What your IQ score doesn't tell you | U-M LSA Department of Psychology (2024)

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What your IQ score doesn't tell you | U-M LSA Department of Psychology? ›

It doesn't measure your creativity. It doesn't measure your curiosity. It doesn't tell your parents or teachers about your emotional readiness.

An IQ score doesn't measure your practical intelligence: knowing how to make things work, says Richard Nisbett, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. It doesn't measure your creativity. It doesn't measure your curiosity.

An average IQ score is between 85 and 115. 68% of IQ scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean. That means that the majority of people have an IQ score between 85 and 115.

After all, IQ tests are designed to measure a person's potential. It does not take into account other very important factors like ambition, motivation, opportunity, the ability to think clearly under pressure etc. etc.

Most doctors, lawyers, or psychologists you encounter probably have an IQ of around 120 at most. "Through this, they tend to pick up new information and remember things more effortlessly," says Shiels. But people with higher IQs aren't fitting into this mold.

Taylor Alison Swift, an American singer-songwriter, is reputed to possess an IQ of 160 according to certain reputable sources. Notably, she holds a record in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest singer ever to sign a deal at the age of 11.

In summary, Elon Musk is one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time. He is the founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and several other companies. He is also known for his high IQ. Estimates of Musk's IQ range from 155 to 160.

Types of IQ Tests and Tasks

The most commonly used test series is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and its counterpart, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). Other commonly used tests include the original and updated version of Stanford-Binet, and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children.

By the current "deviation IQ" definition of IQ test standard scores, about two-thirds of all test-takers obtain scores from 85 to 115, and about 5 percent of the population scores above 125 (i.e. normal distribution).

Why doesn't a high IQ mean you're smart? ›

No, not necessarily. Intelligence tests do not measure good everyday decision-making skills, and a person can be highly intelligent and still make poor or unhealthy decisions that inhibit success, Lexow notes. She adds that motivation is another big factor in success that has nothing to do with intelligence.

America sits in spot 29, with an average IQ of 97.43, slightly below the 100-mark average set in most tests. Drawing on public data from IQ tests, SAT and ACT scores, Data Pandas created a ranking of U.S. states by their average IQ, seen here on a map created by Newsweek.

IQ tests are also criticized because the results are often used to label some students as slow learners. Finally, IQ tests do not offer information on motivation, emotion, attitudes, and other similar factors that may have a strong bearing on a person's success in school and in life.

What is the average IQ of a psychologist? The average is probably between 115 and 130 for phd psychologists. Lower than 115 it becomes difficult to perform well in graduate school. Above 130 represents an even smaller portion of the population.

According to the IQ Comparison Site, the average IQ of medical doctors is around 120 points.

This is because IQ-tests are designed to measure that type of thinking. In Psychology you need a different type and you are completely fine with average IQ.

While IQ tests are generally considered to measure some forms of intelligence, they may fail to serve as an accurate measure of broader definitions of human intelligence inclusive of, for example, creativity and social intelligence.

One relationship that's commonly found is that people with higher IQ scores tend to have more success in the professional realm. Some studies have suggested that people with higher IQs tend to perform better academically, have more successful careers, and are more likely to enjoy economic comfort.

However, based on historical records, Einstein's estimated IQ is around 160.