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IQ testing
Definition
IQ tests are a series of assessments used to determine the general intelligence, or "intelligence quotient" (IQ), of an individual in relation to other people the same age.
Alternative Names
Intelligence testing
Information
There are many IQ tests used today, and the question of whether they measure actual intelligence or simply certain abilities continues to be controversial.
The Wechsler test is the most standardized and widely used exam. Average test results range from 90 - 110:
- A score below 70 indicates mental retardation.
- A person who scores 130 or higher is usually considered gifted, although different programs set different levels for this classification.
- A person with a score of 165 or higher is usually classified a genius.
IQ tests measure a specific functioning ability and may not accurately assess a person's talents or future potential. Results of any intelligence test may be culturally biased.
Review Date:
12/1/2004
Reviewed By: James W. Dilley, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Reviewed By: James W. Dilley, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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