'Not a test of IQ': Doctor who designed cognitive test addresses Trump's boasts

Tuesday, 5 May 2026 11:24

The president has bragged of acing three cognitive tests.

Donald Trump has called on all presidential candidates to take a cognitive test, as he faces questions on his own capacity to do the job.

Speaking today, Trump said he was the only president to take such a test, having done it three times.

"I've aced each one," Trump said.

Donald Trump has bragged of aceing cognitive tests.

"Whenever they get a little sassy, saying 'Does he still have it? Does it still have what it takes,' I say 'I'll take another one'."

Trump pointed out the tests were "hard".

"The first question is very easy," he said.

"You have a lion, a bear, an alligator, and a, what's another good..? A squirrel."

"Which is the squirrel?"

"By the time you get to the middle they're very tough."

He bragged about his results.

"One doctor said, 'It's the first time I've ever seen anyone get all questions right,'" Trump said.

"That's a doctor, who does this stuff for a living."

The test the president is referring to is the Montreal Cognitive Test.

The ten-minute test developed by Canadian neurologist Ziad Nasreddine is intended to determine if a person has conditions like Alzheimer's or dementia.

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Ziad Nasreddine developed this cognitive test to determine if patients have dementia, etc.

Sample questions include drawing an analogue clock with the correct time, with points given for correct numbering.

Another question is to name as many words as they can in a minute beginning with the letter B.

A failing grade would be less than 11 words.

The final questions are to know the date, day of the week, their location and what city they are in.

"It wasn't designed to be a test of IQ," Nasreddine told nine.com.au.

"It was designed to assess normal cognitive performance."

The test is used in about 200 countries, including Australia.

The average person scores 26 out of 30 on the test. Nasreddine said about ten per cent of people who are Trump's age get all the answers right.

"I think he's proud that he is able to demonstrate that his cognition is fine.

"Obviously, he likes to maybe boast about it because of his age, and people might think that at his age, you might have more difficulty with your cognition."

Nasreddine was quick to point out that while many people attempt to take the Montreal Cognitive Test by themselves, that was not how it was designed.

Another test developed by Nasreddine is designed to be done by individuals.

A poll for the Washington Post this week found 59 per cent of Americans do not believe Trump has the mental sharpness to do his job.

Only 40 per cent believed he did.

Most Americans believe Donald Trump does not have the mental sharpness needed to do the job.

The same poll showed 55 per cent of people believed he was not in good enough physical health to do the job.

No other president has taken a cognitive test while in office.

Joe Biden was also dogged by questions about his cognitive ability, but did not take a test.

The New York Times reported that while his staff were confident Biden would pass the test, the mere act of taking it would reflect poorly on his mental state.

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