Random thoughts

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 21 Mar 2007, 02:48

The LSAT's weren't quite like that. It'd be something like:

Eric is a red wizard of the 4th order.
Derrick is a blue mage of the 5th order.
Lisa is an ornage sorcerer of the 9th order.

If Derrick and Lisa had a kid, what type of spell caster would it be if Lisa became a green wizard or something like that.

Hurts my brain just thinking about it.

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 21 Mar 2007, 02:58

stefan.urlus wrote:well here's part of the Ultra Test:

Just remember:
(1) These tests are not timed. Most people get scared or discouraged because they don't know the answers right away and then assume they are not smart enough to do reasonably well on the test. These tests test reasoning and logic and take a while to puzzle out the answers. On a cursory look at the analogies you listed, several of them jumped out at me right away. Several of them I could tell the right direction to go (for instance, 2.54 is the number of centimeters in an inch) but the answer wasn't immediately obvious to me; and many of them I had no idea right off the top of my head. The point is that these questions are geared to challenge even the smartest people - so they take time to figure out. These tests assess patience as much as they assess reasoning capacity.

(2) On some of the most difficult tests, even getting two or three of them right means you probably have an IQ well over 100. 2 or 3 out of 40 (or whatever) - even after hours of thought - is not necessarily a bad score for the average person!

(3) The tests are more fun if you aren't trying to prove something. When you feel pressure to get questions right, even just for self-validation, you don't concentrate as well because of frustration. You might be surprised how much easier the test is when you pretend you are not taking an IQ test.

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 21 Mar 2007, 03:01

Omega_Destroyer wrote:The LSAT's weren't quite like that. It'd be something like:

Eric is a red wizard of the 4th order.
Derrick is a blue mage of the 5th order.
Lisa is an ornage sorcerer of the 9th order.

If Derrick and Lisa had a kid, what type of spell caster would it be if Lisa became a green wizard or something like that.

Hurts my brain just thinking about it.

The GREs have a logic section as well. But I do not feel they very accurately reflect reasoning ability. In the case of the GRE, which is also timed, the difficulty is compounded by the fact that they are taken on a computer, a computer that does not let you skip questions and come back to them, as you can do on a paper test. Now THAT'S infuriating. Thankfully the MCAT didn't have a logic section... but of course it was difficult enough in other ways.

asandir · Unread postby **asandir** » 21 Mar 2007, 03:40

Indeed Corribus .... I think that the entrance score to the Mega Society is something like 30 odd correct answers out of 42 questions

winterfate · Unread postby **winterfate** » 21 Mar 2007, 04:18

Ouch...that's a bit...much.

asandir · Unread postby **asandir** » 21 Mar 2007, 05:23

not if you're supposed to be in the top 0.0001 percent of all people (or there abouts .... can't remember how many it is exactly)

Caradoc · Unread postby **Caradoc** » 21 Mar 2007, 05:55

When I was in grade school, I was a great little test taker. There's a gaming aspect to most tests (especially multiple choice) that can give you an edge once you see it. In the second grade, we got an IQ test of some sort that was supposed to project our academic potential. Needless to say, I aced it and enjoyed the abject respect of school councilors through high school. When time came for SATs my test taking talent again came to fore and rewarded me with a 1570 (770 verbal, 800 math), which was only third best in my school.

In real world applications, I don't show any signs of advanced intelligence. I can write pretty well, but I have not published any great books. I can program competently, but I have not written any revolutionary software. In college, I was an A- student (though I did get a good education.) So I have really come to believe that an IQ score is simply a measure of how well you do on IQ tests.

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 21 Mar 2007, 05:55

I can't imagine the MCAT being a very pleasant experience. I'd imagine it's about as much fun as the bar. According to the info I pulled off of Wikipedia and the horror stories I've heard throughout law school, this is what I get to look forward to on the bar.

1) A number of essay questions that test knowledge of general legal principles, and may also test knowledge of the state's own law (usually subjects such as wills, trusts and community property, which always vary from one state to another)

2) Several complicated essay questions that test knowledge of that state's law (around 20 short essays or so from what I've heard);

3) The Multistate Bar Examination, a standardized, multiple-choice examination created and sold to participating state bar examiners by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The MBE contains 200 questions which test six subjects based upon principles of common law and UCC Article 2 that apply throughout the United States.

asandir · Unread postby **asandir** » 21 Mar 2007, 06:02

sounds like a ball of fun

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 21 Mar 2007, 06:45

Oh yeah. I can hardly wait.

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 21 Mar 2007, 12:27

Omega_Destroyer wrote:I can't imagine the MCAT being a very pleasant experience.

It's a full day (and I mean full day - about 10 hours) of hell. Several-hour long sections and a long period of essay writing. Not t mention all the paperwork before and after the test.

And the worst part of it was that after I took it I decided I didn't want to go to medical school.

ThunderTitan · Unread postby **ThunderTitan** » 21 Mar 2007, 12:31

stefan.urlus wrote: If lightbulbs are put at two different corners of a square, two distinct patterns are possible: one in which the bulbs are at opposite ends of any side of the square, and one in which the bulbs are diagonally across from one another. If lightbulbs are put at four different corners of a cube, how many distinct patterns are possible?

Jeez.... what a stupid question. Why is intelligence based on not being distracted by long sentences?

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 21 Mar 2007, 14:51

You'd hate secured transactions then. Not only are the codes long and confusing, but 80% of them start off with exceptions that reference different articles of the Uniform Commercial Code, that reference other parts and so on.

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 21 Mar 2007, 19:09

So a few months ago on a whim I bought DragonQuestVII (PS2) used at Gamestop while I was waiting to get a haircut. Never got a chance to even open it, but I was bored yesterday so I thought I would pop it in and play around with it for a while. Opened the case and BAM no disk inside.

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 21 Mar 2007, 19:22

Super weak.

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 21 Mar 2007, 19:46

Omega_Destroyer wrote:Super weak.

Yeah and I'm totally screwed. No receipt, bought it several months ago - that looks totally suspicious. Bastards.

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 21 Mar 2007, 20:01

That's why I've been sticking with other places as of late. Gamestop is ok but they rarely have any decent sales. Plus they are always pressuring me to preorder games. It gets old after awhile.

ThunderTitan · Unread postby **ThunderTitan** » 21 Mar 2007, 20:33

That's why you always open what you purchased as soon as possible (after you pay imo).

Corribus · Unread postby **Corribus** » 21 Mar 2007, 20:50

ThunderTitan wrote:That's why you always open what you purchased as soon as possible (after you pay imo).

Yes, live and learn I guess.

Gaidal Cain · Unread postby **Gaidal Cain** » 21 Mar 2007, 20:53

Yeah, I got an empty box when I bought TGS. I discovered when I got home, so I had to go to the shop again. Luckily, the clerk recognized me and had remembered it on his own.

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