How We Learn

IQ: What Does It All Mean?

From the book, Rapt: Attention and the Focused Life by Winifred Gallagher:

Asian students actually achieve much more than their IQs would seem to predict, because they work so hard in school.  Thanks to their culture's stress on academic achievement and not shaming the family, says Nisbett, "A Chinese-American with an IQ of 100 achieves at the level of a white American with an IQ of 120."

I take this to mean that values and focus trump IQ.  I can work harder. Ok, noted.

She goes on to say:

... What you pay attention to shapes your brain and behavior in surprising ways ... The good news is that attention's ability to change your brain and transform your experience isn't limited to childhood but prevails throughout life.

Illustrations by Jennifer Orkin Lewis

 
3 Comments | posted November 9th, 2011
 
 
  • Guestguest

    An IQ of 100 is low, but I do agree that by working hard you can achieve anything. How's your Sat Prep going? I'm currently  using The New Math Sat Game Plan; and I don't know if it's actually a good idea to focus more on this books math exercises than the one's on The sat book?  what do you think? and thanks for the advice.
    Ps. I'm merely on page 47!!

    • http://www.perfectscoreproject.com Debbie Stier

      New Math SAT Game plan is EXCELLENT -- BUT use WITH the SAT book (he even says that in the intro.  I learned a lot from that book though.  but def. get yourself the Blue Book too.

      As an aside -- he recommends the TI-87 which turned out to be a bad decision for me....but if you're good at math/calculators and have the time to get comfortable, apparently you can shave seconds off of your time with it.

      • Guestguest

        Thanks for the Advice :-) I think I'll stick with the TI-30XA I've been using this calculator since I was 15!! I thought that the book would be enough, since I've read so many great reviews  about students boosting theirs SAT scores by using this book only; and also because in page 67 of Philip Keller's book he mentions that after finishing part one and mastering both the "Back Door play and Trial and error that you should them take one practice math Test from the Sat Study Guide.
        Ps. I personally, think that the Back Door Play Strategy is as simple as it looks.

 

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