Above Average IQ Score - A How-To Guide
According to the way the scale was designed, the average IQ
score is supposed to be 100. The tests are made so that in theory
half the population will score below 100 and half above. They
are also scored according to age of the test taker. In other
words, a ten-year-old will not get the same test as an adult.
Your score, however, should be roughly the same at age ten as
when you are an adult--again, this is in theory.
In any case, whatever one's view of the accuracy or relevance
of IQ tests, they do measure something. Below is a breakdown
of IQ scores in a typical population.
130 or higher: 2.2% of the population.
120-129: 6.7% of the population.
110-119: 16.1% of the population.
90-109 (Average): 50% of the population.
80-89: 16.1% of the population.
70-79: 6.7% of the population.
Below 70: 2.2% of the population.
Three Steps to an Above Average IQ Score
Can anyone have an above average IQ score? No. If you are
starting at 70, you will likely never have a score of 100. However,
I believe that most people can raise their score from wherever
they start. Here are three ways to do this:
1. The first way is to learn how to be a better test taker.
Go through the test quickly, skipping over questions you aren't
sure about. Then return to those later. It is better on a timed
test to answer all the easy questions first. You wouldn't want
to have no answer for several easy ones just because you spent
too much time trying to get the answer to a tougher one.
On multiple choice tests you should always answer every question.
If you are not sure first eliminate the answers that you know
or suspect are incorrect. Then choose one of the remaining. If
you can eliminate two of four answers on a number of questions,
you'll get half of those questions right on average.
Note: Some will argue that this has nothing
to do with increasing your IQ, but only your score. They are
probably right, but as a practical matter, I would say that your
"functional intelligence" has been raised by learning
a skill (test-taking) that can help you in real life. By this
I mean that productive use of intelligence is more relevant to
life than some theoretical measurement of potential. - Steve
2. The second way to boost your average IQ score is to have
the right conditions in place. Sleep well before the test, breath
deeply through your nose, and sit up straight. These things are
shown to improve performance on almost any test. Recent studies
show that eating fish speeds up brain waves and increases concentration,
so you may want to try that too.
If you are allowed music during the test, make it Mozart.
Otherwise, listen to it just before the test. In one study, subjects
who listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K.
448 for ten minutes before an IQ test scored nine points higher.
Do whatever you can to have your body and mind ready for the
test.
3. The third way to boost that IQ score is to exercise your
brain. This is a longer term strategy that assumes you can actually
permanently improve your brain function and intelligence. It
is a safe assumption in my experience, and in any case no harm
will come from the effort.
To exercise and improve your brain power, see the site map
or home page. You'll find pages on brain
exercises, and riddles
and puzzles.
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