Maximize Your IQ
by Philip J Carter and Kenneth A Russell

Grade(s): middle school and upPages: 96 (small paperback size 5 3/8 x 8 1/4)

Ranging from the challenging to the downright diabolical, these IQ tests from the puzzle editors of Mensa Magazine stretch brainpower to the limits of its endurance. That’s why they’re so effective at adding vital points to your IQ score. All it takes is a little tenacity and practice to work through these hundreds of questions, which assess verbal and mathematical skills, plus general knowledge and logic. Several “culture free” examples use diagrammatic problems rather than language, thus overcoming any linguistic barriers.

The different types of questions include classifications (where you find the odd one out in a word list or group of figures); synonyms and antonyms; analogies; visual matrixes; and sequences. A scoring chart and answers are included.

Maximize Your IQ contains eight tests each with 40 questions.

Review:

If you're looking for advanced thinking skills, this is the book. As a teacher, I used a page from this book to start each hour. Students earned extra points by solving one or two of these problems. Since there are problems of all sorts-- verbal, figural, mathematical-- everyone had a chance. After giving the students time with them, I went over what problem-solving skills would have unriddled the problems. Soon, the students grew comfortable with them. I teach gifted English in public schools in a poor area of the much-maligned deep South. My junior high as well as my high school kids had fun with this. Admittedly, the seventh graders needed a hint or two to keep them from giving up. Of course, I had fun with this book myself!!