Among the methods that measure intelligence are IQ tests, which assess a variety of cognitive abilities.
Intelligence, being the ability to learn, understand and reason, is a quality highly respected by society in general, as it helps us make better decisions that can improve our lives.
But, How is intelligence measured? There are different methods, one of them being the IQ test, which indicates how far above or below a group of people an individual is in terms of mental capacity.
IQ was originally calculated by taking the relationship between mental age and chronological (physical) age and multiplying it by 100. Thus, if a 10-year-old had a mental age of 12 (that is, performed at the level of average 12-year-old), the child was assigned an IQ of 10/12 × 100, or 120.
However, these tests are currently designed to assess a variety of cognitive abilities, as well as crystallized and fluid intelligence. Crystallized intelligence refers to the knowledge and skills that you have acquired throughout your life, while fluid intelligence is the ability that a person has to reason, solve problems and make sense of abstract information.
What tests measure intelligence
Tests that try to measure your intelligence can be verbal or non-verbal, and focus on abstract reasoning or problem solving skills, regardless of reading and writing skills.
Some of the more common IQ tests in use today include:
- Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults and Children.
- The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales.
- The Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.
- The cognitive evaluation system.
- Differential capacity scales.
How intelligence is categorized
IQ tests are designed to have an average score of 100, with this number being the average intelligence score. According HealthlineAccording to several studies, most people (about 68%) have an IQ between 85 and 115.
The home test to know if your child is gifted
Those who have a score greater than 130 on the IQ tests are considered gifted.
| Category | IQ score |
|---|---|
| Gifted or highly gifted | 130 or more |
| Gifted | 121-130 |
| Intelligence above average | 111-120 |
| Average intelligence | 90-110 |
| Intelligence below average | 80-89 |
| Intelligence below average | 79-70 the least |
It is important to remember that IQ tests are not the only measure of intelligence. They focus on certain areas of our abilities, and while they point out how smart a person can be academically, there are areas in life where someone can be better than others. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
