Successful intelligence: A model for testing intelligence beyond IQ tests

Oct 3, 2026

Augmented theory of successful intelligence argues that success in school and life depends on more than narrow conventional tests of intelligence quotient (IQ). It conceptualizes intelligence as creative, analytical, practical, and wisdom-based skills that generate, evaluate, implement, and align ideas with a common good. Three college-admissions projects (Rainbow, Kaleidoscope, Panorama) evaluate the model and compare prediction outcomes to SAT-based approaches.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Keywords

Successful intelligence; Test; Intelligence quotient (IQ); University admissions procedures; Academic performance

European Journal of Education and Psychology ISSN: 1888-8992 [ejep@ejep.es](ejep@ejep.es) Elsevier España, S. L. España Sternberg, Robert J. Successful intelligence: A model for testing intelligence beyond IQ tests European Journal of Education and Psychology, vol. 8, núm. 2, diciembre, 2015 , pp. 76- 84 Elsevier España, S. L. Almería, España Available in: [http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=129343966004](http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=129343966004) How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in [redalyc.org](redalyc.org) Scientific Information System Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative Document downloaded from [http://www.elsevier.es](http://www.elsevier.es), day 15/02/2016 . This copy is for personal use. Any transmission of this document by any media or format is strictly prohibited. European Journal of Education and Psychology (2015) 8, 76---84 European Journal of Education and Psychology [www.elsevier.es/ejep](www.elsevier.es/ejep) Successful intelligence: A model for testing intelligence beyond IQ tests Robert J . Sternberg Cornell University, Department of Human Development, B44 MVR, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Received 16 July 2015; accepted 28 July 2015 Available online 1 October 2015 KEYWORDS Successful intelligence; Test; Intelligence quotient (IQ); University admissions procedures; Academic performance PALABRAS CLAVE Inteligencia exitosa; Test; Cociente intelectual (CI); Pruebas acceso Universidad; Rendimiento académico Abstract Standard conventional tests only assess a narrow sampling of the abilities required for success in school and in life. In contrast, the augmented theory of successful intelligence asserts that intelligence involves creative skills in producing new ideas, analytical skills in evaluating whether the ideas are good ones, practical skills in putting the ideas into practice and in convincing other people of the value of the ideas, and wisdom-based skills in conﬁrming that one is using one’s knowledge and skills to serve a common good. Three projects were created to evaluate the theory with regard to college admissions: First, the Rainbow Project demonstrated that prediction of ﬁrst-year college academic performance could be increased while simultaneously decreasing differences between ethnic groups on a predictive assessment, in comparison with the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) . Second, the Kaleidoscope Project improved prediction of academic and extracurricular performance over SAT scores alone; but the ethnicgroup differences usually obtained vanished. Third, the Panorama Project showed the success of similar techniques in a less selective population. The projects demonstrate the application of the augmented theory of successful intelligence in enhancing college and university admissions procedures. © 2015 European Journal of Education and Psychology. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) ). La Inteligencia Exitosa: Un Modelo para evaluar la Inteligencia más allá de los test de Cociente Intelectual (CI) Resumen Las pruebas estandarizadas convencionales, evalúan sólo una muestra de las ampliashabilidades requeridas para conseguir éxito en la escuela y en la vida. En contraste, la teoríaaumentada de la inteligencia exitosa aﬁrma, que la inteligencia implica habilidades creativasen la producción de nuevas ideas, habilidades analíticas para evaluar si las ideas son buenas, habilidades prácticas para implementar las ideas en la práctica y para convencer a otras personas sobre el valor de las ideas, y habilidades basadas en la sabiduría para conﬁrmar que uno E-mail address: [robert.sternberg@cornell.

FAQs

What does the augmented theory of successful intelligence add beyond conventional IQ testing?

It claims intelligence involves creative, analytical, practical, and wisdom-based skills, not just narrow abilities measured by standard conventional tests.

How were the theory’s claims evaluated for college admissions?

Three projects—Rainbow, Kaleidoscope, and Panorama—were created to test the theory in relation to college admissions and prediction outcomes.

How do the projects relate their results to SAT-based assessment?

The Rainbow project improved first-year academic prediction while reducing ethnic-group differences compared with SAT, and the Kaleidoscope project improved prediction versus SAT scores, with ethnic-group differences typically vanishing.

Oct 3, 2026

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