The KBIT-2 Talks About Fluid Intelligence…What Is It?

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - August 25th, 2012

In order to get an accurate picture of an individual’s intelligence, two types of intelligence must be measured. These types are fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence. Fluid intelligence is the way most people think of “innate” intelligence. We are born with it. Fluid intelligence has to do with how we solve problems, and how we think in general. It can’t be learned or taught.

Fluid intelligence rarely changes over time. This is part of the reason why an IQ test can be administered while a child is very young, and still obtain a reliable result. The child’s fluid intelligence is already measurable, even though they know very little of the world around them and haven’t had much (or any) formal schooling.

Fluid intelligence also has nothing to do with education. A highly educated adult may score much lower than a child in fluid intelligence. This is why it’s such an important part of intelligence tests such as the KBIT-2.