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IQ is a numerical value based on standardized tests to determine inherent intelligence. Normal IQ is between 70-130, with gifted at 115-120 and genius at 130-140. Scores below 70 indicate mental retardation.
An intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a numerical value assigned to an individual based on their performance on one or more standardized tests designed to determine or assess a person’s inherent or genetic intelligence. The range for an IQ starts at zero and, in theory, has no upper limit, although the highest IQ scores ever recorded are around 200. Statistics show that approximately 95% of the population has IQ scores in the 70s and 130, making a “normal IQ” 100.
While there are an infinite number of tests that claim to test a person’s IQ, there are some that are widely used and recognized. The Stanford-Binet and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and Intelligence Scale for Children are just a few reliable tests used to determine if someone has a normal IQ. Studies indicate that although test scores may vary slightly from test to test, scores tend to remain relatively constant regardless of which test is taken.
In terms of what is considered a normal IQ, scientists have determined that 95% of all test takers score within two standard deviations of the mean. For the purposes of an IQ test, one standard deviation is 15 points. The median score is set at 100, which means that the vast majority of all test takers score within 30 points on either side of the median – or between 70 and 130. Although 100 is the median, most Experts consider a “normal IQ” to be anything within a deviation or two of the median or in the range of 70 to 130.
When a candidate’s IQ exceeds the normal IQ range, they are usually considered “gifted” or having a “genius” IQ. Opinions differ as to where “normal” ends and “gifted” and “genius” begin. The general consensus, however, puts candidates who score 115 to 120 in the “gifted” category and those who score 130 to 140 in the “genius” category.
Similarly, candidates who score below 70 are also considered to be outside the normal IQ range. An IQ score below 70 is considered a sign of mental retardation, or intellectual disability, by most experts. Many experts consider a score between 70 and 80 as a lower level, or limit, of intellectual functioning. Scores below 70 indicate mild to severe mental retardation or an inability to function at a normal intellectual level.
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