Army Beta refers to an intelligence test developed during World War I and used by the army for soldiers who cannot read.
Army Beta refers to a group-administered intelligence test that was used during World War II by the United States Army to evaluate the cognitive abilities of large numbers of soldiers quickly.
The Army Beta test consisted of a series of paper and pencil tests that assessed skills such as arithmetic, vocabulary, and spatial perception. The test was designed to be given to soldiers who were not literate or who spoke English as a second language.
Examples of questions on the Army Beta test include:
- Arithmetic: "If three apples cost six cents, how many apples can you buy for fifteen cents?"
- Vocabulary: "Which of the following words means 'a type of animal that eats meat'? a) herbivore b) carnivore c) omnivore"
- Spatial perception: "Which of the following shapes would result if the square were folded along the dotted line?"
The Army Beta test was one of several intelligence tests used during World War II to screen soldiers for placement in appropriate military roles. Its use declined after the war as new, more sophisticated intelligence tests were developed.