One thing that never ceases to impress us is exactly the same thing that makes us special and so different from other species on our planet. It is our intelligence.
Perhaps much advanced civilizations with intelligence quotients we could never fathom, exist somewhere out there.
According to some quite genius theorists that are all high above the average IQ themselves, for sure, we have not yet reach such a level of consciousness that is undoubtedly associated with high intelligence.
So far, we have been trying to define human intelligence and to ‘trap’ it in Intelligence Quotient tests scales.
Well, that has never been an easy task and IQ tests often show many holes, although they could be of great help is, for example, human resources and employment field in general.
The thing is that IQ scores never show all potentials and capacities of an individual. It is often argued about the idea of IQ scores as predictors of success in life.
While high IQ score definitely proves one possesses capacities for more knowledge, more thoughtfulness, more inventiveness and creativity in terms of mindful and intelligent thinking, none of these guarantee the one is going to be successful.
There are additional factors that would, of course, affect someone’s life path, personal development, achievement and actual realization of their IQ score in reality.
IQ Test Beginnings
Intelligence Quotient testing has started in the early twentieth century, in France. French psychologists Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon were authors of the first test. This one was intended as a tool for educational purposes.
At the time, the French government decided that all children should go to school and get education. As it was logical to assume that some would need more assistance in learning, the test was needed in the selection process.
The test introduced by Alfred Binet was based on the three following parameters that of memory skills, the level of attention and task solving abilities. The results proved that chronological age of the kids does not necessarily correspond to the level of intelligence, as scored according to these tests.
Some younger ones were much more efficient or quicker in performing the test compared to older children.
Binet proposed the criterion of mental age, instead of that of physical age, which was quite a great idea. We are sure you definitely know some young adults who are much brighter and brilliant thinkers in comparison to some older people.
It all depends on many factors and not only the age of the test participants, if we stick to the IQ testing.
This IQ test became the basis of all other tests that followed. However, the author himself was very aware that this test had many flaws and that human intelligence cannot be scored according to one criterion solely.
Such form of IQ test is limiting; it tells nothing about inborn talents, for example. You can have an amazing singer or an artist with an average IQ score and yet that person would be by all means considered above the average in other terms.
This only lead us to conclusion that IQ scores cannot be taken as life success predictors, at least not if other factors are put aside. Someone’s socio-cultural background, life circumstances, their personality traits and character, temperament and other aspects would play a major role.
Although character and intelligence might have many meeting pints, one does not necessarily correspond with the other.
Tests after Binet-Simon IQ Model
After first introduced to the United States, Binet-Simon test went through the process of standardization done by Stanford University and was officially proclaimed as a norm for IQ testing in 1916.
The test became known as Stanford-Binet IQ test. It presented with single number Intelligence Quotient we all call an IQ score, such as, for example, your IQ 129 score.
Army alpha and Beta tests are also worth of mentioning, as they were invented during the First World War as a human resources selective test; there was a pressing need for a test that would help in selection of the army recruits and help in assigning them to fitting positions within the army. These tests were different in form.
The first was written and the other came in pictures. The idea was to test both those who could not read or did not speak English and the other ones who knew.
WAIS IQ Test
The next tests were that invented by psychologist David Wechsler in 1955. This was more detailed and complex test, which is still in use. This test had more parameters, such as perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed and verbal comprehension.
Later revised, WAIS test (Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale) became a part of what is called WIS family of tests, since the author created other specific intelligence tests, such as the two for measuring children’s intelligence.
The fourth edition of the test, WAIS-IV, is currently in use, while the data for the next version has been collecting since 2016. Wechsler test results on the parameters mentioned are being compared within the same age group participants.
Modern psychometrics offer all kinds of possible solutions in testing and scoring results on human intelligence.
There have also been different classifications, with simper or more detailed ranges explained.
What is An Average IQ Score?
The average score of IQ test is set around 100. On classical scale, IQ scores between 90 and 109 are considered of average Intelligence Quotient. So, is it a ‘good’ result? What does it mean to have an average intelligence?
Understanding the average intelligence would help us better understand other intelligence ranges.
Although ‘average’ might sound easy to explain, it is not. There are many factors to consider in determining the average score.
This raises many unpleasant and controversial questions, such as those of race, differences between men and women, nationality and so on. These are all extremely sensitive subjects and a cause for a debate over IQ tests reliability as such.
Speaking about the average score on any of the scales, we have to tell that it does not in fact reveal much about you.
It means you have average reasoning and average problem solving abilities, but it does not tell what you are capable of. You could be an exceptionally artistic and creative individual and yet, you could have an average score.
Emotional intelligence is an extremely important factor, as well.
Some researches and studies also point out that IQ scores are not necessarily fixed; they could, in fact, change over the years, even to 20 points of difference!
IQ Scores in Real Life
While IQ test scores reveal something about one’s potentials and brightness, problem solving skills, reasoning, verbal comprehension and such things, they do not tell about whole of one’s capabilities.
Scales and ranges give a descriptive of different levels of intelligence, but these have to be taken into consideration with caution.
Obviously, very low scores do tell that those who fall under such categories are usually in need of assistance, supervision, they are immature, incapable of decision making and so on.
Higher scores are often more difficult to understand in real life, since an average IQ does not tell about the full potential of an individual, just as higher IQs do not guarantee any success in life.
That is the reason why more and more psychologists are inclined towards the idea of multiple intelligences.
The idea was proposed in the early eighties of the previous century by Howard Gardner. According to this approach, there were eight types of human intelligence.
They are visual-spatial intelligence, musical-rhythmic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, verbal-linguistic, naturalistic intelligence, interpersonal and intra personal intelligence.
The point of this interesting approach was not that a person could focus on his or her ‘strongest’ intelligence trait; it actually proposes that each person has certain level in each category. All of these intelligences should be nurtured.
This idea has been argued by man, ever since and is, of course nor perfect, just as no other was perfect. However, it gives a more flexible approach to understanding human intelligence as a whole.
Classical scale divides IQ score in several categories of which range below 70 stands for feeble-mindedness, range between 70 and 79 are borderline deficient, those from 80 to 89 are labeled as ‘dull’.
Scores that fall between 90 and 109 are average or normally intelligent, 110 to 119 are very intelligent. Those between 120 and 140 are considered highly intelligent and this is where you stand with your IQ 129 score.
All scores above 140 are believed to be genius or near genius scores.
In one of the modern scales, scores up to 180 are specifically classified and these are all quite rare Intelligence Quotient scores.
IQ 129 Score Meaning
So you got IQ 129 score and now you wonder what it means. Well, on classical scale, your score falls under the category of ‘highly intelligent’ or ‘very superior intelligence’, which stands for the range between 120 and 140.
On one of more detailed modern scales, your score is considered ‘above average’, and just a point below ‘gifted’. Okay, but does it actually matter?
Well, this score is by all means high and above the average, which definitely opens up some rather favorable opportunities in life, in terms of education, in the first place and then work.
People with this high intelligence quotient are perfectly capable of undertaking complex and extensive research endeavors, learning in academic environment, studying and else.
They are brilliant in gathering and processing information from written materials and from experience, capable of making original conclusions and brining out new ideas. Their IQ score corresponds with that of Master’s degree, if we speak in educational development terms.
Since very close to those ‘gifted’, they should probably be encouraged to take PhD degree.
Nevertheless, personal results and achievements would always depend on many additional factors. You might meet a person who works some average job and has no academic achievements and yet is indeed a bright person with this high IQ score.
It depends on life circumstances, socio-cultural background and many more; emotional intelligence aspect not the least important.
IQ 129 score alone does not mean you are either the smartest or the fittest person for a particular career, task, project or whatsoever. Your personality matter a lot, as well as other defining aspects of a human being as an individual.
In recent years, psychologists turn to what is being called multiple intelligences that take into account eight types of intelligence.
