Marieeliz Sorry to have to report, but research into memory found that Cab drivers and Waiters had best memories and that Doctors were nearly bottom. I can't find the time to cite the research but it might come out if you google it. They went on to do a general knowledge tests in western Europe and USA which, as far as I remember, covered things like geographical locations, flags, recognising famous paintings, which animal is biggest out of two examples, is a litre more or less than a pint, is a kilometre bigger than a metre, some common word spellings, some questions about the natural world (to difficult, I remember something about does a deciduous tree stay green in the Winter? and things like that), some basic maths knowledge, like which is larger 5% or . 2? (that was "point"2!), some questions about well-known authors and their books and same with well known composers. Plus some very basic current events questions. I thought the questions would be within the grasp of an 11 year old. The results were the same as the memory test, the Cab drivers did very well, the Medics very badly. I think the research was done at the end of the 1980s. I’ll try and find it.
I have to say in response to the point about the National Curriculum Tests, I do agree, the schools do tend to drill the children and "teach to the test" rather than give a good broad education and encourage children to explore and find the acquisition of knowledge exciting.
BTW mabon1 I usually find that people who know their IQ are intellectual snobs! Also the Stanford-Binet type of
testing is just one way of testing.
I think Mensa give their members lots of tests, like they do on the Competition to find the cleverest child on TV. What do GNs make of that competition? I find I am drawn to it then watch it behind a cushion, feeling kind of sick a lot of the time and happy some of the time..
Kitty74 O how sad! I'm reading this in reverse. Have yet to find the "breeding" and "class" references. My dad aways said that the word "breeding" applies to pigs. "Class" in my humble opinion, is a word ppl use when they are ignorant and snobbish. It did get used a long time ago in some sociology studies I believe. I’m not sure most people here are talking about it. Please don’t leave because GN does have such good discussions on other topics which draw out such good and kind people. Ignore this one, it clearly isn’t for you. I’m not that sure it’s for me either tbh!
Grandma70s
When you said “A levels are not what they were, M0nica” I entirely agree! I taught at University. The students coming in had less info on which to build than in previous years except for some science subjects such as Chemistry.
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