I not know how to think ‘outside the box’ in problem solving situations or is that just normal (for other people as well)?
Or am I simply a person whose brain is just not good at problem solving?
Why am I struggling so much at problem solving?
Extra Information:
- I get good grades at school: A+ (sometimes), A (most of the time) etc. which is perfect and ‘great’ answers respectively.
- I am quite accurate in what I do – I don’t make mistakes too often. For example in maths I am good and fairly fast in performing calculations both mental and written.
- I also seem to have a weird memory:
- I often forget what I am about to say to people.
- I am slow to memorise people’s names when we first meet.
- But I can recall odd things such as something someone said a long time ago (but was not necessarily important).
- I am and like to be very organised (if that is of any relevance).
- I was born when my mother was 40 years old (in relation to the increased risk of mental defect in a child that is born after the mother is a certain age) if it is of any help to you.
Well, thank you for your time and thank you very much (in advance) regardless of whether you can or cannot help me out.
Thank you,
Chetan.
P.S. Sorry for such a long and odd ‘question’.
Answer
Dear Chetan,
Thank you for very interesting and well written question. First of al., I would take online IQ tests with a grain of salt. Second, this is somewhat characteristic for any IQ tests but to get most of them, you might want to try two different types: for right and left hemisphere dominance, for analytical or holistic types of thinking. They must be proprietary, professionally conducted tests.
Another issue that I consider of practical importance is to try a professionally conducted test on dyslexia since this can be the case according to your specifics (my son has been diagnosed at the age of 24; his features are quite similar to yours). If so, you have additional rights comparing with non-dyslectics, depending on Australia’s regulations. In Sweden and England, students with dyslexia are allowed an extra exam time, using a computer instead of hand writing during exam, audiotaping lectures, etc.
Also, these things can be somewhat trained, again, under professional guidance but there is an excellent Internet resource, which is recognized by psychologists, lumosity.com, having an introductory, free of charge option.
Do not be discouraged, see the list of most intelligence people in history, exemplary achievers in spite of their dyslexia. Among them: Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, John Lennon, Walt Disney… You might find yourself in a good company!
Please don’t hesitate asking any further questions.
Tanya Zilberter
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