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Is it fair or accurate to say that a particular child has a high IQ? Penny Tassoni takes a look at varying concepts of intelligence A parent anxiously goes up to an early years practitioner during an open afternoon. She is desperate for information. Not about what her three-year-old has been doing, his friends or favourite games, but about his intelligence. She wants to find out whether or not he is likely to pass the school entrance test when he is 11.

A parent anxiously goes up to an early years practitioner during an open afternoon. She is desperate for information. Not about what her three-year-old has been doing, his friends or favourite games, but about his intelligence. She wants to find out whether or not he is likely to pass the school entrance test when he is 11.

Sadly, this is not a scenario from a bygone era. Today, testing has become a significant part of children's lives and up and down the country. A child's secondary education will be influenced by the results of their tests.

What is intelligence?

A good starting point for parents such as this anxious mother is to understand that the whole notion of 'intelligence' is not only complex, but very controversial. The words 'bright' and 'able' are frequently bandied about throughout the education system, but what do they really mean?

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