RAD PotentialExamIQ

Research & Evidence

The evidence base behind learning readiness.

ExamIQ is grounded in decades of research in industrial and organizational psychology connecting cognitive ability with learning and training performance. ExamIQ measures an important component of learning readiness — not every factor influencing examination outcomes.

What the research supports

Cognitive ability is an important predictor of learning.

Meta analytic research has found general mental ability to be a consistent predictor across multiple occupational criteria, including training and learning outcomes. More recent work continues to demonstrate the relevance of cognitive ability while refining historical estimates and statistical corrections.

Research also demonstrates that outcomes are influenced by non cognitive characteristics such as motivation, study effort, conscientiousness, practice, and persistence. Both matter.

Full reference list

  1. 01

    Salgado, J. F., & Moscoso, S. (2019). Meta-analysis of the validity of general mental ability for five performance criteria: Hunter and Hunter (1984) revisited. Frontiers in Psychology, 10.

    DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02227
  2. 02

    Sackett, P. R., Zhang, C., Berry, C. M., & Lievens, F. (2022). Revisiting meta-analytic estimates of validity in personnel selection: Addressing systematic overcorrection for restriction of range. Journal of Applied Psychology, 107(11), 2040–2068.

    DOI: 10.1037/apl0000994
  3. 03

    Heckman, J., & Kautz, T. (2012). Hard evidence on soft skills. National Bureau of Economic Research.

    DOI: 10.3386/w18121
  4. 04

    Kautz, T., Heckman, J., Diris, R., ter Weel, B., & Borghans, L. (2014). Fostering and measuring skills: Improving cognitive and non-cognitive skills to promote lifetime success. National Bureau of Economic Research.

    DOI: 10.3386/w20749
  5. 05

    Judge, T. A., Hurst, C., & Simon, L. S. (2009). Does it pay to be smart, attractive, or confident (or all three)? Relationships among general mental ability, physical attractiveness, core self-evaluations, and income. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(3), 742–755.

    DOI: 10.1037/a0015497

ExamIQ does not guarantee examination success, does not determine intelligence, and is not an IQ test. Examination outcomes depend on knowledge, preparation, study effort, motivation, experience, training quality, and other factors. Organizations can validate ExamIQ against their own examination outcomes.

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