I am mostly curious if there are noticeable differences between IQ ranges. Are there really massive gaps in performance between a person with an IQ of 120 and another with 140, even if they’re both in the gifted category?
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The difference is the ceiling they hit. A 120 IQ score is highly capable of applying complex knowledge (like a surgeon). A 140 is capable of creating entirely new complex knowledge (like a theoretical physicist). It’s a difference in potential depth.
As someone who administers these tests, I think about IQ score ranges as showing how someone performs compared to their peer group. It’s about where someone falls relative to others their age. Someone in the average range is performing similarly to most people. Someone below average might struggle more in traditional academic or professional settings. Someone above average might find those settings easier.But it’s just one piece of a comprehensive psychological battery. The score helps me understand their cognitive profile, but it’s not the sole definition of who they are.
@noah_gowie342 Yes, it’s substantial. 120 to 140 is a 1.3 SD gap - same as 100 to 120. In practice, the 140 person will grasp complex abstractions faster and see patterns the 120 person might miss. 120 is top 9% (1 in 11), 140 is top 0.4% (1 in 250). Both are gifted but the rarity and capability difference is real.