<p>I really don’t think grades measure intelligence. They measure how well you’ve learned and understood the material. You can have an A in a history class because you memorized all the presidents, but this doesn’t mean you are necessarily intelligent. Conversely, you could receive a failing grade in the same class because you didn’t bother memorizing, but this doesn’t mean you lack intelligence.</p>
<p>Obedience has a big role too. This year, my lowest grade was in macroeconomics, but it is the only AP exam I’m sure I got a 5 on. My grade dropped a lot in that class because of participation (aka not shouting out “ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS THE INVENTOR OF REGANOMICS LAWL” like some kids in my class who got higher participation grades than me). It was the course material I mastered best, but still my lowest grade because of that.</p>
<p>Really though, you need a combination of factors. In order of importance:</p>
<ol>
<li>Understanding the material</li>
<li>Obedience</li>
<li>Intelligence (using historical facts to make connections, figuring out how to derive an equation you forgot, etc.)</li>
</ol>