What don't IQ tests measure?
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2015 10:39 AM

You probably know that IQ tests measure various parts of a person's intelligence. From spatial awareness to memory, these exams compare your results to the scores of others your age, telling you how smart you are comparatively. While IQ is made up of many parts, the tests don't measure everything. Here's a look at the skills you won't see on an IQ test:

Social intelligence
IQ tests certainly measure knowledge, reasoning and perception, but those elements don't necessarily give you a picture of how socially intelligent someone is. Social intelligence is the ability someone has to interact socially. You can break this down into parts, such as social expressiveness skills (being able to converse well with others), listening skills and social script knowledge (knowing social norms). Those who seem at ease in groups, can work the room, and have great listening skills likely have a high social intelligence.

Can you improve it? Social intelligence is largely taught. Knowing how to respond to questions like, "How are you doing?" is a skill you pick up as you age and watch others talk. You can also practice listening skills. Charisma, however, is harder to learn. Some people are naturally sensitive to the moods of others and can play to them.

Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence refers to your understanding and mastery of emotions. People with high EQ can identify how others around them feel, assess their own emotions and contain them. For instance, if you're in a high-stress situation and have a good EQ, you can probably control your stress and avoid becoming overwhelmed. Many people also refer to having high EQ as having grit, or the ability to tough through situations in which others would give up. 

While EQ is different than IQ, you can have it tested. There are exams specifically designed to measure your EQ, which is comprised of social and self-awareness, your relationships and your emotional wellbeing. 

Can you improve it? While raising your EQ can be challenging, you can certainly pick up strategies to help you master emotions. Some classes teach you to recognize basic emotions, such as happy, sad, angry and scared. What's more, you can learn strategies for managing stress in a healthy way. Most importantly, to develop EQ you have to be aware of your own emotions and practice communicating them.

IQ tests can tell you how smart you are, but they don't assess all forms of intelligence.