Individual Intelligence Test Items

In this article I will explore some of the types of test items that are used in individual intelligence tests.

Individual intelligence tests typically include a variety of cognitive tasks and questions designed to assess different aspects of an individual’s intellectual abilities. Here are some common types of items you might find in individual intelligence tests with examples:

1. Verbal comprehension: These items assess a person’s ability to understand and use language. They may involve vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, analogies, or comprehension of written passages.
   1. Define the word “exemplify.”
   2. Complete the analogy: Cat is to meow as dog is to ______.
2. Working memory: These items measure a person’s capacity to hold and manipulate information in their mind. They may involve tasks like remembering and rearranging sequences of numbers or letters, or solving mathematical problems mentally.
   1. Repeat back a series of numbers or letters in reverse order.
   2. Solve a math problem mentally, such as 27 + 14 – 6.
3. Processing speed: These items assess how quickly an individual can process and respond to simple visual or auditory stimuli. They may involve tasks like matching symbols or codes, completing simple patterns, or rapidly naming colors.
   1. Identify the matching symbol from a set of options as quickly as possible.
   2. Name the color of a presented word, ignoring the word itself (e.g., if the word “blue” is written in red ink, you would say “red”).
4. Fluid reasoning: These items evaluate a person’s ability to think logically, solve problems, and identify patterns. They may involve tasks like series completion, matrix reasoning, or analogical reasoning.
   1. Fill in the missing item in a series: 2, 4, 6, __, 10.
   2. Identify the pattern and select the next figure in a visual matrix.
5. Visual-spatial abilities: These items measure a person’s ability to understand and manipulate visual information. They may involve tasks such as assembling puzzles, mentally rotating objects, or identifying patterns in designs.
   1. Rotate a three-dimensional object mentally and select the matching orientation from a set of options.
   2. Determine which two shapes can be combined to form a given larger shape.
6. Quantitative reasoning: These items assess a person’s mathematical abilities, including numerical operations, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving. They may involve tasks like solving arithmetic problems, working with mathematical concepts, or interpreting graphs and charts.
   1. Solve a math word problem, such as calculating the total cost of buying multiple items.
   2. Interpret a graph or chart and answer questions based on the information presented.
7. Memory recall: These items evaluate a person’s ability to remember and reproduce information accurately. They may involve tasks like recalling a series of numbers or words immediately or after a delay.
   1. Repeat back a list of words or numbers immediately after hearing them.
   2. Recall a list of items after a delay, such as counting backward for a few minutes and then recalling the items.
8. Abstract reasoning: These items measure a person’s ability to identify relationships, make inferences, and think abstractly. They may involve tasks such as pattern recognition, completing sequences, or solving logical puzzles.
   1. Identify the rule or pattern governing a series of shapes and select the next shape in the sequence.
   2. Complete a visual puzzle by selecting the missing piece that completes the overall image.
9. Executive functioning: These items assess higher-level cognitive processes, including attention, planning, and mental flexibility. They may involve tasks like sorting objects according to different rules, switching between tasks, or inhibiting automatic responses.
   1. Sort a set of objects based on specific criteria, such as color or shape.
   2. Switch between two different tasks or instructions as quickly as possible.

The specific tests administered and the way scores are interpreted can vary depending on the test used and the purpose of the assessment. These examples are also general in nature and may not reflect the specific items used in any particular intelligence test. The actual items used can vary across different tests and assessments.