The intelligence quotient or IQ is a standardized method to know the mental ability of a person, usually against a peer group.
IQ scores between 90 and 109 indicate a normal range or average intelligence. Individual adults usually score somewhere in between the 70-130 range, with 100 being the theoretical average.
If you score above 130, then you would have a score higher than the average population, and below 70 would be lower than the average population.
What is an average IQ for my age?
As per research, the average IQ for each age group may be interpreted in the following manner:
- The average score for 16-17 year-olds is 108, which denotes normal or average intelligence.
- For adults between 18 and 19 years of age, the average IQ score is 105, which also denotes normal or average intelligence.
- The average score for people between 20 and 24 years of age is 99, which also denotes normal or average intelligence.
- For people between 24 and 34 years of age, the average score is slightly lower at 97, which still denotes normal or average intelligence.
- The scores begin to go up again after that age, among older adults. For example, the average score for people between 35 and 44 years of age is estimated to be 101, still within the normal or average intelligence scale.
- For people between the ages of 45 and 54, the average IQ score goes up to 106 within the normal or average intelligence scale.
- The highest average score for people under 64 years of age is attained by those people between the ages of 55 and 64, who get 109 on the IQ scale.
- People between 65 and 69 years of age have an average IQ score of 114, which puts them in the superior intelligence or above-average end of the scale. But people between 70 and 74 years who are tested for IQ get an even higher average score of 119.
| Scores | Intelligence |
|---|---|
| Between 110 and 119 | Superior intelligence or above average |
| Between 120 and 140 | Superintelligence or being gifted |
| Scores over 140 | Indicates genius or nearly genius |
| Scores between 80 and 89 | Indicates dullness or “lower average” |
| Scores under 70 | Definite “feeble-mindedness” or low |
Is a 120 IQ good?
An IQ score of 120 is a good score since it means superior or above-average intelligence.
What is a good IQ score?
A score of 100 is said to be the average IQ and anything above that is above average intelligence for the person’s age. IQ is based on a statistical calculation considering people who are expected to have a certain IQ. Hence, IQ scores are not calculated in isolation for an individual. A person’s IQ doesn’t exist in isolation. The IQ score represents how a person’s results compare to those of other people of their age.
IQ tests generally focus on a person’s:
- Memory
- Mathematical skills
- Reasoning ability
- Processing speed
- Language, including vocabulary
- Visuospatial processing (the ability to perceive, analyze, recall, and manipulate images oriented in space and keep track of the location of moving objects)
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See SlideshowWhat do you mean by IQ?
IQ stands for intelligence quotient, which remains a popular tool for job placement and educational services, particularly helping to place children in an appropriate setting for their educational needs.
- An IQ score is a numerical representation of an individual’s intelligence within a normalized scale of test results.
- Most modern tests are adjusted so that the mean score is 100.
- IQ score is a combination or an average of multiple scores.
Questions on an intelligence test judge various categories such as working memory, verbal comprehension, processing speed, and perceptual reasoning. All these individual scores are combined to create your overall IQ. IQ scores are often a combination of verbal and performance scales. Typically, individuals are stronger in one area than the other; therefore, the combination of these scores can better identify intelligence.
What are the uses of an IQ test?
An IQ test may be used for:
- Assessing a person’s eligibility for a job
- Educational assessment
- Diagnosis of intellectual disabilities
- Psychological research purposes
- Evaluating a person’s cognitive abilities, including attention, memory, mathematical skills, problem-solving skills, and response time
Health News
- Scans Show Brain Changes in People With Long COVID
- Got GERD? Eat This Way to Help Avoid Symptoms
- 5 Women Contracted Syphilis Affecting the Eyes From the Same Asymptomatic Man
- Long COVID Now Common in U.S. Nursing Homes
- Breathing in Coal-Based Pollution Could Be Especially Deadly: Study
More Health News »
What factors influence a person’s IQ?
Several factors can influence a person’s IQ, such as
- Age - IQ increases with age,
- Educational background
- Cultural practices and beliefs
- General health, including any underlying health conditions
- Environment
- Genetics
- Musical training
- Brain anatomy
To summarize, although IQ is commonly used to measure a person’s intelligence, the concept of IQ has earned significant disrepute over the years.
- Researchers argue that IQ calculation may not be comprehensive enough to classify a person as more or less intelligent. There are various aspects to intelligence including spiritual, emotional, and creative aspects.
- People with a higher IQ do not necessarily perform well under different circumstances, including different levels of physical and mental stress.
- Classifying people based on IQ can result in prejudice against people with a lower IQ. People have even made groups open for those with a certain level of IQ.
Moreover, IQ does not measure the abilities that are important for making good judgments in real-life situations. Hence, intelligence may span far beyond the confines of IQ, but a person’s work productivity, ability to adapt to life situations and emotional health cannot be predicted by their IQ score.
What are the differences between aptitude tests and IQ tests?
The difference between aptitude tests and intelligence quotient (IQ) tests is as follows:
Aptitude tests
Most aptitude tests assess a specific set of skills; cognitive aptitude tests can measure a broad range of abilities and provide individual scores for each ability. Cognitive aptitude testing can be done through standardized tests or game-based assessments.
- These tests can measure specific areas of intelligence.
- Age is not a factor.
- There is a score for each category.
- These tests are highly predictive of job performance.
- The most common use is pre-employment testing.
IQ tests
They are typically standardized tests that cover a wide range of questions including logical, visual, spatial, classification, analogical, and pattern-driven questions. The IQ is determined by the deviation between the test score and the average test score of people of your age. IQ is considered a rough metric for general intelligence.
- These tests measure general intelligence.
- Age is used to determine IQ scores.
- One general score is determined.
- These are moderately predictive of job performance.
- The most common uses are research and education.
Subscribe to MedicineNet's General Health Newsletter
By clicking Submit, I agree to the MedicineNet's Terms & Conditions & Privacy Policy and understand that I may opt out of MedicineNet's subscriptions at any time.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Medscape Medical Reference
GracePoint https://www.gracepointwellness.org/18-psychological-testing/article/8217-intelligence-quotient-iq
Mensa International https://www.mensa.org/iq/what-iq
Assessment Psychology Online http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/iqclassifications.htm
Top What Is the Normal Range for IQ? Related Articles
Baby's First Year: Milestones Month by Month
When do babies learn to crawl? Start teething? Learn about major milestones in your baby's first months. Get tips on how to help baby learn, grow, and develop into a healthy toddler.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
How Conditions Change Your Brain
The brain doesn’t always stay the same. Mental disorders, health issues, and lifestyle habits can alter the way it looks and works.
How Do I Know If My Child Is Ready for Preschool?
Preschool can be exciting for some kids, whereas traumatizing for others. You know your child is ready for preschool if they are potty-trained, independent, expressive, can concentrate, is emotionally ready and has stamina.
How Do I Start Homeschooling My Child?
Have you considered homeschooling your child but don't know how to get started? Learn about the requirements and some tips to make the process smooth.
How to Cope With School Stress
Students of all ages experience stress related to school. Some coping strategies like taking breaks from technology, sleeping, practicing deep breathing and stretching may help young students.
Parenting: How Can Parents Encourage Independence and Learning in Their Children?
What to know about your child's growth and development. Learn more about how to encourage independence and learning in your child.
How Can Parents Encourage Independence and Learning in Their Children?
While there are general guidelines for developmental milestones, each child will progress through them at their own rate. Encourage independence and learning in your child by establishing predictable routines, letting your child help you, giving your child chores, and employing other methods.
Brain Foods for Kids: Healthy Food for Kids’ Brains
Use this brain foods list to make your child smarter and healthier with these brain-boosting meals! Developing brains needs the right foods to boost learning and improve concentration.
What Age Should a Child Learn to Read, Write and Do Math?
Learning to read, write and do math is always a milestone in kids that parents treasure. Children will learn to read between the ages of four and six and write and do math between six and 10 years old.
What Are the Three Types of Learning Disabilities?
Treating dysgraphia may take weeks or even months, but patience is essential. Dysgraphia generally occurs among children aged below 15 years, but this specific learning disability may also be present in adults as well.