What is the average I.Q. for a child?

[golfgal]

MENSA requires an IQ of 160 or so. I think a technical "genius" IQ is at 160 or above.

 

[Mjasp]

I am on a committee in our school for gifted education, and gifted is 130 and over 160 is profoundly gifted, and 140-150 is highly gifted. I wish I could find my papers.

130 or over brings you in the top 2 percent of the population, although 130 isn't that high, compared to 140 and up, I guess it is in the top 2 percent, so there are a lot of smart people out there, BUT it is what you do with it that matters.

 

[twocjsmom]

Not to start a debate or argument, but the newest versions of the two most commonly given intelligence tests, the Stanford Binet V (SB-V) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children - IV (WISC-IV) actually have standard deviations of 10, with 90-110 being the average range. I was a little thrown by that when they first came out, since before then , all such tests were normed to have SDs of 15, but these newest versions came out this way. Despite this, like I said before, IQ shouldnt just be identified as a single #, but as a range of performance. Even the full scale score may not be the best descriptor of ability, but thats a whole other bag of worms.

 

[Deb in IA]

I agree with twocjsmom.

I would also add that there are times when we deliberately refrain from assigning an IQ score, particularly if there is a significant discrepancy between the two components of the test.

The IQ score is a combination of verbal skills and nonverbal, or performance skills.

If those two subscales differ by more than 15 points, then a single IQ score does not accurately reflect that person's cognitive profile. And I've seen scores that differed by up to 28 points!!

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm a school psychologist so I administer and interpret intelligence tests every day at work. Yes, intelligence is supposed to remain stable over time, in the absence of any medical conditions, injuries, emotional, or behavioral influences that can alter one's performance during test administration. For example, if I am evaluating a student with hyperactive and impulsive behaviors that are present during the session, I interpret the results with caution, and note in my report that the results most likely represent a low estimate of that student's present level of cognitive ability due to said behaviors. Anyways, IQ isn't supposed to be referred to as a single number, but rather, as a range of scores (i.e, average, low average, borderline, high average, superior, very superior). When it is scored up, you do obtain the single score, but also a range of scores (confidence interval stating that if you were to repeat the assessemnt over time, you would have a 90 or 95% chance of obtaining scores within that range without the effect of error). The number is reported as a means of comparison to other assessment scores (they are all presented in standard score format, with the mean being 100 and a standard deviation of 15 or 10 depending on the test). That being said, to answer the OPs question, 100 is considered to be the average score, with 90-110 making the average range on tests like the WISC-IV, and 120 and above making the superior and very superior ranges.

Sorry for the clinical reponse. I've been sitting here writing up some psych reports that are due since I was away last week (at Disney, of course!) and I guess I'm on a roll.

I think this would have been almost word for word my answer! I'm finishing up my second year in a school psych program, just have the internship remaining.

The WISC and SB still have the SDs of 15, the range for average is just 90-110 though, it's been that way on every test I've learned (probably 10-15 Cognitives). It doesn't make sense at all. The SD is different from the range...no sense whatsoever. You don't have any contacts down here to help me get an internship do you? hehe

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Not to start a debate or argument, but the newest versions of the two most commonly given intelligence tests, the Stanford Binet V (SB-V) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children - IV (WISC-IV) actually have standard deviations of 10, with 90-110 being the average range. I was a little thrown by that when they first came out, since before then , all such tests were normed to have SDs of 15, but these newest versions came out this way. Despite this, like I said before, IQ shouldnt just be identified as a single #, but as a range of performance. Even the full scale score may not be the best descriptor of ability, but thats a whole other bag of worms.

When the school psychs report out on the new WISC in my school they do not give a number anymore but rather a label. I am a sped teacher and the change of the new SD on the WISC does not really change the number of students placed on an ed plan. AS everyone says it is just a number however, in order to be eligible for services it serves as a cut off to some extent.

 

[C.Ann]

IQ means so little!

I have an extremely high one...does me NO good.

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This can be SO true! When my son was tested in kindergarten he scored in the superior range - BUT - due to other problems (hyperactivity; emotional problems; etc.) it has done absolutely NOTHING to enhance his life or insure any sort of success (he's 37 years old now).. About the only thing it has done is help him to come up with some very creative ways to get out of the jams he gets himself into..

It's really sad.. SO much potential, but bascially useless in his case..

 

[Mjasp]

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This can be SO true! When my son was tested in kindergarten he scored in the superior range - BUT - due to other problems (hyperactivity; emotional problems; etc.) it has done absolutely NOTHING to enhance his life or insure any sort of success (he's 37 years old now).. About the only thing it has done is help him to come up with some very creative ways to get out of the jams he gets himself into..

It's really sad.. SO much potential, but bascially useless in his case..

A lot of gifted children are not good students, especially in a "regular" classroom. I always bring up to teachers their problem students just may be very intelligent and they are not taught properly, as we all know gifted children do not learn through repetition. It can make them misbehave with boredom. Their mind is always going and they have no patience to sit their and do nothing while the teacher is teaching the same thing AGAIN.

It's sad, but true.

 

[paigevz]

I agree with twocjsmom.

I would also add that there are times when we deliberately refrain from assigning an IQ score, particularly if there is a significant discrepancy between the two components of the test.

The IQ score is a combination of verbal skills and nonverbal, or performance skills.

If those two subscales differ by more than 15 points, then a single IQ score does not accurately reflect that person's cognitive profile. And I've seen scores that differed by up to 28 points!!

I thought it very interesting that my son was given the WISC and scored 16 points between his verbal and nonverbal (nonverbal being the higher), since when I tried to get him speech therapy in 3rd grade, and they had told me he'd scored in the 12th percentile in both receptive and expressive language, but had to be under the 10th for services. That's all I needed to know, though, since he was scoring 95th and above on his CogAT nonverbal and quantitative, and I said "Well, he's got a true disability there, hasn't he?" She agreed, but she said still not low enough for services...........but certainly enough difference to greatly affect how he shows what he knows, if you know what I mean.

They gave this test in his new school district to see if he qualified for their gifted program. First they gave him an abilities test that they scaled for an IQ score...........not really an IQ test, as it needed grade-specific content to be successful. She tried to tell me he had an IQ far below what I knew he had, then found out he had the test at 11, just before his noon dose of ADHD meds. He's severely ADHD, so I asked for retesting, and got these other results..........verbal was 25 points higher than the first measure they got, and nonverbal was 41! Funny thing was, I didn't even care if he got into the program or not........I'm a teacher, and it doesn't do them much good to be identified in our area anyway, at the most they get a little bit of pull-out enrichment.........but the figure she quoted me.........I just couldn't have my child's file with that result in there knowing it wasn't him!

Just to point out that so much can influence these tests........just don't judge your kids' whole lives by the test.

 

[paigevz]

A lot of gifted children are not good students, especially in a "regular" classroom. I always bring up to teachers their problem students just may be very intelligent and they are not taught properly, as we all know gifted children do not learn through repetition. It can make them misbehave with boredom. Their mind is always going and they have no patience to sit their and do nothing while the teacher is teaching the same thing AGAIN.

It's sad, but true.

Yes, it is, and what's really sad is in many cases they can't be identified. I have tried to get some truly gifted kids identified, but their behaviors won't even let them test well. Anything from OCD stuff that keeps them from truly keeping their mind on the test, to hyperactivity, to oppositional behaviors so they "throw" the test, to just trying to live up to their reputation as a failure...........and that's if I can even get anyone to listen to me and test them........generally, they take one look at their grade averages and their office referrals and won't even try it.

 

[Longsx3]

I know it probably only matters a little in the big scheme of things

I'm just really curious because our kids are going through testing right now. I just want to know.

I just wish there was one place to get the answer.

So, FreshTressa, what is high?

If you are looking for information for IQ & Gifted Programs, do a seaech for talented and gifted children and you will find some information.

 

[FreshTressa]

(Since you asked)

My son, 8, is in the mid 140's and my daughter, 7, and I are in the high 150's to low 160's. I guess those are high, if the statistics are correct.

I think you have to be above 140 to get into our district's gifted program, which I have opted out of.

But again, I am no genius!!

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

As a grandma who's been there, has the t-shirt, please don't worry too much about your child's IQ as long as he's happy at school and you know he's learning. Like other people have said, there are way more important factors to consider in trying to determine if your child will be a successful adult. Getting along well with others, common sense, dependability, persistence, determination, honesty....the list goes on and on. There are a lot of really stooooopid people out there with very high IQ's.

 

[FreshTressa]

As a grandma who's been there, has the t-shirt, please don't worry too much about your child's IQ as long as he's happy at school and you know he's learning. Like other people have said, there are way more important factors to consider in trying to determine if your child will be a successful adult. Getting along well with others, common sense, dependability, persistence, determination, honesty....the list goes on and on. There are a lot of really stooooopid people out there with very high IQ's.

Hehe, exactly...

And some very successful/wise people with low IQ's.

That is why I keep my kids out of the gifted program. They are like me and test well, but are absent-minded and can sometimes lack common sense!!

 

[floridafam]

please don't worry too much about your child's IQ as long as he's happy at school and you know he's learning

I agree. I would never let this define them. The only reason we were told is because they have to meet certain criteria for the gifted program-which their teachers referred them to.

both my kids are so happy in school. I feel really lucky. They just love it.

We love them no matter how they are doing in school.

 

[keishashadow]

All of my 3 boys tested high enough to be classified as "gifted". As for it being a predictor of how well they'll perform in school, i.e. grades; that's a different story.

The first one "dumbed-down" to fit in w/jock friends (went to private college w/honors & now a group home supervisor & head high school football coach).

The second received barely passing grades but, consistent high stand. test grades (1 year in comm. college & now in police academy).

The third in jr. high we purposely kept out of "gifted" classes/designation. Although he's in classes w/all gifted kids LOL. I took a sabatical/early retirement & prefer to arrange enrichment via life experiences & classes @ local colleges/challenge him myself...seems to be working thus far.

Interesting trend I've found over the years is the number of parents who, when they find out their child misses the mark on the school tests; proceed to private psychologists. They nearly always miraculously score much higher. Our district has instituted a portfolio & review system recently.

Bottom line - I, too, was considered gifted...trust me, it is not necessarily a barometer for carrer/personal success or wealth...plenty of classic underachievers out there.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

OP: If you child is eligible to join the gifted program please ask them if they want to join. I found out years too late that when I was in first grade I was asked to join and my parents said no. They never asked me if I wanted to enroll or not. I would have loved to be in the gifted program. I had a lot of friends in the program and I would have truly enjoyed the activities. Years later I am still a little mad and it is all because my teacher said I was eligible but she didn't know if I was "gifted" enough. Ugh. I think I've proved her wrong over the years. to you my first grade teacher!

I am in no way being snooty. I still lack common sense and do drastically dumb things often. You know those people that spill coffee on themselves while looking at their watch? Thats me.

 

[minkydog]

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This can be SO true! When my son was tested in kindergarten he scored in the superior range - BUT - due to other problems (hyperactivity; emotional problems; etc.) it has done absolutely NOTHING to enhance his life or insure any sort of success (he's 37 years old now).. About the only thing it has done is help him to come up with some very creative ways to get out of the jams he gets himself into..

It's really sad.. SO much potential, but bascially useless in his case..

Too true. My oldest child has a high IQ and is gifted in the arts. He also has severe learning disabilities, ADD, and depression which seriously impacts his abilities.

My youngest son has an IQ<20. The list of his short-comings would fill 2 notebook pages. However, he is one of the most pleasant kids, very loving, friendly and cooperative. To know Christian is to know pure joy.

Now my father was a bonafide genius, 160+ IQ. He was the most brilliant man I ever met. But he couldn't hold a job, had no respect for others,sarcastic, arrogant, was a poor husband and a worse father, and at the end of his life he had three kids(out of 5) who wouldn't even come see him.

My dad once needled me,"How did you manage to get a man who would give you a kid like that?" My answer: Just lucky, I guess.

I am unimpressed by a high IQ

 

[punkin]

This testing is all a joke. I had to go through it with my older daughter and it was completely useless. She had a 32 point difference between verbal and non verbal scores (that points to a LD), but because her lower score tested in the high average, she got no services.

So...she is considered gifted (actually her overall IQ score puts her in the 99%) and in 2 honors classes, but her grades are not up to her potential and I have to deal with teachers who keep telling me she's not working hard enough. She gets Bs in honor classes and they tell me it's not high enough.

She hates school and is already talking about not going to college (she's in 8th grade). I am very worried.

 

[floridafam]

Yes, I have asked DS if he wanted to be in the gifted program. We wouldn't force him to be if he had doubts about it.

He says that he wants to. He is really happy and loves school so we will definately evaluate if these things change.

They offered to move him into 3rd grade when he was in 1st (in Michigan) and we said no. He had great friends and he said he didn't want to move so we declined.

Happiness comes first. I just feel very fortunate that they love learning. I know that could change at any time.

We didn't even mention that he was gifted when we transferred down here. His teachers just picked it up.

We weren't expecting DD to get referred for testing but her teacher said she did because of her lexile score and a few other things.

As long as they both get full ride scholarships to the University of Miami, DH will be happy (YES, I'm being sarcastic)