Binet-Kamat Test of Intelligence Report
Saee Pathak 2437548
2 MPCL-B
Department of Psychology
CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore
MPS251: Psychodiagnostics Lab-1
Submitted to Dr. Hema
24th February 2025
Introduction
Intelligence can be defined as an individual’s ability to understand complex ideas,
adapt effectively to their environment, learn from experience, engage in various forms of
reasoning, and overcome obstacles with careful thought (Baron & Misra, 2017). In the Indian
context, the Binet Kamat Test of Intelligence (BKT) is one of the measures used to assess
intelligence. The Binet scale was revised in 1934 to make it more suitable for the Indian
context. The test was subsequently made available in Kannada and Marathi (Roopesh, 2020).
Alfred Binet, credited with developing intelligence quotient (IQ) testing, laid the
foundation for later intelligence assessments like the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test. This
scale was later adapted by Indian psychologist and educator Dr. Kamat, renowned for his
research on improving intelligence and cognitive development in young children.
The BKT test was introduced in 1934, with a sample of school children from
Dharwad in Karnataka. A review was performed thirty years later in 1967, which was
followed by another review thirty-five years later, which led the test to be re-adapted and
revalidated on a limited age range of mainly economically disadvantaged children with Hindi
as their main medium of instruction (Gopalakrishnan & Venkatesan, 2019).
Description of the Test
The BKT measures an individual’s abilities in nine areas: language, conceptual
thinking, verbal and nonverbal reasoning, meaningful memory, nonmeaningful memory,
numerical reasoning, visuomotor coordination, and social intelligence (Rajkumar et al.,
2008).
BKT assesses a person's intelligence, covering 13 age levels ranging from 3 to 22. At
age 3, the child is asked to identify parts of their body, name objects in pictures, repeat words,
and answer simple questions. At age 4, they are asked to repeat numbers, identify shapes,
count coins, and answer questions. For age 5, facial recognition and basic counting skills are
tested, along with naming family members and left/right orientation. At age 6, the child is
asked to repeat a sequence of four digits, describe pictures, and show numbers using their
fingers. At age 7, they are asked to repeat a long syllable, name the days of the week, and
count backwards. Age 8 requires the child to repeat five digits, add up coins, and answer
hypothetical questions. At age 9, basic skills like addition and subtraction, reading, and free
association are tested. At age 10, the child is asked to arrange weights, repeat long sentences,
draw designs from memory, and find rhyming words. At age 12, they are asked to find
absurdities in sentences, define words, interpret stories, and repeat digits in reverse. Age 14
requires the child to unjumble sentences, compare objects, and demonstrate problem-solving
skills. Age 16 is designed for adults, making the test more difficult and complex. They are
asked to interpret stories, reverse clock hands, and explain the differences between a
president and a prime minister. Age 19 is meant for superior adults and requires using codes,
measuring quantities, and engaging in abstract thinking. The final age level, i.e., 22, is
assigned for very superior adults and tests physical relationships, memory, and free word
association.
Overall, the difficulty level of the test increases as the age progresses. The test
measures various areas of cognition, including verbal comprehension, arithmetic, inductive
reasoning, visual-spatial abilities, abstraction capacity, and memory span (Roopesh, 2020).
Psychometric Properties
BKT is a popular tool used in the Indian setting to measure intelligence. The test was
first standardized in 1934. This test has a high-reliability coefficient of over 0.7, which means
it consistently produces accurate results. The validity coefficient of the test is 0.5 for normal
children when compared to the teachers' estimates of the test's intelligence quotient,
indicating that the test is a good measure of intelligence in children (Gopalkrishnan &
Venkatesan, 2019)
In the institutional and hospital context, the test meets the face validity requirement,
meaning that it appears to measure what it intends to measure. The BKT is a standardized test
that has been used for many years in India and is a reliable and valid tool for assessing
intelligence in children (Roopesh, 2020).
Significant research findings
The BKT test was administered to the children from the orphanage to evaluate their
emotional intelligence and IQ. The results indicated a strong correlation between these two
factors, with no apparent gender differences in the scores of either test. Moreover, the sub-
scores and the overall emotional intelligence score are connected with IQ (Kaimal, 2021).
Another research study examines the connection between children's theory of mind
and overall intelligence using the Binet Kamat Intelligence Test. The findings suggest that the
theory of mind is a cognitive ability independent of general intelligence, as demonstrated by
IQ tests like the Binet-Kamat, except for its association with social intelligence and
visuomotor skills (Rajkumar et al., 2008).
Application
Due to the presence of the age criteria, BKT has primarily been used in the
educational and clinical setting. In educational settings, it is used to evaluate people's general
intellectual capacity and compare it to their academic performance (Kamat, 1934). In the
clinical setting, it is used to test the mentally challenged individuals, learning impaired
children with speech and language impairments, slow learners, etc. Additionally, it can be
used to evaluate a person's intellectual capacity and performance in various domains,
including language, reasoning, memory, and social competence (Mahale, 2023).
Proforma of the Client
Name: A.A.
Age: 22 years
Gender: Female
Education: Currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Psychology
Referred by: None
Presenting Concerns: N/A
Test Administered: Binet Kamat Test of Intelligence (BKT)
Purpose of Testing: Assessing cognitive functioning for educational purpose.
Behavioural Observations: The participant had a calm, composed, and attentive demeanour
throughout the assessment. They actively listened and were willing to clarify any doubts
during the process. The participant responded promptly to the questions and displayed
enthusiasm and eagerness. They maintained regular eye contact and did not spend too much
time on any question
Test Results
Table 1: Results from Binet Kamat Test
Domains Sub Domains Age
Language 22
Memory Meaningful 22
Non- Meaningful 22
Conceptual Thinking 19
Reasoning Non-Verbal 22
Verbal 19
Numerical 16
Visio-Motor 19
Social Intelligence 12
Test Interpretation
An IQ score of 95 was obtained, and scores between the range of 90 and 109 were
deemed to be average under the Binet Kamat Test of Intelligence (Roopesh, 2020).
This indicates that the individual falls within most of the population; they have normal
fluctuation in cognitive ability and carry skills required for their ages. Research
conducted by Berg and Sternberg (1992) suggests that intelligence is linked to the ability to
handle novelty, everyday competence, and verbal competence throughout the adult lifespan.
However, IQ testing alone does not fully understand an individual as it needs to
consider behavioural, social, medical, and linguistic background (Christie, 2005).
The participant, a 22-year-old postgraduate student, a bilingual Hindi and English
speaker, was administered the Binet Kamat Intelligence Test till age 16, meant for average
adults. The results were obtained in the following domains: language, memory, reasoning,
conceptual thinking, visual-motor and social intelligence. The participant scored a basal age
of 16, varying ages across all the domains. The participant received a Binet Kamat Test of
Intelligence total IQ score of 95, within the average range (90–109). A participant with an
average IQ is thought to have ordinary cognitive ability for their age group. As observed from
the table, they probably possess sufficient language, memory, reasoning, and visuomotor
coordination capabilities. Furthermore, their social intelligence also falls within the normal
range for their age and educational background. IQ is primarily based on biological and
social factors (Nisbett et al., 2012). IQ scores from preschool to early adulthood tend to be
reasonably stable (Schneider et al., 2014).
Due to the participant scoring within the average IQ range, it can be interpreted that
they meet the domains' requirements and fall within the expected ranges with the majority.
However, IQ tests alone cannot wholly picture a person's intellectual abilities. In order to
have a comprehensive understanding, IQ testing must be combined with an assessment of
behavioural, social, medical, and linguistic backgrounds (Christie, 2005).
Impression and Recommendations
The participant falls under the average range of IQ; if required, a few suggestions to
improve IQ would be practising working memory exercises, which help enhance fluid
intelligence (Au et al., 2014). The following recommendations can also be considered.
Enhancing Cognitive Skills
As the participant falls within the average IQ range, they can engage in activities that
promote cognitive flexibility, such as problem-solving exercises and logical reasoning tasks.
Language and Verbal Development
Being bilingual in Hindi and English, the participant can benefit from activities that
enhance verbal fluency, comprehension, and articulation. Exposure to advanced vocabulary
through academic literature, media, and professional communication can strengthen language
proficiency.
Memory and Retention Strategies
Techniques such as mnemonic devices, visualization strategies, and active recall
methods can be incorporated to improve memory and retention. Summarization, note-taking,
and concept mapping practice can enhance memory retention and retrieval.
Reasoning and Conceptual Thinking
Engaging in logical reasoning exercises, analytical discussions, and structured
problem-solving tasks can help refine critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Holistic Approach
Since IQ scores alone do not provide a complete understanding of intellectual
potential, it is recommended to consider other factors such as emotional intelligence, social
skills, and behavioural tendencies.
References
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