Not a single psychological tool is used as widely as tests measuring intelligence quotient (IQ). Our IQ test score will likely be assessed at some point in our life, whether we apply for university or a job.
IQ tests take many forms and are based on various frameworks. There are professionally administered and informal self-administered tests, as well as official online tests and free tests you can take for fun. Each of these has its uses and benefits.
Taking an online IQ test allows you to maximize your potential by learning which areas of intelligence you could develop further. It points you toward improvement and suggests which paths to take to make the best of what you already have within you.
This article will explain the following:
- What intelligence is, whether it determines success, and how it changes over time
- Different types of reasoning
- What IQ tests are whether you can improve your score by practicing
- How you can benefit from taking an IQ test
How Is Cognitive Intelligence Defined?
Intelligence is one of psychology’s most widely used concepts. There probably is not a single person who has not heard of the term and used it to describe people and experiences. We talk about brilliant people and their ability to develop solutions. We notice that we are good at something and attribute it to our wit.
However, there still needs to be a more scientific consensus on what constitutes this capacity. For this reason, as we will explain shortly, there are also different types of IQ tests.
According to the American Psychological Association, intelligence is “the ability to derive information, learn from experience, adapt to the environment, understand, and correctly utilize thought and reason."
In lay terms, our IQ score determines how easily we comprehend information. It guides us through problem-solving and helps us be logical and rational in different situations. Intelligence is needed for us to find our feet in life.
And yes, it does impact how well we will do in life — to an extent.
To learn more about the different definitions and theories of intelligence that go beyond IQ testing, read this.
Does Intelligence Determine Success?
Remember that cognitive intelligence is only one aspect of who you are, no matter how vital. Therefore, it has a say in determining your success in some fields.
For example, to be a successful astrophysicist, the person must score high on an IQ test. One study determined that astrophysicists have a higher average IQ than social scientists. Nonetheless, this is merely an average of academics in the field. It does not mean that there is no social scientist who scores 180; or that there isn’t an astrophysicist with an IQ of 120. And this is where we get to our point.
One’s IQ test score is not the only element of a person’s accomplishment, not by far.
Factors that Contribute to Success — Besides IQ
History is full of influential, highly intelligent people who left a civilization-changing legacy. However, it is justified to assume that many more brilliant individuals who did not do anything exceptional exist. Not everyone with a high IQ test score will do well in life. Why?
Other factors contribute to this complex equation of what determines success.
Environment
One of the elements that influence success is your life history and circumstances.
An extensive 2019 study determined that harsh environments while growing up significantly hinder chances of success in adulthood. More precisely, growing up in neighborhoods with concentrated violence, incarceration, and lead exposure was linked to lower income and higher chances of incarceration in adulthood.
On the other hand, we all know examples of individuals who grew up in adverse circumstances and thrived. The study above was based on exploring racially segregated Chicago neighborhoods. However, you surely know about someone who grew up in a similar (arguably, even more adverse) environment and helped change it. It was Martin Luther King Jr.
Personality
Personality traits are the other decisively important element of your success.
According to the threshold theory, there is a point (IQ test score of 120) at which a person’s ability to be creative and innovative stops being dependent upon intelligence. Once you have an IQ of 120 or higher, what you will do with your intelligence hangs on your personality traits. Some examples are persistence, discipline, resilience, and so on.
One study tested this theory with over 4,000 leaders in organizational settings. Indeed, once a person hits that threshold, their performance no longer depends on their IQ test score.
However, you do not need an IQ of 120 for your personality to impact your achievements. Abundant research confirms that traits like confidence or career optimism determine success, even for people with average intelligence on traditional IQ tests.
This is why knowing your personality profile can make a huge difference.
When you understand your traits, you detect areas of improvement. You get a roadmap to boosting your chances of success and selecting a career that matches your preferences and strengths.
Can IQ Test Score Change Over Time?
The short answer is — yes, IQ scores don't stay the same. Intelligence changes over time and IQ test scores reflect that. Taking quick, informal IQ tests may help you practice and monitor your progress. Now, let us unpack the long answer.
In the 1930s and 1940s, some leading psychologists (Raymond B. Cattell and Donald O. Hebb) were critical of the existing intelligence tests and started developing their own. As a result of these efforts, they formulated the theory of crystallized and fluid intelligence.
The theory postulates the existence of two kinds of intellectual abilities.
- Fluid intelligence presents your ability to process information, learn, and problem-solve. It develops during childhood and young adulthood. However, it also starts declining relatively early. According to an extensive study of the problem, some abilities peak and begin to decline around high school graduation. In contrast, others hit their maximum at 30 or 40.
- Crystalized intelligence, conversely, represents your accumulated knowledge. It steadily develops over time and increases into old age. For this reason, we want experienced professors or medical doctors to practice for as long as possible. Their crystalized intelligence holds an impressive amount of field-specific knowledge.
The situation is even more complicated, taking the fact that there is a strong relationship between the fluctuations in fluid and crystalized intelligence. Therefore, your IQ test score will change over time, at least somewhat.
Different Types of Reasoning — Different Types of Cognitive Intelligence
Another reason your IQ test score may vary in different contexts and between people is that there is more than one type of reasoning. That is — more than one kind of intelligence.
That said, one IQ test may focus more on certain aptitudes. In contrast, others measure different types of cognitive skills. So, when a person takes one test, they might score very well. Conversely, the score might not reflect their true potential. The reason for this could be solely within the kind of questions asked in that particular test.
These variations are why it is handy not to think about your IQ test scores as verdicts. Instead, consider them a guide to what areas of your intellectual skillset you could improve. In other words, use them to detect which types of reasoning could use some enhancement.
There are different typologies of reasoning. Here, we will speak about five kinds of reasoning or five types of intelligence. These are visual, numerical, logical, spatial, and verbal reasoning.
Visual Reasoning
Visual reasoning is used when you manipulate an object's image in your mind to solve a problem.
For example, when you think about whether you and your friends will be able to carry a couch into your new apartment, you use visual reasoning. You imagine different positions for the couch and try to estimate the proper angle to try and fit it through the door.
According to Eugene S. Ferguson, whose extensive work in the field is often cited, visual reasoning is frequently used to create technological and mechanical artifacts.
Therefore, visual reasoning is used predominantly by architects, engineers, designers, or artists. But we all use it at some point in life.
Numerical Reasoning
Numerical reasoning is based on using numbers in thinking.
It encapsulates performing calculations, using numerical sequences and series, and reaching estimations.
In real life, you would use numerical reasoning to figure out, for example, whether an item on sale truly pays out. You will lean on your numerical reasoning when you need to calculate how many days until someone’s birthday quickly. Or, when you are about to ask for a raise, you need this skill to determine how much money you need, and it would be fair to ask.
Research revealed that numerical reasoning is a tad more masculine aspect of intellectual skills regardless of other factors like motivation or stress anxiety. In general, that is.
So, suppose your IQ test score indicates you are a bit weak in numbers and mathematical skills. In that case, you could commit to exercising and improving this skill and gain an advantage among your classmates or coworkers.
Logical Reasoning
Logical reasoning happens when we rigorously infer conclusions.
We start at the initial premises and use deduction or non-deductive processes to reach arguments that any rational person would agree with. Logical reasoning does not result in a new conclusion. Instead, it merely ensures that the presented hypotheses support and justify the inference.
We use logical reasoning in school, work, and our daily lives. For example, you employ logical reasoning whenever you need to reach an "if… then…" type of decision. Or, as a study explored, determining the rationality of newspaper articles (or, arguably, detecting fake news or propaganda) is dependent upon logical reasoning.
Even though we often think logic is the opposite of emotion, research revealed this is not true. On the contrary, logical reasoning is used to help individuals in psychotherapy to develop emotional competence, for example. How? Much of the time, when we struggle with our emotional reactions, it is because cognitive distortions guide us. When you learn to flex your logical muscle, you develop flexibility in responding to different situations and nurture healthier responses to stimuli.
IQ test items are often rich in logical reasoning.
When you learn your IQ test score using informal online versions, you might find that you could benefit from some improvements to logical reasoning. Your overall brain power will improve when you engage in exercises that boost logical reasoning.
Spatial Reasoning
Spatial reasoning presents your ability to understand, visualize, remember, and manipulate spatial relations between objects or spaces.
IQ tests often contain items examining your spatial intelligence. Examples are tasks where you need to state how a complex object would look from another angle or determine how things will fit together. However, we use spatial reasoning in our daily lives.
For example, when someone asks you where a restaurant is, you use your spatial intelligence to estimate how far they need to go and to explain the path they need to take. Or, when you are buying furniture and need to visualize the room and how it will all fit together, you need spatial reasoning.
This type of reasoning will also help you with geometry in school. The same applies to being successful in professional sports.
Your IQ test score in terms of spatial intelligence could be affected by your gender. Although it is not a set-in-stone rule, mostly, men tend to outperform women in spatial tasks. Yet, like other skills, practice and cognitive exercises can improve spatial reasoning.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal reasoning, in the most general terms, presents one’s ability to understand and utilize words.
More broadly speaking, verbal intelligence relates to your general IQ test score. This is because humans, as verbal beings, strongly rely on words to think abstractly and solve problems. In IQ tests, items that test verbal intelligence will inquire about pairs of words for which you need to quickly determine whether their meaning is the same or opposite (synonymous or antonymous). Another example is producing as many synonyms as possible for a word.
In real life, you use verbal reasoning when you want to express yourself, whether in personal relationships or at a business meeting. Similarly, your verbal intelligence is engaged whenever you read something and try to understand it.
Contrasting spatial reasoning statistics, verbal intelligence is more of a female strength.
Measuring Intelligence Using IQ Tests
Intellectual abilities have always been a point of interest in the history of human thought. Naturally, scientists started thinking about how to assess those observed differences between people.
IQ tests were developed to measure a range of cognitive abilities. They differ in various ways, including the theories in their foundations.
The outcome of IQ testing is an IQ test score. It indicates whether your intelligence matches the average in your peer group — or how far above or below it is.
These IQ scores are often used in candidate selection in education or organizational settings. You will likely get tested at some point in life, so getting used to such assessments using informal IQ tests might be a good idea.
The Beginnings of IQ Testing
The concept of IQ testing began with the name of Alfred Binet. He was a French psychologist commissioned to develop a test determining which students needed educational assistance.
In 1904, Binet and his colleague Theodore Simon designed a questionnaire consisting of 30 items. These questions measured attention, problem-solving skills, and memory.
The test became known as the Binet-Simon Scale. It is still in use today after it underwent specific revisions.
The Binet-Simon Scale started a rapid trend in developing IQ tests. More tests continue to be created for various purposes based on various theoretical assumptions.
Categories of IQ Tests
There are two main categories of IQ tests — verbal and non-verbal.
- Verbal, or language-based intelligence tests, use words to provide instructions and ask questions. The responses are given using words. Examples of such scales are word recognition or word use tests or those asking about an item’s use and purpose. The Binet-Simon Scale is an example of such a test.
- Non-verbal tests are somewhat intertwined with the idea of creating a culture-free test. Psychologists have argued that a verbal intelligence test is immersed in a culture. As such, it defeats many of the purposes of such tests.
An IQ test score could be lower on culturally conditioned tests because the taker from another culture could be disadvantaged. A known example from the development of the Binet-Simon Scale was asking about a "trolly" at a time when most rural children had never seen one.
For this reason, non-verbal tests started to emerge. They utilize progressive patterns, mazes, images, and similar non-verbal items (assumed to offer near-equal opportunities to all takers).
Learn more about the different types of IQ tests.
Can You Improve Your IQ Test Score by Practicing?
Intelligence development is a complex affair. Therefore, it would be misleading to say that you can take matters into your own hands and exercise your IQ muscle like you would do abs. Even with physical strength, you have some inborn limit to what you can do with practice. Someone with an average IQ isn't going to elevate their score to a genius level by doing brain exercises.
Yet, you can improve some elements of your IQ test score with practice.
Research has proven that intelligence development is highly dependent on various environmental factors such as place of residence, physical exercise, family income, parents’ occupation, and education. In other words, a developing mind requires certain conditions to achieve its full potential.
Similarly, according to research, when you feed your mind stimulating content, you could contribute to the increase or preservation of your intelligence. This principle is especially applicable to your crystalized intelligence.
What Are the Benefits of Taking an Online IQ Test?
Online, informal IQ tests are very popular. And for a good reason. Even though online IQ tests do not substitute for professionally administered official tests, they have benefits. So, what uses could you look for in determining your IQ test score using an online test?
Here are 5 benefits of taking a practice IQ test in the comfort of your own home.
1. Prepare for an Assessment and Reduce Test Anxiety
Many schools include intelligence testing as a part of the candidate selection process. If you remember, the first-ever intelligence test was designed for such purposes, although the target group was young children. Universities worldwide often utilize IQ test scores in addition to other indicators of expected success to rank applicants.
IQ tests were not initially intended for use in business. However, research revealed that an IQ test score could predict work performance (as well as job satisfaction).
According to Harvard Business Review, IQ test scores are equally good predictors as competency interviews and ten times better than personality tests. Executive performance leans on the same skills as those measured in IQ testing.
Therefore, taking an online form is a good idea if you wish to prepare for IQ testing when applying for a school or job.
How so?
When you take practice IQ tests, you become more accustomed to different forms of questions found in an official IQ test. They become something familiar. Then, when you take the actual assessment, you will be much less insecure than you would be if it is something you see for the first time. You will also orient much quicker, and many items require quick thinking.
Moreover, you are likely to be far less nervous. This is important because the IQ test score highly depends on the anxiety and stress levels you experience during testing. So, when you take the opportunity to prepare for the test, you maximize your chances of success.
2. Feed Your Curiosity
Even if you do not see yourself having to take an official IQ test anytime soon, you might be interested in how you would score — at least a little bit.
Even though one’s intelligence is not a single determinant of success, most of us hope to score well. Or, we want to see how we rank in our friends’ groups and have a shared laugh about it. If for nothing else, many of us want to check our IQ test scores purely for fun.
The informal online versions are ideal for this because you do not want to spend a fortune to feed your curiosity or have fun.
3. Help Prevent Cognitive Decline
We already mentioned that mental exercise leads to greater resilience to cognitive decline.
An interesting concept in this field is "cognitive reserve." It explains the fascinating phenomenon in which education and stimulating occupations help the aging brain cope better. This mechanism works even with Alzheimer’s pathology accumulating.
Suppose there are two individuals of the same age or with the same amount of disease-related changes in the brain. One had time filled with cognitively stimulating activities, such as reading, problem-solving, and crosswords. The other did not. The former will manifest slower and less intense cognitive decline than the latter. This includes IQ test scores. Amazing, right?
Now, think of IQ tests. They were designed to measure intelligence. The questions and tasks were carefully developed to detect various cognitive aptitudes. Could you think of a better and more precise tool to exercise your brain than leveraging the accessible online versions?
4. Detect Areas of Improvement
Once you learn your IQ test score, it serves as a blueprint for your self-development.
Apart from receiving general information about your intelligence level, you also gain insight into separate categories of cognitive abilities.
Then, you realize that your memory might use a little boost. Even though it serves you well daily, you may want to play memory games to separate yourself from the crowd. You could engage in cognitive exercises to promote better retention of information.
Or, you could finally receive an explanation about why you always struggled to focus. Your IQ test score could reveal that your attention is somewhat lower. Therefore, you can commit to daily exercises to help you develop a deeper and greater attention span.
IQ test scores are not set in stone. We can also strengthen our brain power and cognitive capacities, much like we can develop resilience to stress or interpersonal skills.
5. Monitor Your Progress
Continuing on the previous points — when you commit to practicing, you want to be able to track your progress. That is the way to know that your efforts are bearing fruits.
However, checking your IQ test score with formal intelligence tests would be very pricey and impractical. Some IQ testing even requires scheduling the official supervisor to administer the test and supervise you while you take it.
Repeating online tests is much more pragmatic because they are accessible and significantly cheaper. You can monitor your development and see if you notice improvements in your detected areas of improvement.
Use the Present to Shape the Future
Your IQ test score is, by all means, not something that defines you. It does not limit you. You are a composition of your personality, experiences, interests, and abilities. And even though it may sound cliché, you can accomplish almost anything you imagine.
Learning your IQ score does, however, bestow a chance to become the best version of yourself.
Luckily, neuroplasticity awards an opportunity to develop our skills. Therefore, use what you have in the present to shape and design your future.
Take the knowledge of your IQ score at this point in time and utilize it to shape your ideal self. Create your perfect life by committing to exercising and growing your brain power.
