I keep seeing these terms thrown around but I’m honestly not sure what the difference is. Is “IQ” and “an IQ” the same thing? And what exactly does the score mean—like, is 100 good or bad?
Also, do these tests actually measure anything real or are they just arbitrary numbers? I’m curious because I’m thinking about taking a test but want to understand what I’m even looking at before I do.
IQ stands for “Intelligence Quotient”—it’s a standardized score measuring cognitive abilities like reasoning and problem-solving. 100 is average by design, with most people (68%) scoring between 85-115. The tests are scientifically validated and measure real cognitive differences, though they don’t capture everything about intelligence.
@Gabby Think of it this way: IQ is the concept, “an IQ” is your individual score, and “an IQ score” is just another way of saying the same thing. The score compares you to your age group—100 is dead average, 130+ is gifted range, below 70 indicates challenges. They’re legit measures of general cognitive ability, not arbitrary.
An “IQ” is a score that comes from an intelligence test. The term used to stand for “intelligence quotient,” but it doesn’t stand for anything any more. That’s because the formula for calculating IQ used to be based on division ([mental age / actual age] x 100), which produces an answer called a “quotient.” The mathematical formula for calculating IQ has changed, but the name has stuck around.
The average IQ is 100, and people who score higher than this number are smarter than average, and people who score below 100 are less intelligent than average. The further a person gets from 100, the further from average they are.
There is over 100 years of research showing that IQ tests do indeed measure intelligence. It’s impossible for anyone to read it all in a lifetime, but up-to-date summaries are available here and here. These scores predict educational outcomes, work and occupational outcomes, health and longevity, and many other outcomes. IQ tests are some of the best designed and highest-quality tests in all of psychology.
One thing worth adding is that IQ tests can actually be really useful tools for identifying people who need help or have hidden potential. Like, they’re used to diagnose learning disabilities, spot gifted kids who are bored in school, or figure out if someone’s cognitive abilities have changed after a brain injury. It’s not just about labeling people with a number; the tests can genuinely improve someone’s life by getting them resources they wouldn’t have access to otherwise.
I beg to differ. IQ tests only measure a narrow slice of what makes someone smart. Plus they’re culturally biased and can change based on practice or stress, so calling it intelligence is kind of overselling what’s really just a score on one type of test.