What is IQ?

I.Q. (intelligence quotient) in general, is an assessment of your ability to think and reason. IQ score is a standardized way of comparing this ability with the majority of people the same age as you are. A score of 100 means that compared to these people in your general age group that you have basically an average intelligence. Most psychologists would say those scoring in a range of 95 to 105 are of a normal intelligence or have an average IQ. Actual IQ score may vary plus or minus five points since it is very difficult to get an IQ score with complete accuracy. Keep in mind, there are many outside factors that may have a negative impact on your score. For instance, if you are not feeling well at the time of taking the test. Or perhaps you are distracted by something on that particular day. These things may affect your score. Additionally, IQ is not the be all end all of a person's abilities in life. IQ score fails to measure things such as manual dexterity (obviously), musical talent, and a slew of other abilities that may lead one to many different successes in life. However, your score on an IQ test will give you a pretty accurate indication of the ability you possess to think, reason and solve problems which can often be critical in many phases of your life.

What do IQ Tests measure?

Our instant free IQ Test is designed to test a number of areas of human intelligence as all IQ Tests are. The five areas tested by our IQ Test are as follows:

Verbal Comprehension

Verbal comprehension refers to an individual's ability to understand, analyze, and interpret information presented in written or spoken language. It is a crucial aspect of human intelligence and is often tested in intelligence quotient tests, which are designed to measure various cognitive abilities.

In IQ tests, verbal comprehension is typically assessed through several subtests that cover a range of linguistic skills. Some common subtests include:

Vocabulary: Participants are asked to define words or choose the correct meaning of a word from a list of options. This subtest evaluates the individual's knowledge of language and their ability to understand complex and abstract terms.

Similarities: In this subtest, participants are presented with two words or concepts and asked to identify the relationship between them or how they are alike. This measures abstract reasoning and the ability to identify underlying patterns or principles.

Information: This subtest assesses the individual's general knowledge about a wide range of topics, such as science, history, or geography. Participants are asked to answer factual questions or identify the correct statement among several options.

Comprehension: Participants are given a short passage or a series of statements and asked to draw conclusions, explain the meaning, or identify the main idea. This subtest measures the ability to understand and apply information, as well as inferential and deductive reasoning skills.

Arithmetic Reasoning: Although this subtest involves numerical information, it still assesses verbal comprehension because it requires participants to understand and apply word problems or mathematical concepts expressed in language.

Performance on these subtests contributes to the overall verbal comprehension index, which is then combined with other indices (such as perceptual reasoning, working memory, and processing speed) to calculate the individual's overall IQ score. Keep in mind that the specific subtests and their names may vary depending on the IQ test being used, such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale.

Visual-spatial Intelligence

Visual-spatial intelligence, also known as visual-spatial ability or visuospatial ability, refers to an individual's capacity to perceive, analyze, and manipulate visual information in the environment, as well as the ability to understand spatial relationships between objects. It is an important component of human intelligence and is often assessed in IQ tests.

In IQ tests, visual-spatial intelligence is typically evaluated through a series of subtests that measure various aspects of this cognitive ability. Some common subtests include:

Block Design: Participants are presented with a target pattern and an assortment of blocks, which they must arrange to recreate the target pattern. This subtest assesses the individual's ability to analyze and reconstruct spatial patterns.

Matrix Reasoning: In this subtest, participants are shown a matrix of visual patterns with one missing piece. They must select the correct piece from a set of options to complete the pattern. This measures the ability to identify relationships, rules, and trends in visual information.

Visual Puzzles: Participants are presented with a fragmented image or a puzzle and asked to identify the missing pieces or assemble the fragments to form a complete image. This subtest assesses the ability to mentally manipulate visual information and recognize spatial relationships.

Picture Completion: In this subtest, participants are shown an incomplete picture and asked to identify the missing element from a set of options. This measures the ability to perceive details and understand the whole by analyzing its parts.

Object Assembly: Participants are given a set of disconnected pieces and asked to assemble them into a coherent, recognizable object. This subtest evaluates the individual's ability to mentally rotate, manipulate, and integrate visual information.

Fluid Reasoning

Fluid reasoning, also known as fluid intelligence or Gf, refers to the ability to solve novel problems, identify patterns, and think logically and abstractly, independent of acquired knowledge or skills. It is an important aspect of human intelligence and is often assessed in IQ tests.

Fluid reasoning is crucial for adapting to new situations and dealing with unfamiliar challenges, as it enables individuals to process and manipulate information to reach solutions without relying on prior knowledge or experience.

In IQ tests, fluid reasoning is typically evaluated through a series of subtests that measure various aspects of this cognitive ability. Some common subtests include:

Matrix Reasoning: Participants are shown a matrix of visual patterns with one missing piece. They must select the correct piece from a set of options to complete the pattern. This subtest measures the ability to identify relationships, rules, and trends in visual information, which is a key aspect of fluid reasoning.

Logical Reasoning: In this subtest, participants are presented with a series of statements, premises, or relationships and asked to deduce conclusions, identify underlying principles, or determine the validity of the information. This measures the individual's ability to think logically and abstractly.

Figural Analogies: Participants are given a pair of figures that have a specific relationship, followed by another figure and a set of options. They must select the option that has the same relationship to the given figure as the initial pair. This subtest assesses the ability to identify patterns and apply abstract reasoning skills.

Number Series: In this subtest, participants are presented with a sequence of numbers and asked to identify the underlying rule or pattern and predict the next number in the sequence. This measures the ability to analyze and extrapolate numerical patterns, which is an aspect of fluid reasoning.

Spatial Reasoning: Participants may be asked to mentally rotate or manipulate objects or identify patterns in complex spatial arrangements. This subtest evaluates the individual's ability to process and analyze spatial information, which is an important aspect of fluid reasoning.

Working Memory

Working memory refers to the cognitive process of temporarily holding, manipulating, and processing information in the mind. It is a critical component of various higher-order cognitive functions like reasoning, problem-solving, and comprehension. Working memory is an essential part of general intelligence and plays a significant role in IQ tests.

There are several tasks used to assess working memory in IQ tests. Some of the most common tasks include:

Digit Span Test: This test measures the ability to remember a sequence of numbers. In this test, the participant is presented with a series of numbers and is asked to repeat them either in the same order (forward digit span) or in reverse order (backward digit span). The length of the number sequence increases until the participant can no longer recall the sequence correctly. The individual's digit span score is typically the longest sequence they can correctly recall.

Letter-Number Sequencing: In this test, participants are presented with a mixed sequence of letters and numbers. The task is to mentally reorder the sequence, placing the numbers in ascending order and the letters in alphabetical order. The length of the sequence increases as the test progresses, and the score is based on the number of correctly reordered sequences.

N-back Test: This test measures the ability to remember and update information over a series of trials. Participants are presented with a sequence of stimuli (e.g., letters or locations on a grid), and their task is to indicate whether the current stimulus matches the one presented 'n' trials back. The value of 'n' can be varied to increase the difficulty of the task. The score is based on the number of correct matches identified.

Spatial Working Memory: This test assesses the ability to hold and manipulate spatial information in the mind. A common example is the Corsi Block-Tapping Test, in which participants are shown a sequence of spatial locations on a grid or a set of blocks and are asked to recall the sequence in the same order or reverse order. The length of the sequence increases, and the score is based on the longest sequence correctly recalled.

Processing Speed

Processing speed refers to the cognitive ability to perform simple or automatic tasks quickly and accurately. It involves the speed at which the brain processes information and carries out mental tasks with minimal conscious effort. Processing speed is an important component of intelligence and is assessed in IQ tests.

There are several tasks used to measure processing speed in IQ tests. Some common tasks include:

Symbol Search: In this test, participants are presented with a series of symbols and are asked to quickly identify whether a target symbol appears within a given set of symbols. The score is based on the number of correct identifications made within a specified time limit.

Coding (Digit-Symbol Substitution): In this test, participants are provided with a key that pairs numbers with specific symbols. They are then presented with a series of numbers and are required to match the corresponding symbols as quickly and accurately as possible within a time limit. The score is based on the number of correct matches made.

Cancellation Test: In this test, participants are given a sheet with a large array of letters or symbols, and they are asked to find and mark specific target letters or symbols as quickly as possible within a time limit. The score is based on the number of targets correctly identified and marked.

Reaction Time Tests: These tests measure the time it takes for an individual to respond to a simple stimulus. For example, a participant may be asked to press a button as soon as a light appears on the screen. The score is based on the average response time across multiple trials.