How does IQ change with age? Explore average IQ scores by age group, when cognitive abilities peak, and what research shows about intelligence across the lifespan.
Does Bilingualism Make You Smarter?
Does speaking two languages boost intelligence? Explore what research actually shows about bilingualism and cognitive ability — including the bilingual advantage debate and its limitations.
Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities
Few topics in psychology generate more heat and less light than sex differences in cognitive abilities. Claims range from “men and women are cognitively identical” to “there are fundamental, biologically determined differences that explain occupational disparities.” The data support neither extreme. Here is what large-scale research actually shows — including …
What an IQ of 130, 140, or 150 Means
If you’ve received a score of 130, 140, or 150 on an IQ test — or if you’re simply curious about what these numbers represent — you’ve likely found that the internet offers more mythology than explanation. These scores place individuals well above average, but what that means practically, statistically, …
Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence
Intelligence is not a single ability. One of the most important distinctions in cognitive science — and one that affects everything from how IQ tests are designed to how cognition changes with age — is the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence. Raymond Cattell formalized the distinction in 1963 in …
IQ vs. EQ: Which Matters More?
Few claims in pop psychology are as widely repeated as “EQ matters more than IQ.” It originated with Daniel Goleman’s 1995 trade book, was adopted enthusiastically by corporate training programs, and now anchors a global industry of leadership coaching. But the underlying claim — that emotional intelligence outpredicts cognitive intelligence …
The Flynn Effect: Are Humans Getting Smarter?
In 1984, political scientist James Flynn published a finding that would reshape how we think about intelligence: IQ scores had been rising steadily across the developed world for as long as records existed. The gains averaged roughly 3 points per decade — meaning the average person today would score in …
SAT Scores and IQ: How Closely Are They Correlated?
The SAT is the most widely taken standardized test in the United States, completed by over two million students annually. IQ tests are the most established instruments for measuring cognitive ability. Given their shared reliance on reasoning, problem-solving, and processing speed, a natural question arises: does your SAT score reflect …
Can You Actually Increase Your IQ?
Few questions in psychology generate as much debate as whether intelligence is fixed or malleable. The idea that IQ is set in stone — hardwired by genetics and sealed by early childhood — persists in popular culture, but the scientific picture is considerably more nuanced. Decades of research show that …
High IQ Ranges: Percentiles and Meaning
“High IQ” is one of the most loosely used phrases in popular discussion of intelligence. The honest answer to “what counts as a high IQ?” depends on whose classification you use, what test produced the score, and how confident the test was about it in the first place. Most clinicians …