I’ve heard mixed opinions about whether you can actually study for an IQ test or if your score is just fixed. Some people say practicing similar questions can help you do better, while others claim IQ tests measure innate ability that can’t be improved through studying.
Is it possible to raise your IQ score by practicing test questions or learning strategies? If so, does that mean the test isn’t really measuring intelligence anymore? And what’s the difference between legitimate preparation versus just memorizing specific question types?
You can’t really “study” for an IQ test in the traditional sense because it’s measuring reasoning ability, not learned knowledge. However, familiarity with test format and question types does help a bit, maybe 5-10 points on your first real test versus going in completely blind. After that, the gains plateau quickly. Practicing the exact same test multiple times just means you’re memorizing answers, not actually getting smarter. The tests are designed to measure novel problem-solving, so once you understand what’s being asked, additional practice doesn’t help much. Your best “preparation” is being well-rested, calm, and focused on test day.
Practice can help you perform closer to your true ability by reducing test anxiety and teaching you how to approach different question types efficiently, but it won’t fundamentally raise your cognitive ceiling. Think of it like this: if your true ability is 120, anxiety and unfamiliarity might make you score 110 on your first attempt. Practice can get you back to 120, but not to 130. The exception is if you’ve never been exposed to abstract reasoning tasks before, then initial practice can show bigger gains. Bottom line: you can optimize your performance, but you can’t study your way to genius.