For many people, understanding the concept of intelligence remains a mystery. Are mental capabilities measured by the number of diplomas, life experiences, or reasoning ability? What determines whether a person is intelligent or not?
Evaluating someone's intelligence level depends on a range of factors. The context you find yourself in, the type of expectations, and the extent of your knowledge form the basis upon which we judge another person's intelligence.
Even though the concept might seem highly subjective, society has long accepted a universal measure to gauge people's intelligence: the intelligence quotient, or IQ.
The IQ test is widely known and can help you not only discover your intelligence level but also identify which aspects of it you should work on to improve it. How about learning a bit more about these tests?
What is Intelligence?
Defining intelligence is challenging. Each scholar offers a different perspective that considers a multitude of elements. While many theorists perceive intelligence as a singular and general concept, others assert that there are different types of intelligence.
To help you understand the IQ Test, the Encyclopedia Britannica provides a concept of human intelligence that serves as a good starting point:
Human intelligence is a mental quality that consists of the ability to learn from experience, adapt to new situations, understand and handle abstract concepts, and use knowledge to manipulate one's environment.
Thus, the notion that intelligence is determined by one's extensive studies, degrees, and specializations falls apart, even though their greater expertise in a particular field of knowledge cannot be denied.
This is a general concept of intelligence, but it leaves room for intelligence variables. An individual might possess adaptability through linguistic or emotional intelligence, even if they lack logistical intelligence, for example.
IQ: Understanding the Intelligence Quotient Concept
Considering the idea that there are different types of intelligence, measuring someone's level seems impossible, doesn't it? This is where the IQ, or intelligence quotient, comes into play.
The IQ is a measure of intelligence level that incorporates a range of tests and formulas to arrive at a global value of individuals' intellectual capacity. There are numerous tests and much debate regarding the origin of IQ measurement.
The term IQ was introduced in 1912 by William Stern, but the measurements of intelligence quotient actually began much earlier with Alfred Binet and Theodor Simon's tests. The Binet-Simon IQ test focused on verbal skills, but it only applied to children up to 16 years old. The first IQ test focused on adults emerged in 1939 with David Wechsler.
There likely won't ever be a consensus on the best IQ test since each test employs different scoring and measurement methods for intelligence.
The only consensus that seems to exist is that the more variables considered, the more accurate the results will be, enhancing your ability to identify which skills need development to improve your intelligence quotient.
How Does the IQ Test Work?
There are various tables for division, calculation, and classification used to determine the result of an intelligence quotient test. As a general basis, these tests consist of around 30 multiple-choice questions where you fill in the gap with images or numbers to complete the sequence.
To arrive at the answer, the person being tested must utilize their language interpretation, logic, and deduction skills to reach the correct outcome.
The most commonly used model for calculating the final test result is the one developed by Wechsler for adults. In this model, the average intelligence score is set at 100, with a scoring variation of 15 points above or below to determine the group.
- IQ above 130: Gifted;
- 120 - 129: Superior intelligence;
- 110 - 119: Above-average intelligence;
- 90 - 109: Average intelligence;
- 80 - 89: Mild dullness;
- 66 - 79: Borderline;
- 51 - 65: Mild mental retardation;
- 36 - 50: Moderate mental retardation;
- 20 - 35: Severe mental retardation;
- IQ below 20: Profound mental retardation.
Take your IQ test right now and discover your intelligence level!
How Can I Improve My IQ Test Results?
As we've mentioned, there are various types of intelligence, and tests, in general, rely on logical reasoning and deduction abilities. This means that working on your brain to improve results, i.e., increasing your intelligence, is possible.
The brain is like any other muscle. Just like you exercise your triceps in the gym, exercising your brain and enhancing its capacity is always possible. Solutions are plentiful, ranging from the simple, like reading regularly, to the more complex, such as courses designed to stimulate specific activities.
There are many books that teach techniques to improve memory, concentration, and the ability to absorb more information in less time. If your goal is to continuously enhance your cognitive capacity, this might be the answer.
Beyond solutions for concentration and memory, you can also seek out courses focused on Emotional Intelligence, Relational Intelligence, and other types. These courses not only help you achieve higher results in IQ tests but also prepare your brain to handle stress and pressure more effectively in your daily life.