The Wonderlic has wide application and is used in many other business settings---it was used in the 1930's on and was used to determine pilots for WWII, etc. Cowpies were the first team to use it to rate draft candidates. Variations of the Wonderlic (under different names) has been used in different areas to determine cognitive ability and also to establish base-line minimum scores for a given profession (believe a '22' is a baseline for a QB). Contrary to some comments on the forum, it is considered a valid test of adult intelligence.
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It's quite apparent Jackson didn't even bother to brush up on the Wonderlic. Do you have knowledge that he didn't prep for this test???
For example, some of the test questions require an application of basic practical math on how to find the % the cost of item that will be added to pay tax on a purchase. You need to know to convert a % to a decimal and then multiply the cost of the item times the decimal value for the tax. That gives the amount in tax. Then add that amount to the cost of the item for the total price. Once you recognize the question, you can apply the above---the trick comes in when you are asked to work backwards---you are given total price and the tax amount and are asked to calculate the % that you paid in taxes.
You get duplicate type of questions on the exam as a means to check for guessing---if you get question #5 correct and it was a 'calculate the percent tax' question but then missed the exact type of question of #28 and #40---did you guess on #5? You can earn a few points by
guessing so don't leave any item blank. You got a 25% chance to guess right on a 4 choice item---and should get close to 12 just by guessing. Go ahead and try it on a 50 sample test.
It just doesn't 'click' for some people to understand the logical flow. Even after repeated practice and tutoring (I taught 9th grade math back in the dark ages and would have kids who just didn't understand no matter how hard we both worked and how many different ways I tried to teach it).
The other important thing to keep in mind is the possibility of a learning disability---dyslexia is a possibility.
https://www.understood.org/en/learn...-disabilities/dyslexia/understanding-dyslexia
Some have a terrible time being able to read---if the person can have the problem given to them verbally or visually---they can solve the problem. Very intelligent people can have this issue to the frustration of parents and teachers. They learn info but when it comes time to take a test where they have to read and respond, they do miserably. A big puzzle to parents because they know their kid is 'smart' and still brings home poor grades. A high percentage of people suffer this problem.
I don't know if LJ has a learning disability . . . but it is something to consider given the low Wonderlic (and I bet he got plenty of tutoring from his school) and the avoidance of blackboard time with teams and private interviews. I know I had several kids in my Practical Math class who fit the definition---and got 'it' when I asked them the questions instead of having them read the questions.
A lot of different abilities are needed in a pro QB including cognitive ability---especially with the complicated playbooks and defensive schemes that require the exact type of pressure to perform as the logic problems in the Wonderlic. Every single play requires an instant read, process, react challenge for the QB. He's got to learn the playbook, learn the D he is facing that week, know the calls and translate that into action---a ability that washes out a lot of promising college QBs (another reason you want a young vet and not a draftee that you paid 4 #1 picks---who has never played a down in the NFL).
The same ability to scan a written problem, analyze it for what is being asked, and proceed to a solution will be the same task a QB will have to go through when he steps to the line and looks over the opposing D. Instead of the framework for solving a '% tax' problem, he is solving a 'where to go with the football' problem.
Surprisingly, the Wonderlic scores have a negative correlation with cover CBs --here, the ability is to mirror and flow with WR---and not get paralysis by analysis. (PP2 got a 9 on his Wonderlic and does a pretty good job blanketing his WR responsibility).
Wonderlic homepage with lots of info:
http://wonderlictestsample.com/