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I took an IQ test to explain what's wrong with them

Veritasium · explainer · Watch on YouTube

Psychology & human behaviorScientific method & science communication

What it is

Veritasium takes an IQ test and examines what IQ measures, its history including military use and eugenics, its controversies, and how it correlates with life outcomes. Experts including Cecil Reynolds and Stuart Ritchie contribute.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended as a good primer on what IQ scores mean and their limited effect on life outcomes.

  • 3 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2023, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “Would highly recommend a watch”

    History, controversy and real-world uses of IQ tests, such as the military

    cdrini, 2024-02 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?”

  2. “Pay attention to the stats on how IQ correlates to success (near the end).”

    IQ stats and correlation with success

    swframe2, 2024-02 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Slow thinkers, how do you compensate for your lack of quick-wittedness?”

  3. “Veritasium had a good primer on IQ scores and what they actually mean for your life”

    Good primer on IQ scores and their limited life impact

    Balgair, 2025-06 · Recommendation · in “Longevity Is Now a Factor When Picking an Embryo for IVF”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: iq, intelligence, psychometrics, history of testing, veritasium

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