the Wonderlic Test

Joined
16 April 2007
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It’s a test of cognitive ability. I’d never heard of this test until today when I read a Yahoo article about it. QB Greg McElroy came within two of answering all 50 questions correct on this test, which led to the dismaying headline: “Is He Too Smart for the NFL?” Too smart!? Are you kidding me? Is this what we’ve become?

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footba...-aced-the-Wonderlic-Is-he-to?urn=ncaaf-327510

So then I found this sample test. Try it out and see how you score:

http://www.professormoney.com/wonderlic sample test.htm

One more thing. Without giving it away, I completely disagree with the stated answer to number 5 and can make a case for my argument(I chose the middle option). Can anybody tell me why I’m wrong?
 
It’s a test of cognitive ability. I’d never heard of this test until today when I read a Yahoo article about it. QB Greg McElroy came within two of answering all 50 questions correct on this test, which led to the dismaying headline: “Is He Too Smart for the NFL?” Too smart!? Are you kidding me? Is this what we’ve become?

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footba...-aced-the-Wonderlic-Is-he-to?urn=ncaaf-327510

So then I found this sample test. Try it out and see how you score:

http://www.professormoney.com/wonderlic sample test.htm

One more thing. Without giving it away, I completely disagree with the stated answer to number 5 and can make a case for my argument(I chose the middle option). Can anybody tell me why I’m wrong?


Really we are judging peoples intelligence on this test? Kind of sad...

Anyway my take on number 5.

Present could mean either present time or it could mean to give. The opposite for each situation would be either the past or to take back.
Reserve would mean hold back but not take back. Which isn't the same thing.

Given the choice of the two words I assumed they meant present as in to give, so took reserve to mean hold back
 
Ahhhh help!! I don't know what the 9th month of the year is!!!! :confused:

How can they not know the month in which the football season starts? :confused:
 
Really we are judging peoples intelligence on this test? Kind of sad...

Anyway my take on number 5.

Present could mean either present time or it could mean to give. The opposite for each situation would be either the past or to take back.
Reserve would mean hold back but not take back. Which isn't the same thing.

Given the choice of the two words I assumed they meant present as in to give, so took reserve to mean hold back


I see where you’re going there. It’s just that the two words are antonyms of each other, as defined by the dictionary (I looked it up). “Present” alone has 4 discreet meanings listed in Webster’s, but on the test they didn’t specify which, which means that any definition applies. Now, if they said they were talking about birthday presents and Indian reservations, yeah….

Stuff like this has always irked me. I stopped watching “Who wants to be a Millionaire” after this gem. Somebody answer me this:

In music, how many notes make a chord?

(I present the question to you, but I reserve the answer until later).
 
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I see where you’re going there. It’s just that the two words are antonyms of each other, as defined by the dictionary (I looked it up). “Present” alone has 4 discreet meanings listed in Webster’s, but on the test they didn’t specify which, which means that any definition applies. Now, if they said they were talking about birthday presents and Indian reservations, yeah….

Stuff like this has always irked me. I stopped watching “Who wants to be a Millionaire” after this gem. Somebody answer me this:

In music, how many notes make a chord?

I hear you that all definitions would apply to present and reserve however I still don't see reserve as an antonym to present regardless of which definition you pick.

In any case I wouldn't beat yourself up over it, not like you missed it because you missed the point, rather you analyzed all angles of the comparrison...I am going to say the average NFL player is not exactly doing that...reminds me of a Chemistry exam I took in college and I proved the professor was wrong because he failed to take into account additional bond angles...but rather looked at it from a simplistic perspective....most students got it right...but with the wrong answer....
 
Hmm.
When what I think I know is one thing, and someone tells me another, that’s the time to take a moment and ponder the other person’s point of view awhile. It’s a path strewn with fresh insights.
Think I’ll do that now.
 
The full wonderlic is 50 questions and you are only given a set amount of time to complete it, which I believe is 12 minutes, no calculator. I'm not sure if that is standard or not, it seems like I had 15 min when I took it but who knows...

The questions seemed to get progressively harder, though they just might have seemed to get harder as I progressed as I knew time was running out.

Long story short I scored a 40, and I graduated with a 4.0, and was pre-med. Questions like 11 and 13 seemed more prevalent when I took the test, and at basically 15 seconds per question, I highly doubt many can get a perfect 50. And of those who do score 50, how many do you honestly believe have ever touched a football, let alone are good enough to play in the pros? A 48 is pretty remarkable.
 

Yes! But also, two is correct.
The answer depends, really, on what instrument you play. On the violin (my instrument), 2 notes make a chord. This isn’t my opinion; I could back it up with published sources. Reason why is that it is difficult to play more than 2 notes simultaneously on an arched bridge. It can be done … but I digress.
For pianists, two notes is an interval and three notes (or more) make a chord. Books for pianists specify three notes.
So the question then becomes: Who wrote the question? A violinist or a pianist(or something else)?
Anyway, the person on the game show(correctly in my book) answered “two” and lost his chance at a million.
 
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Long story short I scored a 40, and I graduated with a 4.0, and was pre-med. .

Why is it that people that are pre-med, typically say that but don't say what their major is....any major can be pre-med with the right course work...hell I could of been pre-med if I took a couple biology classes and organic chemistry classes..

btw: my ex was pre-med, she's a doctor now, so was my roommate in college and one of my best friends...he's a doctor now...so don't get mad, just asking something I have often wondered...
 
Yes! But also, two is correct.
The answer depends, really, on what instrument you play. On the violin (my instrument), 2 notes make a chord. This isn’t my opinion; I could back it up with published sources. Reason why is that it is difficult to play more than 2 notes simultaneously on an arched bridge. It can be done … but I digress.
For pianists, two notes is an interval and three notes (or more) make a chord. Books for pianists specify three notes.
So the question then becomes: Who wrote the question? A violinist or a pianist(or something else)?
Anyway, the person on the game show(correctly in my book) answered “two” and lost his chance at a million.

If you knew you had once chance to answer the question "In music, how many notes make a chord?" on a general knowledge game show for $1 million, what would you say? The same applies to tests like this.
 
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If you knew you had once chance to answer a question the question "In music, how many notes make a chord?" on a general knowledge game show for $1 million, what would you say? The same applies to tests like this.

You’re right. And if I was in that chair I’d have to guess that the question was written by a pianist. There are more of them.
 
Why is it that people that are pre-med, typically say that but don't say what their major is....any major can be pre-med with the right course work...hell I could of been pre-med if I took a couple biology classes and organic chemistry classes..

btw: my ex was pre-med, she's a doctor now, so was my roommate in college and one of my best friends...he's a doctor now...so don't get mad, just asking something I have often wondered...

No offense taken. To be honest most people likely do it because their actual degree does little to reflect their coursework. My degree is in Psychology, and I actually don't really like Psychology. Most of it is fluff BS, But the neurological portion is actually quite fascinating, and based on science, not theory.

I took every class needed to apply for med school, and got an A. I wrote, and received a federal research grant to study the effects of co-administering cannabanoids (active ingredient in marijuana) and morphine into the periaqueductal gray in rats. Basically we found morphine used in combination with cannabanoids increases the effectiveness of Morphine, which in theory would allow one to use less Morphine for pain management, therefore decreasing the possible negative side effects such as addiction, decreased respiration, tolerance etc.

Saying I have a Psych degree gives little insight to my college experience. I wish I could say current med student, but life and a baby happened so plans had to change, but thats a whole different story.

Back on topic, I was simply trying to convey I am a fairly intelligent person, and I got a 40. Some people were saying how easy the test was, when what was provided was really only a sample of questions, that appear easy when viewed in a vacuum. Its surprising how much more pressure you feel when you know there is a time limit, and there are 50 questions. A 48 is not common, especially for football players.
 
No offense taken. To be honest most people likely do it because their actual degree does little to reflect their coursework. My degree is in Psychology, and I actually don't really like Psychology. Most of it is fluff BS, But the neurological portion is actually quite fascinating, and based on science, not theory.

I took every class needed to apply for med school, and got an A. I wrote, and received a federal research grant to study the effects of co-administering cannabanoids (active ingredient in marijuana) and morphine into the periaqueductal gray in rats. Basically we found morphine used in combination with cannabanoids increases the effectiveness of Morphine, which in theory would allow one to use less Morphine for pain management, therefore decreasing the possible negative side effects such as addiction, decreased respiration, tolerance etc.

Saying I have a Psych degree gives little insight to my college experience. I wish I could say current med student, but life and a baby happened so plans had to change, but thats a whole different story.

Back on topic, I was simply trying to convey I am a fairly intelligent person, and I got a 40. Some people were saying how easy the test was, when what was provided was really only a sample of questions, that appear easy when viewed in a vacuum. Its surprising how much more pressure you feel when you know there is a time limit, and there are 50 questions. A 48 is not common, especially for football players.

My roommate in college did some research with Rats as well, it was neuroscience based but I can't say I recall specifically what. He had to go in every saturday and administer their injections.

In any case I see why you might bring it up in this thread as its relevant to a varying degree. However I don't understand when people are aksed what their major is and they say "Pre-Med"...pet peeve I suppose. Why not just say your major and that you are also Pre-Med..

Anyway, steps off soap box, carry on:wink:
 
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