INTELLIGENCE TESTING
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB5)
The Stanford-Binet, Fifth Edition, is a cognitive ability assessment for people ages 2-85 years old. This test will provide a comprehensive IQ score. This IQ is a standard score, meaning the average IQ is 100. There are two domain scales: Nonverbal IQ and Verbal IQ.
The Binet was designed around the five factors of cognitive ability. It contains five scaled composite scores consisting of fluid reasoning, knowledge, quantitative reasoning, visual spatial processing, and working memory. These are all scaled scores and are normed with an average of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. The Binet assesses low-end functioning, normal intelligence, and high-level giftedness. (For the record, Mensa membership requires a score of 132 on the SB5.)
Two additional terms related to intelligence tests should be noted:
1. Fluid intelligence - this is the ability to reason quickly, think abstractly, and adapt to new situations. Heredity is an important factor, and the Culture Fair Intelligence Test is designed to measure fluid intelligence. Fluid intelligence tends to decline in later adult years.
2. Crystallized intelligence - this is the intelligence that comes from experience - the knowledge and skills that accumulate over time. In contrast to fluid intelligence, this type of intelligence tends to increase with age.