IQ OR INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT

Many parents want to know what IQ means and how it is determined. IQ is a ratio developed to denote the level of mental abilities whether they are superior, average or below normal. It is quotient which is obtained arithmetically. The mental age of a child is ascertained in months by using well-developed intelligence tests. A mental age of eight years implies that the child is doing things which and average eight year old can do. Mental age is months, ascertained by an intelligence test is divided by chronological age which is (the actual age) in months. The ratio is multiplied by 100 to overcome the fractions. An IQ between 90 and 110 is average. A child with higher IQ is supposed to be mire intelligent. Psychologists and educationists have spent years to develop and then to standardize tests of mental abilities. These tests consist of all the major abilities which have been identified as the components of intelligence. The commonly included abilities are numerical ability, verbal ability, abstract thinking, reasoning, space relations and perception with time, psychologists have added more dimensions to make the test as universal as possible. Tests which were based mainly on manipulation and adaptation skills were developed as it was felt that there was too much stress on language. Administration and scoring of a test is also planned carefully and only a trained person can administer a test accurately.