The predictive value of the Iowa Physics Aptitude Placement Test

Abstract

The test is found to be not a measure of physics ability, but one of general intelligence. 38 freshmen gave a correlation of .25±.10 between the physics test and the year grade in physics, but .64±.06 between the test and the average year grade in all subjects. The correlations between the test and the Otis and Thurstone intelligence examinations were .77 and .67 respectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)