Intelligence High scorers on tests of general knowledge tend to also score highly on intelligence tests.
IQ has been found to robustly predict general knowledge scores even after accounting for differences in age, and
five-factor model personality traits. However, many general knowledge tests are designed to create a normal distribution of answers, creating a
bell-shaped curve. General knowledge is also moderately associated with verbal ability, though only weakly or not at all with numerical and spatial ability.
Long-term semantic memory General knowledge is stored as
semantic memory. Most semantic memory is preserved through old age, though there are deficits in retrieval of certain specific words correlated with aging. and in
typical intellectual engagement. The relationship between openness to experience and general knowledge remains robust even when IQ is taken into account. People high in openness may be more motivated to engage in intellectual pursuits that increase their knowledge. Relationships between general knowledge and other
five factor model traits tend to be weak and inconsistent. Though one study found that
extraversion and
neuroticism were negatively
correlated with general knowledge, others found that they were unrelated. Inconsistent results have also been found for
conscientiousness. ==Predictor of achievement==