MIT 3 Question IQ Test | What is it and How to do it?

The intelligence quotient (IQ) is the score we use to measure the cognitive abilities of a person such as his logical reasoning, decision-making, or ability to process data. There are multiple tests designed to assess a person’s cognitive abilities but due to their length and complexity, people avoid testing their IQ. However, MIT experts have designed a 3 questions IQ test, which takes less than 5 minutes to solve.

Additionally, one can effortlessly calculate his IQ score based on the answers to each question. These questions are a bit tricky but simple to solve for all kinds of people. Come with me to understand the MIT IQ test and its scoring, we will also see how it works.

Background of MIT IQ Test

MIT is one of the world’s leading universities known for its contributions and projects. The university only accepts 4% of the top students who apply for admission evaluating their previous results and SAT test. Additionally, there are other tests students have to pass including cognitive ability assessments.

However, the MIT IQ test is not included in its admission criteria but was developed by experts to see how people can solve fundamental problems. It is not a standardized IQ test so do not take your score seriously. The test gained popularity due to social media and online platforms claiming that it is the shortest IQ test.

Structure of MIT IQ Test

The test is based on 3 questions, each is designed in a way that seems simple but when we try to solve the puzzle, we realize that the query is very tricky. Not only ordinary people but also some smart individuals recorded incorrect answers so if you are unable to give correct answers, that does not mean you are intellectually disabled. Let’s see questions and then find answers.

The Quiz

1. A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the Ball cost?

The question states that there are two objects, a ball, and a bat and each has a different price. Instead of mentioning the prices of both objects, the expert mentions the total price and then asks people to find the cost of the bat and ball separately. Apparently, it seems like a simple question but your answer can tell a lot about your personality, decision-making, and problem-solving.

2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?

The present question seems very simple to solve but it is one of the most complicated ones if we carefully analyze it. The question forces one to multiply the number of machines by the number of widgets. It is a critical-thinking and problem-solving question.

3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?

The last question is the most difficult one, in my opinion, it is designed to understand deductive reasoning. The question is about the exponential growth of patches of lily pads on the lake. Mostly, people give incorrect answers due to the question’s puzzling nature.

Answers of the Majority of People

1. 10 pence
2. 100 minutes
3. 24 days

Mostly, people do not take time and haste to find the answer without understanding the puzzling nature of the question. If your answers are the same as I have mentioned above then you should also focus on the questions and take another chance to solve them. Once you are ready then scroll down and see the answers.

Correct Answers

1. A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. How much does the Ball cost?

The actual cost of the ball is 5 cents or 0.5 cents, see below.

The bat costs $1 more than the cost of the ball so it will be:

X + $1

Bat + Ball = X (X + 1) = 1.1

Thus

2X + 1 = 1.1

Answer: 2X = 0.1

Answer: X = 0.1 / 2

Answer X = 0.05

So the cost of the ball will be 0.05 whereas the people who answered 10 are less patient. The question seems simple but it requires everyone to think twice or thrice to solve it. Once we properly add, divide, and multiply the values we can find the right answer.

2. If it takes 5 machines 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?

Most people multiply the number 5 to find the answer because the question states that 5 machines take 5 minutes to make widgets. If we see the question with a view of an ordinary person we will answer 100 or 125. But the correct answer is 5 minutes.

Here, you may find it hilarious and confusing but you need to analyze the question again. Let’s say 5 machines take 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, it does not mean that each takes 1 minute to make a widget and the answer lies in the question. The question indicates that each machine takes 5 minutes so 5 machines also take 5 minutes thus 100 machines will take 5 minutes to make 100 widgets.

3. In a lake, there is a patch of lily pads. Every day, the patch doubles in size. If it takes 48 days for the patch to cover the entire lake, how long would it take for the patch to cover half of the lake?

The majority of the people answer 24 by dividing 48 by 2 which seems very logical but the answer is not as simple as you think. Let’s examine the question more deeply; every day the patch doubles in size means that if the patch size is 1 foot on the first day then the next day it will be 2 feet and on the third day it will be 4 feet. Now imagine if the patch is doubling each day from 1 to 2, 2 to 4, 4 to 8, 8 to 16 feet and it covers the entire lake in 48 days then it covers half the lake on day 47th.

How to Calculate MIT IQ Test Score?

The MIT IQ test is not a standardized test but a brain teaser that is used to check the cognitive abilities of a person. If a person gives correct answers to all the questions, he must have high cognitive abilities and be more patient compared to the people who give incorrect explanations.

In my opinion, the test is about patience and decision-making rather than logical reasoning and deduction. Because the majority of people who give wrong answers are impatient to know the correct explanations of these questions. Additionally, the puzzling nature of these questions also compels a person to answer quickly as they seem simple but are highly complex.

Because it is not a standardized test, it does not have a proper way to find a score. According to a survey, the highly intelligent MIT students could not find the correct answer to these questions. A study claims that a 3-question test was conducted on 3,500 people in which 33 percent gave incorrect answers while 83 percent of people missed at least a question.

The MIT IQ test is a way to assess the polished mathematical skills of a person because all questions are based on mathematics. If a person does not have mathematical intelligence and possesses existential or musical intelligence, maybe he cannot answer these questions so we cannot consider the MIT IQ test a standardized one. However, it is a well-designed brain teaser that can tell you a lot about your patience and decision-making.