Who pioneered the first systematic intelligence test?

Alfred Binet is recognized as the pioneer of the first systematic intelligence test, which he developed in collaboration with Théodore Simon in the early 20th century. This groundbreaking work was primarily aimed at identifying students who required special educational assistance in French schools. The Binet-Simon scale introduced the concept of measuring mental age, providing a way to assess cognitive abilities in a structured manner.

Binet's approach focused on a range of cognitive tasks that examined reasoning, problem-solving, and comprehension, establishing a foundation for subsequent intelligence assessments. His work influenced later developments in the field, including the revisions and adaptations made by other psychologists, such as Lewis Terman, who further refined Binet's test for use in the United States. However, it was Binet's original contributions that marked the formal inception of intelligence testing as a systematic practice in psychology.