The relationship between IQ and grades isn’t what you often think.
A student with an IQ of 60 can excel in school as much as and often better than students with higher IQs. There’s a reason this academic excellence is possible for people with relatively low IQs. It may be hard to believe since an IQ test is supposed to show who is most suited to succeed in school, and the higher the score, the more likely you’ll succeed.
But was it always that way? Let’s find out.
Why was IQ developed?
The first-ever IQ tests were developed to discover which students were in the most need of assistance with their studies. IQ, which stands for Intelligence Quotient, is an average value calculated with the help of these tests.
IQ tests generally test math, language, reasoning, memory retention, and information processing speed.
That’s why you’ll find that they’re always timed tests.
Over time, these tests became more popularly known as the test to find out who the most intelligent person is. Many educators shifted the focus from discovering who needs the most help (and what area they need help) to focusing on how high or low the numbers are for each person.
The problem with this new focus is that it does not help students with low or high IQs.
This next section explores how the focus on IQ has underdeveloped students instead of helping them.
Why is it Wrong that Students with High IQs think they’re born geniuses?
They grow lazy and ineffective with school work.
When a student cannot put in a reasonable amount of hard work into their schoolwork, their grades suffer. I can tell you this simple truth because I am a learning specialist. Good grades do not happen magically, and a high IQ certainly does not give you magical powers.
Sure, it gives a student an edge because it tests a student’s mental strength, among other things. But, we must keep in mind that practice and study hone that edge even better.
…and that’s where this next section comes in.
Your Learning Style Can Tell you More than your IQ Score.
Did you know that every person has a unique learning style?
It’s the secret to how a student with an IQ of 60 can read, write, do math at a sufficient grade level. The average range for IQ scores is between 85 and 115, and so, a student with an IQ score of 60 should have difficulty with their grade-level curriculum. However, that expected reality does not have to happen if every student learns according to their learning styles.
There are different categories of learning styles, but the VARK system is the most popular and includes the following learning styles;
V: Visual learning
A: Auditory learning
R: Reading/Writing learning
K: Kinesthetic learning
What You Need is to Figure Out Your Learning Style
This approach is the key to good grades, all-year long.
Let’s say you have an IQ over 100, and you struggle with your grades. The chances are that you’re not pairing your potential for academic success (i.e., your IQ) with the most effective learning style.
What I’m about to say is an unpopular idea, but teachers play a significant role in teaching their students right. So, not only might you be missing out on the most effective learning style, your teacher may not be doing all they can to assist your unique learning style.
Do you think you can figure which one’s your learning style?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Learn : Health Education and Nursing