Here is a simple audit for you to rate your own brainpower.

It was designed by  Dr Eric Bienstock who is Vice-Principal of SOT in New York. Eric based this checklist on the SOT’s ‘Learn-To-Think Coursebook and Instructors Manual’ (Capra/New 1982).

How do you rate your own brainpower?

INSTRUCTIONS: Print or Answer each of the following questions on a separate paper, scoring either 3, 2, 1, or 0 points for each answer depending on your objective estimate of how often you actually do what is stated.

Use your best guess of the following criteria for scoring:

3 – 90% OF THE TIME (nearly always)
2 – 70% OF THE TIME (mostly)
1 – 40% OF THE TIME (often)
0 – 10% OF THE TIME (hardly ever)

SCORE

______ My judgements of ideas are based on the value of the idea rather
than on my emotions at the time.

_______ I judge ideas not just as “good” or “bad” but also as “interesting”
if they can lead on to better ideas.

_______ I consider all factors in a situation before choosing, deciding or planning.

_______ I consider all factors first, before picking out the ones that matter most.

_______ When I create a rule I see to it that it is clearly understood
and possible to obey.

_______ I try to see the purpose of rules I have to obey, even if I don’t like the rules.

_______ I look at consequences of my decisions or actions not only as they affect me
but also as they affect other people.

_______ I look at a wide range of possible consequences before deciding
which consequences to bother about.

_______ On the way to a final objective I establish a chain of smaller objectives
each one following on from the previous one.

_______ The objectives I set are near enough, real enough and possible
enough for me to really try to reach them.

_______ In planning, I know exactly what I want to achieve.

_______ I keep my plans as simple and direct as possible.

_______ I know exactly why I have chosen something as a priority.

_______ I try to get as many different ideas as possible first,
before starting to pick out the priorities.

_______ I will go on looking for alternatives until I find one I really like.

_______ While most people look for alternatives when they are not satisfied;
I look for them deliberately even when I am satisfied.

_______ I am able to tell myself the real reason behind a decision I make.

_______ Before making a decision, I consider the factors, look at the consequences,
get clear about the objectives, assess the priorities, and search for possible alternatives.

_______ I am able to see the other person’s point-of-view whether I agree with it or not.

_______ I am able to spell out the differences and similarities between different viewpoints.

_______ TOTAL SCORE.

INTERPRETATION

This is NOT a scientific test. It’s just an audit or checklist to help you take stock of your thinking, that’s all! A trained thinker can direct his or her thinking and use it in a deliberate manner to produce an effect.

To a trained and skilled thinker, thinking is a tool that can be used at will and the use of this tool is practical. This ability to use ‘thinking as a skill’ is the sort of thinking ability that is required to get things DONE.

* If your total score in this test was between 51 and 60 points, you already possess superior brainpower.
* If you scored between 31 and 50 points, you have better than average brainpower.
* If you scored between 0 and 30, you possess no additional brainpower other than the natural thinking ability that most people have.

___________ Record your score below.