IQ Scores And What They Mean

The intelligence quotient score has been around since before the First World War, and its concept came about mainly through the work of psychologists who wished to measure intelligence. In order to get to the score in the first place, a special exam called an IQ test would have to be administered to the subjects, where the questions would spread across many categories such as spatial intelligence, mathematics, grammar, creativity etc.

With these results, a basic system to classify people into various intelligence categories was deduced, and this system is commonly known as the Stanford-Binet system.

The following scores illustrate the how IQ scores can place people in particular categories:

IQ Score And Corresponding Intelligence Level

Under 70: Very mentally retarded
71-80: Mentally retarded
81-90: Slightly slow to grasp change
91-110: Normal level of intellect
111-120: High Intelligence
121 - 150: Very high intelligence
150+ : Exceptional intelligence
170+: Genius

In other words, the higher the number in the score, the greater the IQ and intelligence level. These classifications are still more or less valid today, that is, somebody with an IQ of 150, will still be thought of as more intelligent, than someone with an IQ of 110.

There are many criticisms of this type of system however, since an IQ test does not measure all aspects of intelligence. Examples of this include the ability to minimise emotional and belief bias on judgements, the ability to think in the present as opposed to the past or the ability to use intuition to solve a problem. These are all valid aspects of intelligence which an IQ test overlooks, and therefore it cannot act as a true representation and measure of intelligence or genius in itself.