From military testing to trades and entrepreneurship, IQ remains one of the clearest predictors of opportunity.
IQ is not everything—but it is one of the clearest, most reproducible predictors of life outcomes. As we age, intelligence increasingly separates high‑achievers from the rest, not because of privilege or environment, but because of a hallmark capacity to learn, adapt, and perform.
1. When Nature Becomes More Important Than Nurture
Longitudinal twin and adoption studies show a clear trend:
genetic influence on IQ rises steadily with age, while the influence of shared family environment fades. By late adolescence and adulthood, heritability reaches around 0.75, while shared environment drops to about 0.10. In other words, as we grow older, our innate cognitive capacity matters more than where we started.
2. IQ Predicts Academic and Career Outcomes
The general intelligence factor—“g”—strongly predicts academic achievement, job performance, and long-term success:
- Correlations with grades at school range from
.60 to .70 in early education, reducing modestly at higher levels.
- Average correlation between cognitive ability and overall job performance sits around
.55, climbing higher in complex and technical roles.
- Income correlates at approximately
.40, increasing with age, particularly in middle age when careers peak.
Higher‑IQ individuals are also statistically less likely to drop out of school, more likely to maintain better health, and tend to live longer.
3. The U.S. Military: A Real‑World IQ Testing Engine
The U.S. armed services have used intelligence testing successfully for over a century:
- Army Alpha and AGCT tests (World Wars I and II) screened millions, proved effective for assigning recruits to appropriate roles, and selecting officer candidates.
- Since 1976, the AFQT
(part of the ASVAB) has served both as a gatekeeper and classification tool. Higher AFQT scores reliably predict quicker training completion and better job performance—even after 36 months, lower‑scoring individuals don’t catch up.
- A recruit quality benchmark mandates that at least
60% score at or above the 50th percentile on the AFQT. The system is structured, audited, and not influenced by race or gender bias beyond psychometric norms.
This isn’t racism or sexism—it’s job matching, rooted in statistically validated cognitive assessment.
4. The Bell Curve in Action: The Smarter Edge
Visualize the IQ distribution graph—the bell curve. Individuals at the top end consistently:
- Learn faster
- Navigate complex systems more reliably
- Excel in professions demanding mental agility
- Continue to pull ahead over a lifetime
Meanwhile, lower‑IQ individuals are more likely to funnel into trades or manual labor roles—where practical skill and training matter more than abstract reasoning. That trade should not be seen as lesser, but as necessary and respected. We must continue to invest in vocational education and trades, recognizing their critical social role.
5. IQ Is One Piece—But a Powerful One
IQ is not destiny:
- Emotional intelligence (EQ), grit, curiosity, social skills, opportunity, and character all play pivotal roles in success.
- High‑IQ individuals vary widely in life outcomes; perseverance and emotional maturity often outperform raw cognition in the long run.
Still, when statistical models compare intelligence, personality, and background,
g often remains the strongest single predictor of job learning speed and long‑term performance.
6. Why IQ Matters More Over Time
Early in life, environment, parental support, schooling, and socioeconomic status play a strong role. But research shows:
- At age 11, schooling and home environment matter—but
maternal IQ still explains roughly twice as much
variance as socioeconomic factors.
- As adults age, intelligence becomes increasingly predictive of earnings, job complexity, and health outcomes—regardless of education or family background.
This is called
genetic amplification—people tend to seek environments that reinforce their innate capacities over time.
7. Practical Implications: Preparing for the IQ‑Driven Future
- Support vocational and trade education: Not everyone needs or benefits from a 4‑year degree. Trades offer stable, skilled, hands-on careers that align with varying IQ levels.
- Assess cognitive ability early—not to stigmatize, but to tailor education, training, and career guidance appropriately.
- Complement IQ with skill-building: Develop EQ, perseverance, and practical skills—especially for roles involving teamwork, customer service, or leadership.
8. Even Though Critics Cry “Racist” or “Sexist,” IQ Holds True
Critics on the Left, especially proponents of
Woke ideology, CRT, or DEI, argue IQ testing is biased or discriminatory. But decades of rigorous psychometric research show:
- Well-constructed tests like Raven’s Matrices predict school and job performance equally across groups, with similar validity among different races and genders.
- IQ differences between groups are largely explained by environmental and socioeconomic factors—not by test bias itself.
- Attempts to dismiss IQ as “racist” or “sexist” don’t change the consistent finding: intelligence predicts outcomes, and tests measure it accurately across populations.
Simply put: Intelligence tests work. No policy of DEI, CRT, or woke reform can change the underlying distribution of g. That’s not prejudice—it’s measurable reality.
Why This Matters
Because understanding IQ isn’t about dividing people into winners and losers—it’s about
preparing everyone for success in the lane where they can thrive.
- For some, that means excelling in highly technical or academic roles.
- For others, it means
building small businesses, earning trade licenses, or mastering a skilled craft.
- Success is not limited to IQ—it also flows from
discipline, persistence, and seizing opportunity.
By acknowledging how intelligence shapes opportunity, we can better guide education, support trade programs, and encourage entrepreneurship, ensuring people don’t fall through the cracks simply because their path isn’t traditional academia.
Conclusion
IQ matters—deeply, and increasingly so with age. But it is not the only road to success. Hard work, creativity, and practical skills can turn a high school graduate into a thriving contractor, or a trade apprentice into a respected master craftsman.
The smarter individuals may edge ahead statistically—but
society thrives when everyone finds their place to succeed.
Key References
- Neisser et al. (1995). Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns. American Psychological Association.
- Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (2004). General mental ability in the world of work: Occupational attainment and job performance.
- Paul, G. S. (2005). Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies.
- Army Alpha, AGCT, AFQT, ASVAB military testing history & predictive validity.
- Twin/adoption studies & the Wilson Effect on heritability.
- Wired, Vox, Verywell Mind, BrainManager, EarlyYears.tv.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this post are opinions of the author for educational and commentary purposes only. They are not statements of fact about any individual or organization, and should not be construed as legal, medical, or financial advice. References to public figures and institutions are based on publicly available sources cited in the article. Any resemblance beyond these references is coincidental.
