Could You Pass A Military Test?

Teenagers of today live in a very score-based culture partially thanks to testing in World War II. Contrary to popular belief, the military didn't take anyone who would willingly sacrifice their life for the country. There were many classifications and tests to filter out any soldiers with mental and/or physical disabilities. These include Selective Service Acts which divided men into categories from 1 to 4, 1 being the best fit for war and 4 being the least. There was also the ninety division decision which narrowed down the division numbers from over 200 to 90. Along with these qualifications, the AGCT (Army General Classification) and the NGCT (Navy General Classification Test) were used to determine the intelligence of men and their mental capabilities. The AGCT and NGCT were replacements for the standardized military testing of WWI called the Army Alpha and Beta Intelligence Tests.

AGCT
Standardized testing today remains controversial, whether tests like the SAT and ACT are actually a true measure of intelligence is still debatable. This debate can be traced back to the AGCT as well. Psychologists in the military personnel during WWII believed that the tests don't actually measure intelligence but only served as an index to measure the mental capabilities at the time of the test. Hence, because all test takers were given equal time, opportunity, and incentive, the test was only a measure of "general learning ability." The AGCT had subtests such as Vocabulary, Arithmetic, and Block-Counting. Based on the test scores, the Army and Marine Corps assigned recruits to military jobs. "Rapid learners" were assigned to Army Grade I and "slow learners" were assigned to Army Grade V. In total, about 12 million recruits were tested with the AGCT and in 1943, only 6.4% scored high enough to be qualified for Army Grade I.

NGCT

The NGCT was used by the Navy to assign recruits to military jobs as well. During WWII, about 3 million sailors were tested using the NGCT. This test is similar to the AGCT was used more specifically by the navy for qualifying sailors. 

Can you pass?

The following questions are from the Army Alpha and Beta Intelligence Tests from WWI:

A company advanced 6 miles and retreated 2 miles. How far was it then from its first position?

1. A dealer bought some mules for $1,200. He sold them for $1,500, making $50 on each mule. How many mules were there?
2. Thermometers are useful because
1. They regulate temperature
2. They tell us how warm it is
3. They contain mercury
3. A machine gun is more deadly than a rifle, because it

1. Was invented more recently
2. Fires more rapidly
3. Can be used with less training

Answers:
1. 4 miles
2.6 mules
3.B
4.B


For more sample tests: http://official-asvab.com/armysamples_res.htm


Our generation has WWI and WWII to thank for the standardized testing that we go through today. However, it is interesting to see that the motive behind testing is far more different now than it was then. During times of conscription, the tests were merely a tool to measure intelligence so that draftees could sacrifice their life for the country. Now, it is a lot more complicated, SATs and ACTs are usually taken to inform or even impress colleges about a student's abilities. Thus, the SAT and ACT is not exactly the same as AGCT and NGCT although the idea behind them are similar. Soldiers then were taking tests so they could fight for the future and in some way, that could be said for students today to some extent as well.



Sources:

http://official-asvab.com/history_res.htm 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_General_Classification_Test

http://www.iapsych.com/iqmr/fe/LinkedDocuments/tuddenham1948.pdf

http://en.copian.ca/library/research/adlitus/page25.htm