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"The I.Q. Test"
Season 2, Episode 7
Number (#20) in series (133 episodes)
Tape date September 5, 1974
Air date: October 22, 1974
Network/Country: CBS-TV
Written by: Jay Moriarty & Mike Milligan
Directed by: Herbert Kenwith
Production code: 207
IMDb logo IMDB The I.Q. Test
Cast Information
Starring: Esther Rolle
John Amos
Jimmie Walker
Ja'net Dubois
Bern Nadette Stanis
Ralph Carter
Guest starring: Austin Pendleton
Kay Dingle
Episode guide
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The I.Q. Test is the seventh episode of Season 2 of Good Times, and the twentieth series episode overall. Written by Jay Moriarty and Mike Milligan, the episode, which was directed by Herbert Kenwith, made its premiere on CBS-TV, airing on October 22, 1974.

Synopsis[]

Florida and James are surprised when Michael gets very low marks on his I.Q. test despite being one of the smartest kids in his class. After Michael explains the test, his parents visit the school to express their concerns.

Storyline[]

On the eve of his eighth grade graduation, Michael comes home with a note informing his parents of his very low scores on a standardized I.Q. test. In fact, the note suggests that Michael should give up his dreams of going to college and consider trade school instead. However, Michael admits that the reason his score was so low was that he refused to take it due to his feelings that the test was culturally biased and that it didn't test kids on how smart they were but how white they were, which infuriates James. However, when he tells the family that white kids did just as poorly on a black I.Q. test, James and Florida decide to pay the person who created the test a visit to see if he could pass the the black I.Q. test.

IQ testing has been a topic of fierce debate because of its inherent cultural biases. Recently, there has been significant work done to create culture fair IQ tests for kids to ensure that minorities and people from Anglo-Saxon backgrounds don't get discriminated as a result of biased testing. This episode highlights the "culture fair" aspect of modern IQ testing.

Plot summary[]

Michael, one of the brightest boys in his class, comes home with the news that he scored the lowest out of his whole class on an I.Q. test. Infuriated at first, Florida and James hear Michael out and realize that I.Q. tests are designed for certain demographics and in this case excluded persons of color. Meanwhile, J.J. prepares for a wild date with his latest girl, Henrietta.

Guest starring[]

  • Austin Pendleton as Donald Hargrove
  • Kay Dingle as Secretary
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