In the past couple of decades, Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences has become massively popular. Still, there is a plethora of psychologists and psychiatrists that are advocates of general intelligence.

Opposite to how Gardner defines intelligence, the so-called “g-factor” is one’s ability to comprehend, solve problems and acquire knowledge effectively. Comprised of several mental processes, it is usually measured by pen and pencil tests.

How Does General Intelligence Work?

As mentioned above, experts define general intelligence as a set of mental, verbal, and spatial abilities all affecting your everyday routine. According to this definition, someone who has a high GI level has a much better chance of getting adapted to a new environment or solving a complex problem the first time than those with an average or a low GI. This is why it is usually interchanged with terms such as “broad mental capacity.”

Modern psychologists also directly connected the ability to do great in one area and the ability to do well or above average in most others. Also, being a great writer or an oralist is commonly related to reading and listening comprehension, all thought to be a part of the “g-factor.”

How Does It Affect Your Learning?

As a student, you are probably interested in whether the level of general intelligence affects your grades and studying. According to the existing theories, it does have a good impact considering that working memory and visual-spatial processing are all a part of the learning process. Not only that, but the ability to engage in analytical thinking and fluid reasoning (commonly connected with thinking outside of a box) can go a long way when it comes to scoring well in most of your classes.

Numerous studies suggest that the general knowledge and interest in various topics are commonly connected with one’s “g-factor.” The good thing is that if you perform a couple of general intelligence tests, you can use it to your advantage by later enhancing the skills and abilities concerning it.

General Intelligence Tests

While there are many different tests, Stanford/Binet seems to offer the most relevant results. In the past couple of years, the experts have gone far to divide the scoring into multiple areas and give the students more detailed information on their abilities/GI. 

Looking at the uniform scoring system, anyone between 85 and 114 is considered to be moderately intelligent. On the other hand, those scoring between 130 and 144 are defined as moderately gifted, while anything above 160 to be exceptionally gifted. 

Concluding Thoughts

The level of general intelligence isn’t something that should stress you about but rather what you should be using to your advantage. The fact that the “g-factor” consists of numerous mental processes makes it much easier to manipulate and enhance.