“The threshold I.Q. level for a diagnosis of mental retardation has been progressively lowered over the years, in part because of awareness of the damaging social prejudice suffered by those labeled “retarded.” In 1959, the American Association on Mental Deficiency set 85 as the I.Q. below which a person was considered to be retarded.In 1992, the renamed American Association on Mental Retardation lowered the mental retardation “ceiling” to an I.Q. of 70-75,but many mental health specialists argue that people with I.Q.s of up to 80 may also have mental retardation. Flexibility in the I.Q. standard is important because tests given at different times may show slight variations due to differences in the tests and because of testing error — the standard error measurement on I.Q. tests is generally three to five points.”
https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/ustat/ustat0301-01.htm
Yep.
This is exactly why the military gives the ASVAB tests - it is an IQ test with a cut-off below which the military doesn’t want them. Military says at a lower IQ, recruits are discipline problems and have problems following orders.
That and the military wants to know who is able to repair and maintain their jets and other high-tech equipment. You’re not going to get that the low numbers.
Son took this test a few years ago - against my wishes - and scored a 99% - highest score given. He said the test was insultingly easy. Military desperately wanted to recruit him after seeing his scores. We said “over our dead bodies” - and I come from a military family...