IQ Rating Scale Deciphered!

It is genuinely romantic to think of an IQ rating scale to qualify ourselves with a particular level of intelligence. However, any reading of the scale is merely a mathematical expression. 

The psychologists attempt to calculate your mental age in comparison to your chronological age. You may have a mental age of 30 years at the chronological age of 14 years or vice versa. The results help psychologists to screen out the best candidates for a particular job.  

Prof. Lewis M. Terman labeled IQ rating scale as "Intelligent Quotient"  while publishing "The Measurement of Intelligence,"  in 1916 to revise and enlarge the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale. He was working on students' intelligence, so he calculated that the average child of any age has an IQ of 100. 

Nowadays, the psychologists standardize their IQ scales on various sections of a particular age group to test their intelligence quotient. The test results help them to compare you with other job applicants while maintaining controlled environments to allow equal opportunity to all.  

You can stand out of the competitors with your alertness of mind. 

The IQ scales help the managers to consolidate their opinions regarding a selection of candidates besides avoiding lousy hire. 

Original IQ Rating Scale

The classical IQ rating scale is somewhat different from the modern day psychometrics. However, it laid a foundation for all fantasies related to the romantic side of the IQ tests. A lot of water has gone through the bridges, yet the influence of Terman on IQ rating scales can't be ignored. His original IQ scale shows the following categories: 

  • IQ Ratings of Over 140 --Genius or near genius
  • IQ Ratings of 120 to 140--Highly intelligent
  • IQ Ratings of 110 to 119    --Very intelligent
  • IQ Rating of 90 to 109 --Normal or average intelligence
  • IQ Ratings of 80 to 89 --    Dullness
  • IQ Rating of 70-79 --Borderline deficiency
  • IQ Ratings below 70    --Mentally underdeveloped 

Modern psychologists prefer to criticize Terman for showing whites achieving better results vis-a-vis blacks. However, we must not ignore that he was assisting the public sector education in 1916 and priority was the white population. Furthermore, the selection was restricted to the better off families who could afford to send their children to school at that time. We must not ignore the financial and social impact as socially deprived people of Indians, Mexicans and Blacks performed equally bad on Term's IQ rating scale.

In my opinion, Terman should be appreciated for his conclusion basing on his experiments that the women have the same level of intelligence as the men have.  Furthermore, psychologists have been trying their best to remove other cultural biases, yet a lot is still to be done. 

Distribution OF IQ Score

Despite all criticism, majority of the IQ rating scales still follow similar kind of categorization to distribute the test takers regarding their IQ scores:

  • 50% of IQ scores fall between 90 and 110
  • 70% of IQ scores fall between 85 and 115
  • 95% of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130
  • 99.5% of IQ scores fall between 60 and 140
  • 5% of people have an IQ below 70

The last 5% population demands special attention. Luckily very little part of this minority falls into the most challenging position. There are further four levels of mental retardation.

  • 50-70 - Mild mental retardation (85%)
  • 35-50 - Moderate mental retardation (10%)
  • 20-35 - Severe mental retardation it is (4%)
  • I0 - 20 - Profound mental retardation (1%)

High IQ Rating Scale

When you score considerably high score, there are chances of your falling into the category of genius. An IQ scoring of 140 to 145 may qualify you for this group. The psychologists prove that one out of 400 people can have IQ rating to this level. However, the high IQ score has its sub-divisions:

•    IQ Ratings OF 115-124 Above average

•    IQ Rating OF 125-134 Gifted

•    IQ Ratings OF 135-144 Highly gifted

•    IQ Score OF 145-164 Genius

•    IQ Scoring OF 165-179 High genius

•    IQ Scoring OF 180-200 Highest genius

•    IQ Scoring OF 200 or above    Immeasurable genius.”

The modern IQ tests generate scores for different fields as language fluency, three-dimensional thinking and the summary score calculated from sub-test scores. On the other hand, the intelligence quotient is an ambiguous measure of the ability and power of the brain.

I don't know how was it calculated, but Einstein is considered one of the people having the highest IQ score. Myths claim him having an IQ score of 160. Another myth says he had used only 10% of his brain to give theory of relativity. 

I am not sure which myth is more romantic, yet I am convinced that your IQ score is a direct result of your knowledge, skills and and practice with the IQ tests. Admittedly, your mental alertness can stand you out. 

Please keep in mind, a high 'Intelligence Quotient' is no guarantee that you will succeed in your life. It gives you an edge over others yet you need to have emotional intelligence to succeed in the long run.


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What Other Visitors Have Expressed

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I Don't Know What to Put Here? 
OK, I am a 13-year-old caucasian male who took a Mensa test and got 186 IQ, based on this website it says I am"High Genius" but currently only have a 2.5 …

I'm confused 
I quote you, "I don't know how was it calculated, but Einstein is considered one of the people having the highest IQ score. His IQ was 160. " Yet, I and …

I scored 150 at 6 years old but now I got 110 and I'm 13 
I scored 150 at 6 years old but now I got 110 and I'm 13...what's happening???

Intelligence and hardworking 
In order to qualify to be in "Gifted" you had to take an IQ test. I scored a 176. Now according to this site that makes me a "high genius", but what …

Should I be concerned 
hi my name is alfonzo and my iq test said that my iq is 190 is this bad? my favorite food are bananas

What should I do now? 
I am 15 years old Pakistani eastern girl. I've took many IQ tests on several websites. Sometimes I score 127, sometime 128 and sometime 129. now I want …

Concerned with my IQ 
I am a 14 year old female and I took an IQ test and my score was 186. Is this good for my age or should I be worried? I just want to know what my age …

What does this mean? 
I'm a 12 year old girl and I took an IQ test and it said my IQ was 145. So I was wondering, what does that mean? I know it's a high IQ but exactly …

I'm a 12 year old with an IQ of 150  
I'm not sure what that does for me but that's what it said as my results. But my brother who is 14 has an IQ of 124. This website says that I'm a genius …

Who am I 
I want to know everything and when there is an very upcoming contradictory thinking of people, why i feels like i don't care. Why my theories and logic …

How will you explain this? 
I know people who are considered to be clever but regularly make mistakes. I also know people who are thought of as ( how do you describe it on this site …

What you have is enough! 
In 6th grade we were given a battery of tests spanning a week. I was later told that there were IQ tests, and that I scored 147. At the age of 63 I …

IQ Score 
Is having a high IQ necessarily mean you're going to be successful? Is there a specific test or training to make you become successful.

Confused 
Most people on this forum, claiming excellent test results, don't seem to be that smart.

The IQ is very one-dimensional. 
There is no sure way measure intelligence. Most IQ tests have a bunch of questions that basically ask,"How much do you know?" Don't get me wrong, some …

The Material Covered in IQ tests... 
Would a more accurate name for this test be ET? I mean, it really is just a test on how well educated you are. Any moron can study their brains out on …

To all the Highly Gifted and Genius of this Country 
Logically speaking if your all so smart why isn't anyone stepping up to the plate and turning this country around on its feet. Why don't you get together …

Are Intelligence and Humility Inversely Proportional? 
You may be gifted, but you cannot accurately measure the intelligence of those around you. Despite all too common feelings of superiority, (reinforced …

I guess I'm retarded 
I scored 70 on my IQ test. LOL! Why am I not drooling on myself right now. I'm actually a 4.0 student, working on my bachelors in nursing and minoring …

A thought for my girls 
For Nina and King, A high IQ alone is in the scheme of things almost irrelevant. There are people with a low score, who are very successful, and there …

Wow... Test Results! 
I took a proper IQ test. They did for my age at 11 and 11 months and male. My IQ measured was 142! Is that normal for a Kid of my age? I've never done …

Is it normal 
I am 11 years of age and when i took a IQ test it was a result of 189 should i be worried or provoked

im a 13-r-old boy with an IQ score of 205 
is an IQ of 205 so good that it startles your examiner? he just stared in shock at me and congratulated me. my parents were so happy. the examiner said …

Does not compute. 
Above under "Distribution of IQ" it says; a) 95% of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130 b) 5% of people have an IQ under 70 That doesn't leave …

Click here to write your own.

Am I Smart? 
Hi, I am 6 years old and i scored 197, is that a good score? i just learned how to tie my shoes the other day, tomorrow i am suppose to learn how to ride …

Being Smart is Not fun 
My IQ was only 150 but I have a great ability to forecast events and even words people are about to speak. There are only X amount of events and words …

IQ tests can vary considerably in the individual 
I can personally attest that IQ scores can vary considerably. I have taken an IQ test three times in my life. I took it once as a child and scored 128. …

I don't want to be Einstein.  
Hi I'm 11. I took an IQ test earlier and it said I had 237. I've always been told I'm gifted, but this is insanely inaccurate. No child could achieve that. …

Am I imaginative? 
I am a curly haired 12 year-old boy. My parents took me to a psychologist and told me my Iq is 87 which is low average. which is embarrassing because both …

i am a genius 
i got 152 in an IQ test and i am only 11. this is amazing but it nothing new to me. You see i am very smart, in fact i was the first person in my schools …

Minor Detail 
You note both that: • 95% of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130 and that • 5% of people have an IQ under 70. This would suggest that no one scores …

Urgh... One Point Below Gifted. 
I feel like a loser. Both my mom and dad have IQ's above 150 (My mom 155 and my dad 187... I think, maybe higher.) but I have a puny little 124. My dad …

High IQ Score Is Not a Pride but a Responsibility! 
I have taken quite a number of IQ tests in my life, and had erroneously considered my genius level IQ to be a reasonable source of pride. A number of …

I got a 122 and im 14 
I have scored 122 while I am just 14. Is it good score? Somebody should comment.

Is this normal 
I am a 10 Year old boy. I have done the advanced IQ test. I got 197 is this a normal or under average or is this good.

I Never Met a Smarter Person Than Me 
I scored above 145 and I never met anyone smarter than me. I know hundreds of people. Many of people I associate with I would consider smart people, …

Am I smrt? 
Oh my gosh you guys I took an online IQ test and scored 210. Is that good? I am 2 years old and just learned how to use the potty! Am I smrt?

What am I? 
I'm 17 and have an IQ of 150!!! What does that make me??? Genius or Dull??

I am a genius 
i got 152 in an IQ test and i am only 11. this is amazing but it nothing new to me. You see i am very smart, in fact i was the first person in my schools …

Don't believe it 
Everyone thinks they are smarter than the average person. Those thoughts are confirmed by scoring high on an IQ test. Well, don't believe it, because …

I'm Mix-blooded. 
I am female and a half Chinese and half Thai, 16 this year (2010). I got an IQ of 124. but normally mix-blooded should be smarter right? cause they know …

147 and 153 Scores 
I got a score of 147 and im only 14. On another test I got 153. Is this a good score?

is this the normal scale? 
i am an 11 year old and my IQ was 197. Is that the correct number for highly superior IQ level, or is it a different scale because I took the test in the …

Unfair IQ Tests to minorities 
These type of timed IQ tests are not only unfair to minorities such as Hispanics, Asians, and Blacks, but also to some Whites who came from mainly rural …

Wondering Not rated yet
I'm a 44 yr old female I got a score of 210 on my iq test is that good?

Wondering Not rated yet
I'm a 44 yr old female I got a score of 210 on my iq test is that good?

What type of test did I take Not rated yet
I was given a psychological test years ago, but wasn’t told what it was for. The rating used a bell curve and my score fell in the above average not yet …

The concept of IQ makes me want to die Not rated yet
The title of this comment says it all. I think I’m trash.

What?! Not rated yet
No way are loads of you getting 160+. Einstein's was 160 and mine is 145. Did you all do your tests on the same website? If so it must be REALLY inaccurate! …

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Im Apparently 125 and Higher Not rated yet
Im a 15 year old in high school and I took a test that said I had an IQ of 125 or higher meaning university level, But in high school im failing all most …

Evolution Continued Not rated yet
Descendants of early humans more or less continue with the same level of intelligence because nature did not drive change. Those who were subjected …

People lie about their IQ Not rated yet
When I was in college taking a statistics course, the professor began by discussing IQ distributions. He asked people in the class to raise their hand …

Your math is flawed Not rated yet
According to your chart: 95% of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130 Which means that 5% of the population is distributed in either scores below 70 …

Advice from an old codger. Not rated yet
I tested at 154 in high school. These tests show how well we think rather than what we know (learn) or what we achieve (work). Study and effort help use …

I have an IQ of 146 Not rated yet
I just recently did an IQ test and found out I have an IQ of 146. I'm also only 12. I'd like to know if that IQ can go up if I were to train my brain. …

Use Your IQ for better things...don't rub in others' noses Not rated yet
I'm 14 and have an IQ of 209 and I had an IQ of 122 in grade 3. Why is everyone asking if their scores are good? This whole site literally tells you …

IQ score of 210 Not rated yet
There was a guy named Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who had an IQ score of 21p. I did an IQ test and scored 210.

Blessed one Not rated yet
i am gifted one

My iq Not rated yet
I got an iq of 125 meaning I'm near genius, but I want to try harder even though it is good😃

My Iq. Not rated yet
My IQ is 151. I'm happy.

Unbelievable intelligence and geniusness Not rated yet
Hi. I'm Antonio. I'm a 20 year old person and I took an IQ test just earlier tonight. I was informed that my IQ is 140. My IQ could be higher than that …

STOP BEING PETTY Not rated yet
Y'all people, well the majority of these people down in the comment are are bragging and being petty. Like seriously, stop saying what your IQ is especially …

Am l a genius Not rated yet
Hi. Im am an 11-year-old and I had gotten an IQ score of 153, is this Good or Bad

I'm 64 Years Old lady & was on Discovery Channel Not rated yet
My scores each time tested have ranged from 158 to 163. I build Custom Hot Rods from engines. Body n Custom Paint. Flames. Airbrushing. Murals. Upholstery. …

Hello I did a iq test at Mensa and I got 200 score for it Not rated yet
Hey I am just wondering, I did a iq test at Mensa and I got 200 so I am a really high genius?

(My IQ Test Score Not rated yet
My name is Osuagwu Morris I scored 125 in my IQ Test. I am so much happy for the test scale says i am gifted and another scale says i am highly intelligent. …

How is it calculated  Not rated yet
I'm a 12 year old male and scored 145 on an iq test. I don't know exactly how they calculate the score though.

Higher IQ Test Score than Einstein Not rated yet
I have a friend who took a legitimate IQ Test and received an IQ higher than Einstein. I don't actually know my own IQ but I can still have very in depth …

I'm a 12 year old with an iq of 131 Not rated yet
Hello! I would just like to ask something because my IQ is 131 and I read a 34 year old got the same score. I was wondering if I'm smart even though I'm …

I'm not so sure Not rated yet
I'm a 14-year old male that attends high school and is currently in grade 9. I took an IQ test online and answered it truthfully, and I ended up with an …

Why am I not surprised? Not rated yet
I took an IQ test when I was fourteen, and my score was 140. I am bored in school because my classes are too easy. It has been like this since I started …

Is this smart Not rated yet
I'm 9 years old and IQ of 130. Is this normal?

MY THINKS Not rated yet
I always listen that few students are bogus. how it possible, friends~! One always search anyone when they deep in any problems. My question is - "is …

Your math is wrong - genius Not rated yet
Pertaining to: Distribution OF IQ Score Mr. Terman has distributed IQ scores on the following scales: 50% of IQ scores fall between 90 and 110 …

Click here to write your own.

Does our mind change for a certain amount of time ? Not rated yet
I am a 12 year old student, I am second or third in my class, my passion is paleontology and theoretical physics. I tried the test and my result was …

13 with an IQ of 150? Not rated yet
I did it on an Internet test, I understand these are quite inaccurate, however, my reading level is 3 grades above what it should be, I am able to talk …

Is my Intelligence a mirage? Not rated yet
I am a Caucasian female aged 11 years and roughly 4 months. I started school a year early and am I in the 6th grade in an advanced learning program. Reading …

Im only 12 years old Not rated yet
I am only 12 years old and i took a test online and found out that my score was 135. I did get an academic scholarship when i started secondary school …

Interesting  Not rated yet
I'm a 21 year old male. I got a score of 134. It seemed very manageable and only one or two questions seemed to throw me. Is there any merit in me …

Hovaginous Not rated yet
Live has been a little difficult ever since some of my peers found out I'm a genius on the IQ test. I didn't know that an IQ test score of 80 was that …

Normal? Not rated yet
I got a IQ of 150 just after I turned 12. Is this normal? I was put in a placement test in math for another school and I would have started 9th grade if …

I'm depressed. Not rated yet
I scored 127. I've always been told I'm really smart but this doesn't show it and now I feel let down. I'm only thirteen, but the way I'm reacting to …

Am I Actually a Genuis? Not rated yet
Hello, I'm a 14 year old girl and i took an IQ test and got a 146. I read here that that qualifies me to be a genius, but I don't really think that the …

Took free I.Q. Test Not rated yet
A little earlier I took an IQ test online that was meant for a 14 year old, if you're wondering what is wrong with that, I mean to inform you I am 12. …

most of you.. Not rated yet
Most of you on here claiming to have these high test scores, are quite deceiving. Anyone can say they have an high iq but you can't really prove it on …

ehhmm.. Not rated yet
I got 145 when i was 6 years old.. But now i only got 128 (i'm 14 now)

War years intelligence rating Not rated yet
SOE, during the second world war, rated the intelligence of their agents during initial training. Could you please tell me what scores they used? Many …

Wow...Im dissapointed Not rated yet
All of you people on here who are claiming to be super geniuses and have "bad" scores of like freaking 150. You don't actually seem that smart lol. There …

So I guess I'm Smart... Not rated yet
When I was younger i had a lot of problems in School. I was kept back in 6th grade (1979), but not because I could not do the work. Turned out to be the …

W.T.F. there is no I.Q. in, ""LIFE"" so ?'s (whats) it matter, ya kno, who carez Not rated yet
YA KNO, Who gives a shit how; bright'r, smart'r, intelligent ya is? I'z got's me a 186 on I.Q. & that was after my accident where my heart stop't 5 times, …

Amazing all the smart people show up here Not rated yet
Not sure how smart it is bragging about your IQ on a message board. Use your IQ for something great instead of researching your said IQ. Go out and prove …

WHATYA KNOW  Not rated yet
scored 131, time to go get momma on the phone n let her know her son is in fact not a retard! lol

good score Not rated yet
I scored a 115 on my iq I guess im very intelligent and perspicacious for a 12 year old I think that's a good sign I just wish I had Einstein's iq score …

How accurate are IQ tests Not rated yet
Im 13 and I took a $5 IQ test which gave me a 149. I don't know if thats realistically reflective of how smart I am. Help?

IQ Consideration With Core Curriculum Not rated yet
School systems all over the US should embrace the fact that IQ can give information about the mental ability of students. If they did, maybe they would …

Okay, Now What Is It That I Must Say? Not rated yet
My intelligence quotient (mean of five different tests), would be 183. If I were to just say my highest score, I would be a 207. Regardless, if you read …

Genius Not rated yet
Some years ago I taught classes on Education of the Gifted at Ohio University. To me the above ratings are naive and do not measure the concept of genius. …

Smart?? Not rated yet
I worked in a Gov dept that employed a lot of Civil Engineers - often bright at what they did & hopeless at ordinary day tasks. We used to say if you could …

Mini explanation. Not rated yet
IQ is based on age. E.G. if you got a 150 and your 14, it does not mean you are smarter than a 35 year old who got a 130.

Click here to write your own.

What you have is enough! Not rated yet
In 6th grade we were given a battery of tests spanning a week. I was later told that there were IQ tests, and that I scored 147. At the age of 63 I …

Elementary Not rated yet
Juvenescent genius of elementary math, manipulation of characters by transient visual memory, and plebeian colloquialisms. The comments, resultant braggadocio …

IQ Confusion between present and future Not rated yet
an iq of 127, i honestly thought id get lower than that. but, whats the purpose of an iq if it isnt that useful? or are there ways that people dont see? …

Mental processing Not rated yet
IQ tests present a view that a person is coordinated, or has a handle, on their mental processing abilities. You will find a couple of the questions are …

I.Q Tests Not rated yet
Are actually fast-paced, short sets of mostly very easy tasks. I had to take IQ tests every few years in school as a compromise to get out of taking …

I.Q Tests Not rated yet
Are actually fast-paced, short sets of mostly very easy tasks. I had to take IQ tests every few years in school as a compromise to get out of taking …

I guess I'm in the gifted range. Not rated yet
I got above 130 on my IQ test because in academy I am in only allows those into its program if the person as at least and IQ of 130. By the way I'm Mexican …

My Teacher Not rated yet
I myself have an Overall IQ of 134, but I scored 183 in Logic. I thought that was weird, but I still feel really stupid at times. Mainly because of my …

True Intelligence... Not rated yet
Anyone with any true intelligence knows that there is not an I.Q. test made that can possibly measure accurately the level of intelligence in anyone. It …

EXTREMELY SMART Not rated yet
When I was four I had an IQ of 134 Now I might have 180 IQ Can you believe it!?!?!?! BEAT THAT BOY WITH 176 IQ.

Minor detail explained Not rated yet
I guess that all you complaining about this are the 5%: • 99.5% of IQ scores fall between 60 and 140 • 5% of people have an IQ under 70: …

SIMPLE Not rated yet
Writing about rating of IQ may be difficult rather than simple. Its depends on human being who uses brain power completely because some people utilize …

Is it good to have IQ score of 128? Not rated yet
Hi I was wondering. Is it good to be fourteen years old and have an IQ of 128? This is according to a quiz over the Internet and is probably …

Non-Elites Beware! They want to ID and Eliminate You... Pure Evil. Not rated yet
Purpose of IQ tests were to identify the "Imbeciles" within society and systematically remove their imbecile gene from society. This is the logical conclusion …

how smart am i Not rated yet
Terry Stover got an IQ score of .02

What Test is everyone posting about? Not rated yet
If it's a test taken online, it is almost certainly far from accurate. A true IQ test will be administered over the course of hours and have multiple phases …

Shitfaced Not rated yet
Well, I'm shitfaced and I just scored a 138. Maybe I'm dumber when I'm sober...

It's nothing to be proud of! Not rated yet
I have an IQ in the 145-155 range, depending on which particular test I use and how "on the ball" I am when I take it. I don't think a high IQ is anything …

IQ Test Meaning Not rated yet
IQ stands for Intelligence Quotient. That means the capacity and ability for you to learn. So for all you people asking if it means you're smart, No it …

IQ Test Scores are Not Much Useful Not rated yet
A good IQ is in no way a 'certificate' proving you are better than anyone else. I just finished a couple of the IQ tests in English, despite it not …

Smarts vs Intelligence Not rated yet
People value these things far too much. Intelligence is one thing but it's useless if you're not "smart". There's a difference between smart and …

Tests results can vary per individual Not rated yet
I took my first IQ test in college when I was suffering from major depression and recovering from recent neurological surgery. Years later, after getting …

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