Amid a time when the norm is to anticipate exceptional achievements, understanding average intelligence quotient (IQ) scores is important. Explore in this article the average IQ scores per age and learn whether humans are getting smarter.
Intelligence Quotient Explained
In 1912, psychologist William Sterm coined the term intelligent quotient (IQ) from the German term "intelligenzquotient." Mensa International, the world's largest and oldest high IQ society, said that IQ is a numerical score that indicates a person's mental ability relative to their peer group.
IQ primarily measures logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, often associated with left-brain functions. Contrary to its name, in adults, IQ does not function as a quotient; rather, it reflects performance on mental tests compared to others.
Moreover, IQ is age-adjusted, so it is not about being 'smarter' than someone of a different age, whether a three-year-old or a centenarian.
How IQ Is Measured
In the past, it was computed by comparing an individual's mental age to their chronological age and then multiplying the result by 100. For instance, if someone is ten years old with a mental age of ten, then their IQ would be 100.
Should their mental age surpass their chronological age, like 15 instead of ten, then their IQ would be 150. Conversely, if their mental age is less than their chronological age, their IQ would be the result of that difference multiplied by 100.
However, today, an IQ test evaluates an adult's cognitive capabilities through distinct index scales:
- Verbal reasoning- assesses individuals' language handling, comprehension, concept formation, problem-solving, and effective communication through verbal means.
- Perceptual reasoning- evaluates an individual's ability to recognize visual details, spatial relationships, and patterns through tasks like constructing geometric designs and identifying differences between images.
- Working memory- evaluates an individual's ability to rapidly process and manipulate visual or auditory information in a short period, assessing their recall and manipulation skills.
- Processing speed- measures how quickly individuals can comprehend and respond to new information, presenting specific tasks to be completed within a set time frame.
The cumulative scores obtained from these index scales are then amalgamated to produce an overall IQ score.
IQ By Age: Are Humans Getting Smarter?
The average IQ scores for different age groups based on research can be interpreted as follows:
- 16-17 year-olds is 108, indicating normal or average intelligence.
- 18 to 19 yers old have an average IQ score of 105
- 20 to 24 years old have an average score of 99
- 24 to 34 years old have a slightly lower average score of 97
- 35 to 44 years old have an average score of 101
- 45 to 54 years old have an average IQ score of 106
- 55 to 64 years old have an average IQ of 109
- 65 to 69 years old have an average IQ score of 114
- 70 to 74 years old achieve an even higher average score of 119
An individual's IQ remains relatively stable throughout his life, as it is always measured in comparison to others of the same age group. The IQ score is calculated relative to a person's age; and for each age group, the average IQ is set at 100.
This means that IQ scores cannot be directly compared across different age groups, as every group will have an average of 100. This stability is supported by research that found a strong correlation between IQ scores of individuals at around age 11 and age 90.
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