| Intelligence | Good with… | Typical profession | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linguistic-verbal | words | writer, lawyer, journalist | Hermione Granger |
| Logical-mathematical | logic, numbers | engineer, programmer | Tony Stark |
| Visual-spatial | images, space | architect, designer, pilot | Alex (Minecraft builder) |
| Bodily-kinesthetic | body, movement | athlete, dancer, surgeon | Harry Potter, Messi |
| Musical | rhythm, sound | musician, producer | Any beat-maker |
| Interpersonal | other people | teacher, psychologist, leader | A raid leader |
| Intrapersonal | yourself | philosopher, counsellor | Luna Lovegood |
| Naturalistic | nature, patterns | biologist, vet, farmer | Newt Scamander |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| intelligence | the ability to learn and think |
| cognitive profile | the map of how your mind works |
| strength / weakness | what you do well / badly |
| to process | deal with information step by step |
| to master | control completely, be expert at |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| autonomous | self-directed, independent |
| toolkit | a set of tools you can use |
| resilience | the ability to recover from difficulty |
| acumen | sharp, quick thinking |
| to label | put a name or category on |
Not every psychologist accepts multiple intelligences. Critics argue that Gardner's eight categories describe talents or personality traits rather than distinct forms of intelligence, and that there is little experimental evidence that they work independently in the brain. Some researchers point out that people who score high in logical tests also tend to score high in verbal ones, which suggests a single general ability. Gardner responds that traditional tests only measure what schools value. Whether or not the theory is scientifically exact, teachers around the world have found it useful: it reminds them that a student who fails algebra may lead a team, compose a song or read a forest.