Neha always scores well in school assessments and is appreciated for her sharp, critical ability, reasoning and analytical thinking. Which form of intelligence is she most likely demonstrating ?
Neha always scores well in school assessments and is appreciated for her sharp, critical ability, reasoning and analytical thinking. Which form of intelligence is she most likely demonstrating ?
Options
Official answer
Correct option: (C) Componential Intelligence.
Neha's sharp, critical, analytical and reasoning ability matches the componential (analytical) component of Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, which governs how efficiently a person processes information, solves problems and evaluates ideas — exactly the skills rewarded in school assessments.
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark for correctly marking option (C) Componential Intelligence; no marks for any other option.
Hint
Think about which of Sternberg's three components governs analytical, reasoning-based, textbook-type problem solving.
Quick oral answer
Neha demonstrates componential intelligence — the analytical component of Sternberg's Triarchic Theory that involves reasoning, critical thinking and information processing, which is exactly what school assessments test.
Common mistakes
- 1.Confusing Sternberg's components with Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and picking 'Naturalistic Intelligence'.
- 2.Mixing up componential (analytical/academic) intelligence with contextual (practical) intelligence.
Analysis and explanation
Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence identifies three distinct components of intelligent behaviour, each suited to a different kind of task.
Why (C) is correct
- Componential intelligence refers to the analytical abilities used to acquire, store, and analyse information — including reasoning, evaluating, judging and comparing.
- School assessments largely test this component because they demand critical thinking, logical analysis and problem-solving under structured conditions, exactly as described for Neha.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Naturalistic Intelligence belongs to Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences, not Sternberg's triarchic model, and relates to recognising patterns in nature.
- (B) Contextual Intelligence (practical intelligence) is about adapting to, shaping, or selecting real-world environments — 'street smartness' — not academic reasoning.
- (D) Experiential Intelligence (creative intelligence) deals with handling novel situations and using insight/creativity, not with consistent success in structured school tests.
Interesting facts
Robert Sternberg proposed the Triarchic Theory of Intelligence in 1985 while he was a professor at Yale University.
Sternberg argued that traditional IQ tests measure mainly componential intelligence, ignoring practical and creative intelligence equally important for real-life success.
Question details
Q1 of 33 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 12
- Subject
- Psychology
- Year
- 2026
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- MCQ
- Chapter
- Variations in Psychological Attributes
- Topic
- Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence
- Bloom's level
- apply
- Syllabus topic
- Unit 1: Variations in Psychological Attributes — Sternberg's Triarchic Theory (Componential Intelligence)
- Author
- CBSE
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu Academic Team
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Frequently asked questions
What are the three components of Sternberg's Triarchic Theory?
Componential (analytical), experiential (creative), and contextual (practical) intelligence.
How is componential intelligence different from contextual intelligence?
Componential intelligence involves internal analytical processes like reasoning and evaluating information (academic tasks), while contextual intelligence involves adapting to or shaping one's real-world environment (practical, everyday problem-solving).