Normal IQ Level for a Child
Determining a child's IQ, intelligence quotient, can be challenging. Understanding the basics of IQ testing and what the normal range is for children can help determine if there are concerns about how a child is developing.
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Definition and Significance of IQ Testing
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IQ is the measure of general intelligence of a child or person. The French psychologist Alfred Binet along with a physician, Theodore Simon, developed the Binet-Simon Test in the early 1900s. The Binet-Simon Test was designed to measure the intelligence of mentally handicapped children.
Through testing, it was observed that gaps in children's mental age and chronological age widened as they aged. In 1912, German psychologist William Stern created a ratio to correlate with the gap, and it was named the intelligence quotient (IQ). Intelligence quotient is defined as 100 times the mental age (MA) divided by the chronological age (CA).
How IQ is Tested
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Available are several different IQ tests, such as the Stanford-Binet, the California Test of Mental Maturity and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Some tests are timed while others are individually administered without time restrictions. The best IQ-test results are obtained when a child takes more than one test.
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IQ Range
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The average IQ is considered 100. For children, IQ can range from 0 to 250. The majority of children tested have IQ ranges from 80 to 120. Each IQ range has a classification. According to iq-test.learninginfo.org, an IQ of 140 and greater is considered genius, 120-140 is thought of as very superior intelligence, 110-120 is considered superior intelligence, 90-110 is normal or average, 70-80 is a borderline deficiency, and below 70 is thought of as feeblemindedness.
Expert Insight
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According to Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, who holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Cambridge in England, it is challenging to accurately determine the IQ of any individual, including a child. An IQ test can show signs of giftedness or intelligence deficiencies. Each child is special is his or her own way. Sandhu suggests instead of focusing solely on IQ scores, encourage children to excel at their strengths and areas of interest they enjoy while paying attention to weak areas that may need reinforcement.
Considerations
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IQ is a number, which is based on the measure of academic intelligence. Test scores can vary and do not take into account social considerations. Individual test scores can vary for each testing. IQ testing can be done with children as young as 3, but children shouldn't be ranked solely on testing alone.
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