What IQ Measurements Indicate — and What They Don’t

 What’s a high IQ?

 What does an IQ score indicate?
 What it’s not
 Can you improve IQ?
 Summary
IQ stands for intelligence quotient. IQ tests are tools to measure intellectual abilities and potential.
They’re designed to reflect a wide range of cognitive skills, such as reasoning, logic, and problem-
solving. It’s a test of intelligence, something you’re largely born with. It’s not a test of knowledge,
which represents what you learn through education or life experience. To know your IQ, you take
a standardized test in the presence of a trained professional. IQ tests you find online might be
entertaining, but the results aren’t valid. It’s also important to understand that your IQ score
doesn’t exist in isolation. The number actually represents how your results compare to those of
other people your age.
A score of 116 or more is considered above average. A score of 130 or higher signals a high IQ.
Membership in Mensa, the High IQ society, includes people who score in the top 2 percent, which
is usually 132 or higher. Keep reading as we explore more about high IQ, what it means, and what
it doesn’t mean.

What is a high IQ score?

IQ tests have gone through significant changes through the decades to correct for racial, gender,
and social biases, as well as cultural norms. Today, there are several versions in use. They may
have different methods of scoring, but they all use 100 as the average.
IQ scores follow a bell curve. The very peak of the bell represents the average score of 100. Lower
scores are represented on one slope of the bell while higher scores are represented on the other.
The IQ scores of most people are represented in the middle of the bell, between 85 and 115.
Overall, about 98 percent of people have a score below 130. If you’re among the 2 percent with a
higher score, you’re an outlier. Basically, a high IQ means your score is higher than that of most
people in your peer group.

What’s the highest possible IQ?

Theoretically, there’s no upper limit to an IQ score.
Who has the honor of the highest score isn’t entirely clear. Though there are many claims of super-
high IQs, documentation is hard to come by. The fact that IQ tests have changed quite a bit over
the years makes it difficult to compare results from different eras.
Mathematician Terence Tao is said to have an IQ of 220 or 230. Tao started high school in the
1980s at age 7, earned a bachelor’s degree at age 16, and a doctorate at 21. In 2017, India
Times reported that an 11-year-old girl living in the United Kingdom achieved a score of 162 on
a Mensa IQ test. The publication also noted that Albert Einstein and Steven Hawking are both
“thought” to have an IQ of 160.

How IQ is measured and what the score indicates

Standardized IQ tests are given and scored by trained administrators. The score represents how
you compare to your peer group in:
 language
 reasoning abilities
 processing speed
 visual-spatial processing
 memory
 math
If you have a high IQ score, it means your reasoning and problem-solving abilities are better than
average and may signal intellectual potential. An IQ of 70 or below may indicate limited
intellectual functioning. However, IQ alone doesn’t tell the whole story. Testing of social,
practical, and conceptual skills is needed to make that kind of determination.

What IQ doesn’t indicate

There’s a lot of debate on the subject of intelligence and whether it can actually be measured.
There’s also no shortage of debate on the accuracy of scoring. A 2010 study validated the average
scores in 108 countries, finding countries in Africa to have consistently lower scores. That same
year, other researchers took great issue with that study, calling the methods used “questionable”
and the results “untrustworthy.”
The decades-long controversy over IQs won’t end anytime soon. When it comes right down to it,
don’t read into this single number as the definitive measure of your intelligence.
IQ scores can be affected by factors such as:
 nutrition
  health conditions
 access to education
 culture and environment
Whatever your IQ, it can’t accurately predict how your life will turn out. You can have a high IQ
and attain little success in life, or you can have an IQ on the lower side and do very well.
There are many paths to success and we don’t all define success the same way. Life is more
complicated than that, involving many variables. Life experience and curiosity about the world
matter. So do character, opportunity, and ambition, not to mention a little luck.

Improving IQ scores
The brain is a complex organ — we may never fully comprehend how intelligence, ability to learn,
and knowledge overlap. You can have a high IQ, but lack education and general knowledge. You
can earn a degree yet score a lower IQ. IQ tests measure your ability to reason, grasp ideas, and
solve problems. Intelligence, in that respect, may be a matter of inheritance and potential.
For the most part, IQ is generally considered stable throughout life. Your IQ score is still a
measure of how you compare to others in your peer group. IQ scores will remain fairly stable if
everyone in a group begins to perform better on testing. One small 2011 study Trusted
Source suggests that intellectual capacity can increase or decrease during teen years. There’s some
evidence Trusted Source that you might be able to increase your IQ score by a few points. You
can probably improve focus, memory, or some other skill. You might even become a better test
taker.
You can take the same test multiple times and end up with slight variations in score. For example,
if you were sick or fatigued the first time around, you might do a little better in a second test.
All of this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more intelligent now than you were before.
There’s no proof that cognitive training raises overall intelligence. Though, you can — and should
— continue to learn throughout your life. The keys to learning tend to involve curiosity and being
receptive to new information. With those qualities, you can enhance your ability to:
 concentrate
 remember details
 empathize
 grasp new concepts
 enrich your imagination
 research
  add to your knowledge base
Reading, both fiction and nonfiction, is one way to boost your abilities in these areas. Mental
stimulation can help slow or prevent cognitive decline as you age. In addition to reading, activities
such as puzzles, playing music, and group discussions can be useful.

Takeaway
If you have a high IQ score, your intelligence and potential for intelligence is above that of your
peers. This could mean you’ll fare well when faced with unusual or complex problems. A high IQ
might give you a leg up in certain situations, like getting the job you want.
A lower IQ score doesn’t mean you’re not intelligent or incapable of learning. A low score
shouldn’t prevent you from working toward your goals. There’s no telling what you can achieve
— regardless of IQ numbers.
Whatever the number, IQ scores are still highly controversial. It’s just one of many indicators and
doesn’t need to define who you are.

What Is the Average IQ?

 Average IQ
 How it’s measured
 Controversies
 Takeaway

Overview
“IQ” stands for “intelligence quotient.” A person’s IQ is a score derived from standardized tests
that were designed to measure human intelligence and intellectual potential. IQ tests include a
variety of questions that measure reasoning and problem-solving skills. IQ scores are often used
for placement in educational or school programs or to evaluate someone for mental disabilities.
IQ tests are also sometimes used as part of a job application.
Research has discovered that average IQ differs around the globe. The reason for this disparity
has been of great interest to scientists for quite some time. It’s also been a major source of
controversy. The debate centers on whether these differences in IQ are caused by genetics,
environmental factors, or both. This is why understanding what average IQ means, and doesn’t
mean, is incredibly important.

What is the average IQ globally?

IQ tests are made to have an average score of 100. Psychologists revise the test every few years
in order to maintain 100 as the average. Most people (about 68 percent) have an IQ between 85
and 115. Only a small fraction of people have a very low IQ (below 70) or a very high IQ (above
130). The average IQ in the United States is 98.
Over the years several researchers, including Lynn and Vanhanen (2002), Rinderman (2007),
and Lynn and Meisenberg (2010), tried to figure out how each country ranks in terms of IQ.
According to the results of Lynn and Meisenberg’s research, for example, out of 108 countries
and provinces, the United States ranks 24th in IQ globally (tied with Australia, Czech Republic,
Denmark, France, Latvia, and Spain) with an average IQ of 98. The top 10 countries by average
IQ are:
1. Hong Kong (108)
2. Singapore (108)
3. South Korea (106)
4. China (105)
5. Japan (105)
6. Taiwan (105)
7. Iceland (101)
8. Macau (101)
9. Switzerland (101)
10. Austria (as well as Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, UK) (100)
According to the same study, the bottom 10 countries by average IQ are:
93. Kenya (as well as Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania) (72)
94. Zimbabwe (72)
95. Botswana (71)
96. Ghana (71)
97. Zambia (71)
98. Nigeria (69)
99. Swaziland (68)
100. Lesotho (67)
101. Mozambique (64)
102. Malawi (60)
The studies used to support these data, however, are controversial. This is in part because they
may have considered only specific population groups or a small sample size per country.
How is IQ measured?
Modern IQ testing in the United States comes from the work of psychologist Henry Herbert
Goddard. Goddard helped translate an intelligence test developed by French psychologist Alfred
Binet to English.
This test was used by Binet to evaluate basic intellectual functions in school children and to assist
with mental health diagnoses. IQ tests have evolved considerably since then. Today, there are
more than a dozen different tests used to measure intelligence.
In general, an IQ test is used to evaluate a person’s reasoning and problem-solving skills. Some
of the most widely used IQ tests include:
 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)
 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults (WAIS)
 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
 Differential Ability Scales (DAS)
 Peabody Individual Achievement Test
The tests are given by licensed psychologists. They are usually composed of several parts. The
Wechsler Intelligence Scale, for example, contains 15 subtests. Each subtest measures a different
aspect of IQ, such as math, language, reasoning, memory, and information-processing speed. The
results are then combined into one score called the IQ. The scores are also adjusted by age.

Rising IQs
Since the early 1900s, raw scores on IQ tests have largely increased in most parts of the world.
This phenomenon is sometimes called the “Flynn effect” after the scientist who discovered it,
James Flynn. In the 1980s, Flynn noticed that U.S. military personnel who took IQ tests in the
1980s did much better than those who took the same test in the 1950s. After doing more research,
Flynn discovered that IQ scores had been rising all over the world by about three points or more
per decade.
Then again, we haven’t necessarily gotten smarter or more evolved than our ancestors.
Scientists believe this increase in IQ is because we’ve improved our abilities to think logically,
solve problems, and consider hypothetical situations. It’s also likely due to an increase in formal
education, vaccinations, and better nutrition.

Why the test is controversial

Average IQ has been a controversial subject ever since intelligence tests were invented.
Some people erroneously believe that people of certain races, sexes, or backgrounds have lower
IQs due to their genes and that they are therefore inferior. This information has been used to fuel
racist agendas and eugenics movements around the globe.
While a number of individual genes have been reported to be associated with IQ, none have
been shown to have a strong effect. The American Psychological Association also hasn’t found
evidence to support genetic explanations for IQ score differences between different races.
Studies also haven’t been able to find a difference in average IQ scores between men and women
Trusted Source.
It’s also important to remember that the concept of IQ and IQ tests were developed by western
Europeans according to their own cultural standards. It’s still unclear whether IQ can accurately
measure intelligence in people with completely different social structures, cultures, beliefs, and
ways of thinking. On top of this, it’s clear that environmental factors play a huge role in average
IQ. Factors that have been positively associated with higher IQ include:
 good nutrition
 regular schooling of good quality
 laws requiring fortification of certain food products
 laws establishing safe levels of pollutants, like lead
 musical training in childhood
 higher socioeconomic status
 lower incidence of infectious diseases
A recent studyTrusted Source found that infectious disease may be the only really important
predictor of average IQ. Researchers believe that this is because if a child becomes ill, the body
uses its energy to fight off the infection rather than using it for brain development.
One study found that cognitive abilities and school performance were impaired in people
with malaria (an infectious disease spread by mosquitos) compared to healthy controls.
A study done in the United States found a strong correlation between states with a higher
incidence of infectious diseases and lower IQ.

IQ isn’t the only way to measure intelligence

The average IQ is widely used to measure human intelligence and is a useful tool. However, it
comes with many caveats. Average IQ varies by country, and some people have manipulated this
information to justify racist motives.
 However, environmental factors, like access to education and proper nutrition as well as the
incidence of infectious diseases, have been shown to play a bigger part in explaining the difference
in IQ from country to country. An IQ score probably doesn’t tell the whole story. While IQ scores
can give us important insights into intelligence, it may fail to measure broader definitions of
intellect, like creativity, curiosity, and social intelligence.
So, don’t worry if you’re not considered a genius by your IQ test results — the vast majority of
people aren’t. There are many other factors that determine your success.

Dyscalculia: Know the Signs

 Symptoms
 Causes
 Diagnosis
 Treatment
 Outlook
 Takeaway

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Dyscalculia is a diagnosis used to describe learning difficulties related to math concepts.

It’s sometimes called “numbers dyslexia,” which is a bit misleading. Dyslexia refers to difficulty
reading and writing, while dyscalculia is specifically related to mathematics. At least one study
Trusted Source estimates that 3 to 7 percent of adults and children have dyscalculia, based on data
collected from German primary school-aged students.
Dyscalculia goes beyond having a hard time understanding math. It’s bigger than making mistakes
when you add numbers or reversing digits when you write something down. If you have
dyscalculia, it’s difficult to understand the wider concepts that govern the rules of math, like
whether one amount is greater than another or how algebra works. This article will cover the
dyscalculia diagnosis process, as well as symptoms, causes, and treatment.

How to spot dyscalculia

Dyscalculia symptoms might look different depending on age and developmental stage. Common
symptoms of dyscalculia include:
 difficulty understanding or remembering mathematical concepts such as multiplication,
division, fractions, carrying, and borrowing
 difficulty reconciling verbal or written cues (such as the word “two”) and their math
symbols and signifiers (the number 2)
 trouble explaining math processes or showing work when asked to complete a
mathematical task
 difficulty describing the sequence of events or remembering the steps in a math process

What causes dyscalculia?

We need more research to understand what causes dyscalculia, but there are some prevalent
theories about why it happens. Some researchers believe that dyscalculia is the result of a lack
of concrete early instruction in mathematics. Children who are taught that math concepts are
simply a series of conceptual rules to follow, instead of being instructed in the hands-on reasoning
behind those rules, may not develop the neural pathways they need to understand more
complicated mathematical frameworks.
Under this strain of logic, a child who has never been taught to count using an abacus, or never
shown multiplication using items that increase in tangible amounts, might be more likely to
develop dyscalculia. Dyscalculia may occur by itself, or it may occur alongside
other developmental delays and neurological conditions.
Children and adults may be more likely to receive a diagnosis of dyscalculia if they have:
 dyslexia
 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
 depression
 anxiety
Dyscalculia may also have a genetic component. Mathematical aptitude tends to run in families,
as do learning disabilities. It’s hard to tell how much of aptitude is hereditary and how much is
the result of your family culture.
For example, if you grew up with a mother who regularly said that she was just “useless” at math
and as a result, couldn’t help you to learn math, chances are that you will struggle with math, too.
More research is needed to understand how genetic factors play into learning disabilities.

How is dyscalculia diagnosed?

Dyscalculia is diagnosed in several steps. First, your doctor will take information about the
medical and family history. These questions are meant to rule out other possible diagnoses and to
make sure that there’s not a pressing physical condition that needs to be addressed. For the next
step, adults may be referred to a psychologist and children may be referred to a team of learning
specialists including a psychologist and a special education expert. They’ll administer further
testing to figure out if a diagnosis of dyscalculia makes sense.

How is dyscalculia treated?

Dyscalculia can be managed with treatment strategies. If left untreated, dyscalculia in adults can
result in difficulties at work and trouble managing finances. Fortunately, there are strategies
available for children and adults.

For children
A special education specialist may suggest treatment options for your child to use in school and
at home. These may include:
 repeated practice of basic math concepts, such as counting and addition
 segmenting subject material into smaller units to make it easier to digest information
 use of small groups of other children for math instruction
 repeated review of basic math concepts in hands-on, tangible demonstrations
A 2012 review Trusted Source of the literature on treating dyscalculia observed that the success
rates of the strategies recommended for treating dyscalculia aren’t well documented. The best
treatment plan will take into account your child’s individual talents, needs, and interests.

For adults
Dyscalculia treatment for adults can be more challenging if you’re not in an academic setting with
special education resources available.
Your healthcare professional may also be able to help you with exercises and education material
to help you strengthen the neural pathways used for mathematics. Training or private tutoring can
help treat adult dyscalculia, as well as adult dyslexia.

What’s the outlook for people with dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is treatable, and early diagnosis can make a big difference in how the person who has
it experiences mathematics learning. It may be more challenging for people with dyscalculia to
learn math concepts, but it’s by no means impossible.
Data that shows the long-term outlook for people with dyscalculia is limited. Advocacy groups
and educators claim that some people with this condition go on to excel at math and pursue
mathematic careers.

The takeaway
Dyscalculia refers to a learning disability that makes learning math concepts difficult. People who
have dyscalculia may have to take a different approach to learn math concepts, going more slowly
or reviewing more often as they encounter new material.
Dyscalculia isn’t something that people grow out of, but it’s treatable. If you believe that you or
your child has dyscalculia, speak to your doctor about your concerns.