Average IQ Score

'Intelligence quotient' or IQ informs you about a person's intelligence. With the help of specially designed legitimate IQ tests, it is possible to measure a person's intelligence. By definition, the average IQ is 100. IQ score above 100 is considered as above average IQ score while the score below 100 is considered as a below average score. An IQ score much below 50 or above 150 is usually not noticed. Studies show that the IQ of half of the population is between 90 and 110, while 25% have higher IQ's and 25% have lower IQ's.

IQ Score Interpretation

Interpretation of IQ score is helpful in measuring certain aspects of intelligence. IQ reflects the level of performance of a person on a set of tasks. But it cannot be the 100% correct measure of intelligence. It should be considered just as a guideline. You cannot judge the correct value of a person from his IQ. The younger the child is, the IQ score is less reliable. You may compare the IQ of a person with average IQ scores of other persons from the same category. IQ is not closely linked with some important qualities of the person, for instance, career achievement and happiness. Along with IQ score, emotional intelligence should also be taken into consideration to judge a person. An IQ score scale is the same for everyone, regardless of age. For example, average IQ for a 13 year old is also 100.

IQ Score Classification

• Under 70 - Extreme low - 2.2% population - condition of limited mental ability which produces difficulty in adapting to the demands of life.
• 70-79 - Borderline - 6.7% population
• 80-89 - Low average - 16.1% population
• 90-109 - Average -50% population
• 110-119 - High average - 16.1% population
• 120-129 - Superior - 6.7%
• 130+ - Very superior - 2.2% population

Normal Distribution of IQ Scores

• 50% of IQ scores fall between 90 and 110
• 70% of scores fall between 85 and 115
• 95% of scores fall between 70 and 130
• 99.5% of scores fall between 60 and 140

IQ and Mental Retardation

Severity of mental retardation can be divided into 4 levels:

• 50-70 - Mild mental retardation (85%)
• 35-50 - Moderate mental retardation (10%)
• 20-35 - Severe mental retardation (4%)
• IQ<20 - Profound mental retardation (1%)

High IQ and Genius IQ

One who has an IQ around 140 to 145 is considered as genius.

• 115-124 - Above average (e.g. - university students)
• 125-134 - Gifted (e.g. - post-graduate students)
• 135-144 - Highly gifted (e.g. - intellectuals)
• 145-154 - Genius (e.g. - professors)
• 155-164 - Genius (e.g. - Nobel prize winners)
• 165-179 - High genius
• 180-200 - Highest genius
• IQ>200 - Unmeasurable genius

It has been observed that the average IQ score of occupational groups is almost the same.

• 140 - Top Civil Servants; Professors and Research Scientists.
• 130 - Physicians, Surgeons, Lawyers, Engineers
• 120 - School Teachers, Pharmacists, Accountants, Nurses, Stenographers, Managers.
• 110 - Foremen, Clerks, Telephone Operators, Salesmen, Policemen, Electricians.
• 100 plus - Machine Operators, Shopkeepers, Butchers, Welders, Sheet Metal Workers.
• Below 100 - Warehouse-men, Carpenters, Cooks, Bakers, Small Farmers, Truck and Van Drivers.
• 90 - Laborers, Gardeners, Miners, Factory Packers and Sorters.

IQ can also be expressed in percentiles which is quite different from the percentage scores. Percentage is concerned with the number of items, correctly answered by a child, compared to the total number of items. But percentile means the number of other test takers score that an individual's score equals or exceeds.

Do you know that Einstein is considered the 'only' man to have an IQ of about 160? Mensa is a society for people with higher IQ, people in the top 2% (1 in 50). Actually, intelligence is 'the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations'. Intelligence does not mean being knowledgeable. IQ score is just a rough measure of academic intelligence. Finding IQ not as high as hoped, should not be considered as an alarming situation. No one should be discouraged on this basis. There are many elements besides IQ which contribute to success and happiness.