The following circular was issued to all Selective Service boards during WWI. Any recruit who failed this test was not accepted for military duty.

By the time WWII came along, thc testing procedure was much improved - medical personnel simply looked in one ear to see if light could be observed. If this test proved positive, the opposite ear was covered until all traces of light disappeared.

THE STATE OF COLORADO
Office of the Provost Marshal
DENVER
November 6, 1918
CIRCULAR NO. 10
QUESTIONS FOR MENTAL EXAMINATIONS BY LOCAL AND MEDICAL ADVISORY  BOARDS

Directions: Give 5 points credit for each question correctly answered: If the total score is less than 30 points, the subject should be rejected for military service unless there is evidence of malingering.

A score of thirty points corresponds to a mental age of about 7 years: 40 points corresponds to 8 years 50 points to 9 years, and 65 points to 10 years. A subject scoring less than 65 points may be especially indicated as mentally backward.

1. How old are you?
2. In what year were you born?
3. What state is this?
4. What day of the week is this?
5. What month is this?
6. What day of the month is this?
7. What year is this?
8. Who is now President of the United States?
9. Name some other President?
10. What party elected Wilson?
11. How often is a President elected?
12. Whom are we fighting? (Credits: Germany; Austria 2.)
13. Name some country that is helping us fight Germany?
14. Name three cities?
15. If you went to the store and bought 4 cents worth of sugar and gave the storekeeper 10 cents, how much change should you get?
16. I am going to say something foolish, now listen closely: What is foolish about it?
“A bicycle rider, being thrown from his bicycle struck his head against a stone and was instantly killed. They carried him to the hospital, and they do not think he will get well again”.
17. Memory for five numbers (sample, 68457)?
18. Count backwards (20 to 1); (sixty seconds)?
19. Give 25 words in one minute? (sample: cat, horse, man, tree).
20. Carries out a three part commission: Put this book on the shelf, open the door, and put this chair at the other end of the table?