We’ve all taken at least one IQ test in our lifetime, but have we ever stopped and think how are IQ test scores actually calculated? Many people find it difficult to answer this question, and rightfully so. IQ tests are designed to test our intelligence. They are designed to force us to think more than we usually do. They are designed to make us think “outside the box” because IQ tests are a test of our intelligence, the very thing that separates us from the rest of the species on our planet.
But have you ever wondered what it actually takes to be a genius? What score is designed for that? What is a good score? What is a bad score? What is the average score and what is the average IQ of people? How are IQ test scores calculated? There are many questions that surround the nature of IQ tests, and we are going to try and answer some of them.
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• IQ Tests Are Standardized
Every IQ test is designed so that each member of our population has the same chance of answering as everyone else. The definition of standardization means that the test is meant to be administrated to a representative sample of our population. This means that the age and sex of individuals play a vital role in the test itself, and each member takes the test under the same conditions as all participants.
• What Are the General Numbers Behind Scores?
A lot of people have taken IQ tests in their lifetime, but according to this website, the average IQ test score is 100. What’s more interesting is that only 0.2% of people taking an IQ test will score more than 145, indicating a very high IQ, and less than 55, indicating very low IQ. About 70% of the total world population has an IQ score somewhere between plus 15 or minus 15 of the average score, which is 100. That means that about 70% of the population will score eighter 85 or 115 on most IQ tests.
But if we take a closer look at IQ test scores, we can determine the grades for each score. IQ tests score from 1 up to 180 and up. These grades are according to mensa scoring system and they are accurate in determining the level of intelligence of an individual who’s taking the test.
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- An IQ test score between 1 and 70 means that the person is mentally disabled
- An IQ test score between 71 and 84 means that the person is on the borderline of mental disability
- An IQ test score between 85 and 114 shows that the person is of average intelligence
- An IQ test score between 115 and 129 means that the person is of above average intelligence
- An IQ test score between 130 and 144 shows us that the person is moderately gifted
- An IQ test score between 145 and 159 means that the person is highly gifted
- An IQ test score between 160 and 179 means that the person is exceptionally gifted
- And an IQ test score of 180 and above means that the person is profoundly gifted, or in other words, a genius.
