What kinds of questions appear on intelligence tests?

Intelligence tests are designed to measure a person's capacity for abstract thought, learning, and adapting to new situations. The types of questions found on these tests assess various cognitive skills.1

Commonly, intelligence tests include tasks that evaluate:
* Arithmetical skills: Problems requiring mathematical reasoning and calculation.1
* Memory: Questions that test the ability to recall information.1
* Vocabulary: Assessments of word knowledge and understanding.1
* Judgment and Comprehension: Tasks that require understanding concepts and making sound decisions.2
* Reasoning: Problems that involve logical thinking and problem-solving.32

Some tests, like the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and Wechsler scales, are widely used. These tests may include verbal subtests, such as vocabulary, and performance subtests, like arranging pictures to tell a coherent story. More recent tests, such as the Cognitive Assessment System, also measure planning, attention, and simultaneous and successive processing abilities. For instance, figural matrix problems, which involve completing a grid with missing geometric shapes, assess simultaneous processing.12