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TL; DR
IQ scores measure reasoning and problem-solving ability, not knowledge. While they can provide insight into cognitive strengths, they don't reflect creativity, emotional intelligence, practical skills, or overall potential. |
Have you ever taken an IQ test and wondered if the number on the scale reflected your intelligence?
Does scoring 140+ make you a genius in your circle? And what if you land below the average range and start to worry?
The IQ scale has fascinated and divided people ever since its introduction. In 1904, Alfred Binet introduced IQ scores, originally to identify students who needed extra academic support in France.
However, the same test now influences job eligibility, educational placement, and can even self-esteem.
Let's learn more about IQ test, how IQ scores are measured and calculated, where you fall on the scale, and how much this number really matters.
What Is an IQ Test?
IQ, the Intelligence Quotient Test, measures a person's ability to reason and solve problems using logic. French psychologist Alfred Binet developed the first version in 1904 to identify schoolchildren in France who needed extra help.
The same methodology sets the foundation for modern-day IQ tests. A typical IQ test uses questions that assess:
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Numerical reasoning
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Logical analysis
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Verbal comprehension
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Spatial reasoning
Depending on the purpose, an IQ test can be verbal or visual. The format varies, but the core goal remains the same: measuring your innate reasoning ability, not what you've learned in school.
What IQ Tests Measure and How
IQ scores don't evaluate how much you know or how much you have learned so far. They measure the intelligence you're born with, your ability to see connections, build logic, and solve problems.
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The Official IQ Test for Everyone
Apologies in advance! There's no single "official" IQ test.
You heard it right! There are various methods to measure your IQ score. Each test has its own standards and approaches. Further, there is no consensus or data available deciding the most accurate among them. Here is the list of popular IQ tests used for adults and kids:
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Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
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Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
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Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
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Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children
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Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test
Each test uses a different scoring system, which is why your IQ might vary slightly between assessments.
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The Original (Historical) Way to Measure IQ
The historical method to calculate IQ scores is as follows:
IQ Score = Mental Age / Chronological Age x 100.
Mental age, or intelligence age, is defined as a person's intelligence relative to others in the same age group. Binet and his teammates considered at least 70% of participants of the same age to calculate mental age.
For example, if you're 10 years old but solve problems typically solved by 12-year-olds, your mental age would be 12. Your IQ would be (12 ÷ 10) × 100 = 120.
This "ratio IQ" worked for children but broke down for adults. That's why it's now outdated. Modern IQ tests have switched to the deviation method. Today, you simply take a standardized test and receive a score.
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The Modern Method of IQ Calculation (Deviation Curve)
In modern times, your score is based on your performance relative to a large sample of people your age. The method uses a bell curve (a normal distribution).
On this IQ scale, two numbers define everything:
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The average IQ score is 100 (the center of the curve).
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The standard deviation is 15 (how far scores spread out).
As a result, the IQ measurement range follows a predictable pattern. About 68% of people score within one standard deviation, between 85 and 115.
About 95% score within two standard deviations, between 70 and 130. Only about 2% score above 130, and about 2% score below 70 (data as per Trent University).
IQ Scores Explained: Normal, High, and Poor
IQ scores typically range from 69 to 130. However, it can be below 69 or above 130, which are the extreme zones.
What is a High IQ Score?
Experts generally consider an IQ above 120 to be high, although it varies depending on the test. About 98% of people have an IQ below 130. And the remaining 2% are often considered 'god-gifted' or superintelligent.
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Fun Fact |
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There's no highest IQ to date. Dr. Young-Hoon Kim, CEO of Neurostory, has an IQ of 276, the highest in the world. Your favorites, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein, have IQs of 160. |
What is an Average IQ Score?
This is where most of us land. The majority of the population has a normal IQ score between 85 and 115, with 100 as the midpoint.
An average IQ means you have good potential to solve problems and reason. However, that never tells the entire story. You might be more than your IQ score. After all, it never measures your talents or physical skills.
What is a Low IQ Score?
An IQ below about 85 is generally considered below average. And if it is below 70-75, it is often an indication of intellectual disability.
Note: Modern clinical guidelines (DSM-5, WHO ICD-11) no longer diagnose intellectual disability on IQ alone. They look at adaptive functioning, communication, self-care, coordination, and social skills, alongside the score. The historical severity ranges look roughly like this:
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IQ Score |
Historical Classification (now defined with adaptive functioning) |
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1 to 24 |
Profound mental disability |
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25 to 39 |
Severe mental disability |
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40 to 54 |
Moderate mental disability |
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55 to 69 |
Mild mental disability |
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70 to 84 |
Borderline mental disability |
Low IQ scores left you worried? Don't panic solely over the IQ scores. For an informed decision, consider observing other signs, such as difficulty with communication, coordination, self-care, reflex response, social interaction, and while performing day-to-day tasks.
Find Out the Truth: Is Vitamin E Good for Brain Function?
What IQ Score Makes You a Genius or Brianiac?
If you're hoping for a magic "genius" number, here's the truth: "genius" is no longer an official IQ classification. In older systems, scores of 140+ were sometimes labeled genius-level, but modern tests have dropped the term.
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Remember Thomas Edison, the man behind the bulb? Although no one ever calculated his IQ, he was thought to fall in the below-average range.
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Moreover, Andy Warhol, who led the Global Pop Art Movement, has an estimated IQ of just 86.
These examples prove that IQ isn't the ultimate predictor of brilliance or achievement. Success depends on creativity, perseverance, emotional intelligence, and countless other factors that IQ tests simply don't measure.
Average IQ by Age
People often search for average IQ by age, expecting the number to climb or fall as you get older. Here's the twist: because IQ scores are normed to your own age group, the average stays 100 at every age by design.
What actually changes with age is the underlying ability the test draws on:
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Fluid intelligence (reasoning, processing speed, solving new problems) tends to peak in your late teens and twenties, then gradually eases.
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Crystallized intelligence (vocabulary, knowledge, experience) tends to keep rising into middle age and beyond.
So, an "average IQ by age" chart based on raw scores reflects normal cognitive development, not a different IQ standard.
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Fun Fact |
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Genuine IQ scores tend to remain relatively the same throughout life. The score you get at 10 might be similar to what you'd score at 40. Moreover, the scores are never based on your performance but rather on comparing results with the same age group. |
How to Support Cognitive Health Regardless of IQ Score
Your IQ score might be relatively stable, but your brain's day-to-day performance isn't. Research shows lifestyle choices significantly impact cognitive function, memory, and mental clarity, wherever you fall on the IQ scale (Potashkin et al., 2025)1.
Here are four science-backed ways to optimize your brain health:
1. Prioritize Quality Sleep
Your brain consolidates memories and clears out toxins during sleep. Adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep for optimal cognitive performance. Poor sleep impairs attention, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities (NINDS, 2024)2.
Action step: Establish a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time daily, even on weekends. If you're struggling with sleep, create a dark, cool sleeping environment and dim the lights. Avoid using the phone or doomscrolling before your bedtime hours.
2. Fuel Your Brain with Smart Nutrition
Your brain consumes about 20% of your body's energy despite being only 2% of your weight (Raichle and Gusnard, 2002)3. The right nutrients make a difference in mental performance and long-term brain health.
Action step: Include omega-3 rich foods (fatty fish, walnuts), antioxidant-packed berries, leafy greens, and whole grains in your diet. Stay hydrated. Consider brain-supporting nutrients like tocotrienols and astaxanthin after consulting your healthcare provider.
3. Challenge Your Brain Regularly
Mental exercise alongside physical exercise strengthens neural connections and builds cognitive reserve (Fisher, 2025)4. This helps maintain sharp thinking as you age, independent of your baseline IQ.
Action step: Learn something new every month. Focus on digital detoxification. The key is consistent challenge, not perfection.
4. Manage Stress Effectively
Chronic stress floods your brain with cortisol, which impairs memory formation and damages brain cells over time (Echouffo-Tcheugui et al., 2018)5. Managing stress isn't just about feeling better, it's essential for protecting cognitive function.
Action step: Practice stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or regular exercise. Focus on clean diet to control your healthy cortisol levels.
Remember: These habits compound over time. Small, consistent actions matter more than your IQ score when it comes to real-world cognitive performance and brain longevity.
IQ Isn't Everything, Don't Take It Too Harsh
No doubts! IQ tests are interesting and can encourage anyone to take them. But don't let a score define you. Scoring 170 doesn't mean you have nothing left to learn. Scoring 90 doesn't mean you know less or are less capable than others.
A high IQ does not always guarantee success, nor does a lower one define failure. Focus on your strengths.
Read that book, learn that science, play that game, and complete that masterpiece. There's a whole world for you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the average IQ?
Most of the IQ tests consider 100 as the average IQ score.
Q2. Is 140 IQ a genius?
In the traditional IQ system, a score of 140 or higher is considered indicative of genius potential. But it's no longer part of modern IQ evaluation.
Q3. Is it possible to increase IQ?
Some medical supplements claim to enhance cognitive function and brain health. However, there's still limited information on the subject.
Q4. How do I test my IQ?
There are multiple online tests available to assess your IQ. The most popular approach includes the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).
Q5. Can IQ scores vary?
Yes, IQ scores may vary depending on the test and its consideration. Moreover, a few studies suggest that the average IQ score depends on certain factors like age, demographics, and gender.
Q6. Are online IQ tests accurate?
Free online quizzes can be fun, but are rarely validated. Reliable results come from professionally administered tests like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or Stanford-Binet.
Q7. Can your IQ change over time?
IQ is relatively stable from adolescence onward, but "stable" isn't the same as "fixed." Scores can shift modestly with education, environment, health, sleep, and even how you feel on test day. Individual results can also vary by several points from one test to another.
References:
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Potashkin JA, Vidyadhara DJ, Hunsberger HC. The Impact of Lifestyle on Brain Health. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2025 Dec 29:15598276251411888. doi:10.1177/15598276251411888. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12753350/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep. Updated 2024. Available from: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep
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Raichle ME, Gusnard DA. Appraising the brain’s energy budget. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99(16):10237-10239. doi:10.1073/pnas.172399499. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC124895/
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Fisher J. Tips to leverage neuroplasticity to maintain cognitive fitness as you age. Harvard Health Publishing. Published April 2, 2025. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/tips-to-leverage-neuroplasticity-to-maintain-cognitive-fitness-as-you-age
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Echouffo-Tcheugui JB, Conner SC, Himali JJ, et al. Circulating cortisol and cognitive and structural brain measures: The Framingham Heart Study. Neurology. 2018;91(21):e1961-e1970. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000006549. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6260201/
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns or conditions.
