Normal Range for an IQ
Anxious parents are often eager to have their children's intelligence tested. They believe that knowing their child's academic potential should allow them to set appropriate goals for educating that child, but intelligence quotient (or IQ) tests don't measure talent, determination, character, stamina, emotional health or physical abilities.
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IQ Test Designs
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All IQ tests are structured so that about 50 percent of any population will score between 90 and 110. This would be a normal score and indicate that the person tested is capable of tasks designed for his age level. A 6-year-old with a l00 IQ can be expected to learn to read in first grade.
Standard Deviations
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Deviations of 15 points above and below 100 encompass about 70 percent of a population. A bright 6-year-old with an IQ of 115 may learn to read somewhat faster than a child of the same age whose IQ is nearer to 100. This achievement would also depend on motivation, eyesight and dozens of other factors.
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Exceptional Levels
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Two standard deviations of 15 are a range of 70 to 130. The 70 score indicates a mild level of disability, but given excellent instruction, this person will achieve somewhat below his age level. A score of 130 places the person in the gifted category where university graduate students and professors may be clustered.
Warnings About IQ Tests
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Dependence on IQ tests can be a deterrent to a child's progress. A low score achieved on a day the child was ill may follow him throughout elementary school, causing him to be categorized as an average or below average student. It may be better to estimate a child's abilities based on his performance rather than to rely on test scores.
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References
- Photo Credit reading child 1 image by DMITRY BOKOV from Fotolia.com
