Is the Genius of Elise Tan Roberts a Hoax?

Posted by Alex Sharp May 2, 2009

Having worked with gifted kids for over a decade, I've seen a lot of high IQ scores. Most gifted ed teachers meet kids who are smarter than they are, and I'm no exception. I completely believe that a two year old could be as brilliant as people are suggesting Elise Tan Roberts is. That Mensa accepted her makes me feel like they consider her scores valid, but then - this is also great advertising for Mensa's children's program. Of course, joining Mensa is a paperwork experience - someone can join easily if they qualify, but Elise didn't fill out that paperwork, and if her parents are pushing her to join Mensa at two, they are probably pushing in other non-age appropriate activities as well.

Elise Tan Robert's would not be the first fake genius (if she is one, and I have no idea if she is or not). Google "Justin Chapman" and read a similar story, about a prodigy who was tested as a genius, who played the chess as well as he played music when he was a mere toddler, and who, unfortunately, was placed in a foster care because his mother faced jail time for faking his scores.

Elise Tan Robert's took the same test that Justin Chapman's mother prepped him for, the Stanford Binet (which is a well-respected, reliable test). Joan Freeman, the professor who tested Elise, seems well-established in the UK, although I find it especially interesting that her consultancy includes television companies, including the BBC.

Maybe Elise is the real deal, maybe she's not. Either way, she needs to be tucked at home, playing with developmentally appropriate puzzles. How awful it will be for her now if she decides that despite her abilities, she would rather risk being a mediocre athlete or artist than whatever job her fabulous memory makes her suited for (museum tour guide?).