Does GPA determine your intelligence?

Question

I believe it somewhat does. I don’t believe that a low IQ person could be able to get a 4.0 GPA in any subject that requires complex analysis. I’ll use myself as an example. I only have a 3.5 GPA in my field of study. No matter how much I study, I will never achieve a 4.0 because my IQ is too low to comprehend the complexities of my subject. Someone who has a high IQ will be able to do well in studies that require complex analysis and studies that don’t.
TL:DR, only high IQ people can achieve a 4.0 GPA (or higher).

zeitgeist057 · Accepted Answer

As a student who has a consistent GPA of 3.5-3.89 (sometimes having a 4.0 for a semester or two), and also having my intelligence favorably commented on consistently, I do not believe GPA determines your intelligence.

I think it will be more difficult to do well if you are less intelligent, but I believe that 90% of my grade in most classes is due to my focus and effort. Intelligence can actually be a detriment at times, because if I already understand a lot, can BS my way through multiple choice exams or other assignments, I will learn less than other, more diligent students.

I have had courses where I have put forth minimal effort vs. significant effort (my intelligence is presumably a constant in this experiment), and found a positive correlation between effort and results.

I doubt your IQ is too low, what I would hypothesize you need is more effort and focus on the subject, and perhaps even backing away from the areas of complexity and reviewing the basics. An example of this I applied in my own life was in mathematics. I went to Khan Academy, started from the very basic "1st Grade" level of maths, and worked my way up. I was surprised to find, and delighted to strengthen, some weaknesses I discovered in my core skills. Somewhere in my education, I had missed or glossed over factoring permutations! This was a lesson to me, that sometimes it's best to take a few steps back in order to make progress forward.

I hope you have continued success in your studies!

JBinIdaho · Accepted Answer

Technically Grade Point Average is a function of how many assignments you have completed and how how well you did on the assignments. This gives you a letter grade which has a set number of points. A=4.0 A-=3.7 B=3.0 etc. So, a genius that didn’t turn a few assignments in could have a lower GPA than an average student who’s was diligent in school.

Intelligence is calculated through the use of specifically designed intelligence tests (Stanford Binet Intelligence Quotient is one of the oldest and most used). Intelligence tests are different than achievement tests (e. g., SAT, ACT, & GRE) and aptitude tests (e. g., ASVAB).

Your grades mostly measure achievement. Although a person may learn faster, achieve and remember more if they have a higher intelligence, it is not necessarily so. Ultimately, intelligence and GPA probably correlate, but they are not interchangeable, nor is there a causal relationship (meaning one doesn’t guarantee or ‘cause’ the other). Einstein was thought to have a learning disability when he was in school, yet turned out to have an IQ over 150. I have an IQ of about 135, and I have failed classes in life due to laziness and partying! Hope this helps 🤓

btbc92 · Accepted Answer

No. All it says is that you understand the material. Why do you think some people do what they do and not care too much about their GPA? Because the grades overall is what's going to determine if you're going to have a good GPA or not. Why do you think they put so much emphasis on you studying the material. But sometimes the same material until you to study is not on the quiz or test? Sometimes the material is very similar or not. Because in the end it has nothing to do about how your intelligence is what is your intelligence. Is there to measure the type of intelligence you got. Other than that they don't really care about it.

nella965 · Accepted Answer

Not really. because someone with average intellect can have amazing study skills and techniques and habit of hard work. This person can also get a 3.9-4.0 gpa. A smart person can be lazy, or too busy working a full time job to balance out much study time.

A better level of intellect is SAT.

BeMuse · Answer

Nope. GPA is more about a need for affirmation. It has to do more with personality types than IQ. Those that seek affirmation tend to be more motivated to perform. They are also more likely to take on easier courses to ensure they get the grades so that they can get a pat on the head rather than risking their GPA for an intellectually intriguing challenge. It might be a parental thing or an academic political board they need to impress for some goal. They might be obsessed with keeping up appearances or be general people pleasers. Basically they are your sentinels, diplomats, entertainers, and commanders. They are people that want to be in the limelight. They need to be seen. They are hungry for fame.

Inexpensivefurniture · Answer

I dont think there's a way to accurately determine intelligence. Even with IQ tests. Doing well in school only proves that you take tests well. You are probably good at memorizing things and finding relevant information. IQ tests are the same. They test your language comprehension and math skills, basically. But there are so many forms of intelligence, no test we have currently measures them all. You might suck at math but you can read people really well and know how the best ways to communicate with them. You might do really well in science but if I asked you to write a short story, you would have no idea how to engage readers.
I'm not saying a high GPA means nothing. It's still hard to get a perfect or near perfect score, and people who do should be proud. But a low GPA score doesn't mean you are stupid or a failure. It just means your strengths are in something else

MannMitAntworten · Answer

Determine? Absolutely not. One’s ability yo follow instruction is not remotely an indication of “intelligence”. Rather, it is an indication of how well they can follow directive. Intelligence is a measure of original thought... and nothing about modern pedagogy encourages thought in any form. In fact, it is discouraged. Do not ever dare to challenge a teacher’s assertions. Rather, do as they tell you and everything with be just fine.

Long ago “enlightenment” was exchanged for indoctrination. It is why the masses “parrot” one another... because everyone is thinking alike. Which anyone with half a brain knows, if everyone is thinking alike, somebody is not thinking.

locutus9999 · Answer

for measure intelligence we have IQ test, are consistent, studied, and we know measure what it measure. GPA's for sure will cut some weed out of the way, but also will depend of the standard of education you received, effort, stress, how points are calculated and emotionality given its importance. So for me there are just to many intervening variables to say that it measures intelligence, of course you may find a correlation thou , mostly in the higher scores, and the lower ones (the tales) . but in the middle of the curve (I assume they will group in a Normal way) is when they are just to many factors, so I do not believe will be a statistically significant correlation, so even tale wise can show something, I believe your original presupposition may be wrong.

Anonymous · Answer

No, GPA and schooling really doesn’t match up well with my success anyway. I made more than likely all my past professors which is one component of a s core card. I also worked for more prestigious companies than they did University even though it was very good. I also rose higher in the ranks than they did, most of whom did not even run a department. And yet they were the grade scores, the test makes, the instructors. Nah, GPA based on that is not worth that much. Business and technology are the real tests of intelligence. SpaceX as an example doesn’t even care if you have a degree, just what you know. There are other examples such as the new billionaire who didn’t even go to college.

ZackBan · Answer

I never saw a link between the two. I think intelligence is something we can influence by factoring in confidence.

If you convice yourself you are not smart and never will be you won't be able to solve the simplest of problems but if you stand up and say, i am smart enough to do anything then you begin to expand your own potential.

jshm2 · Answer

Nope. The opposite. It determines your ability to suck ass and not stray much out of the academic.

Also, IQ is largely an opinion, and not based on any scientific measures. It's rather narrow in what it measures anyway and EQ is a much better set of scores to have.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I don't think that it does. Perhaps it indicates some of a persons intelligence in his/her early life. Later on 'real' results count, and not so much how vigorously he/she has licked the profs' feet.
I know some guys who performed extremely well in college or university and they later had careers that were/are very unspectacular - simply, because they never had the good ideas... which actually is a lack of (creative) intelligence.

Not_Average · Answer

I’d say there’s a correlation, but it by no means is definitive. My grandfather is a literal genius with an IQ somewhere around 145 and he failed high school and college. I also believe that someone with an average IQ could put in extra hours and still accomplish the same GPA as someone with a higher IQ who puts in an average amount of time.

Old_Golden · Answer

It can be the exact opposite. Some of my smartest friends had the lowest GPAs because the classes were boring/not challenging enough and they would do the bare minimum to get by. Why waste time and effort on simple stuff just for other people's approval?

Gafgorkion · Answer

An average GPA if your major is nuclear physics means more than if you have a high GPA with a major in basket weaving. So GPA doesn't really mean much.

JKingOff · Answer

To an extent. Your IQ can actually go up or down as time goes on. For me I graduated with a 3.4 cumulative GPA. It would have been a 4.0 but at the time I wanted to be a little shit to one of the teachers I didn't like.

BCRanger10 · Answer

A GPA means nothing more than you've read the books, done the homework, and ace the tests. That's it. It doesn't mean you can think.

burlen · Answer

GPA has never been an indicator of intelligence. If at all it is, it isn’t a reliable and only indicator of intelligence.

warrenstone · Answer

Yes and no. If you have a high GPA, you’re obviously intelligent, but it also says you’re obedient.

On the contrary, someone with a low GPA could still be very intelligent, but they might not have any obedience.

RolandCuthbert · Answer

Of course not. Even IQ tests don't do a good job of determining intelligence.

Unit1 · Answer

Not at all. High GPA indicates nothing more than the student following orders.

Twalli · Answer

It's impossible in some places to get above a 4.0. Also IQ tests are more comprehensive and test it on a variety of subjects. I score mostly average on mathematics 101, but in most other subjects I score 200-500.

SwizzBlue · Answer

IQ is an indicator of iq not a definitive of it. The only thing that separates a 3.5 gpa and a 4.0 is not this super genius intellect where you can’t even comprehend their thoughts. But really it’s extra credit and paper work

Gwenhwyfar · Answer

TL;DR true, but the smartest guy in the world (IQ 258) is a bouncer at a bar (cause he wants to be).

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