How to Find Out if You're a Genius
Standard IQ tests rate mental aptitude, though whether such tests are truly accurate measures of intelligence, let alone genius, remains controversial. The Stanford-Binet Intelligence scale assigns the genius level to fewer than 0.01 percent of the population, meaning that true genius as measured by intelligence quotient tests is extremely rare. Mensa, the International Society for High IQ, admits people who score in the top 2 percent of an approved intelligence test. On two of the most often used IQ tests, the Stanford-Binet and the Weschsler, a score of over 130 ranks in the top 2 percent.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Take a practice IQ test. Many are available online. This will help you prepare so you perform at your best on a supervised IQ test, which will give you official results.
-
2
Take a standardized IQ test from a legitimate organization like Mensa.
-
-
3
Check your IQ test results. An IQ score of 165 or greater generally earns the genius classification. An IQ score of 145 to 160 counts as very gifted and a score greater than 130 ranks as gifted and qualifies as a "high IQ" according to Mensa.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Certain books and websites have standardized intelligence tests that give you an opportunity to test your IQ. Mensa International offers a practice test on its website that allows you to test your IQ, although the results aren't official and won't qualify you for membership.
An average IQ score is 90 to 110, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
You may get a better indication of your score by taking more than one IQ test under timed and controlled conditions than by taking a test informally.
There may be some cultural bias in standardized IQ tests, although there have been attempts to improve the tests to make them a better indicator of intelligence for people with various cultural backgrounds. IQ tests are not a predictor of talent or achievement.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
