Quick IQ Test, 25 Questions

UPDATED! This test now provides a table of how your score compares to the average taker of this test but it does not provide a numeric IQ score. If you would like to obtain your True Certified IQ Score, please take our Official IQ Test!

Welcome to our 25 question, quick IQ test. This is a 25 question IQ test with a 6-minute test timer. Once you click the Start Quiz button below your test will start with a 6-minute timer counting down. Once the timer is up or you have completed the 25 questions, you will be able to see your test score results. You will also see how your score compares to the average of other IQ test takers for this shorter 25 question test. Once your score is generated, you will also be able to see what IQ category your score falls within. Take this 25 question IQ test as many times as you want, or take our longer, Official IQ Test to receive a more accurate score.

Can a quick, free IQ test really gauge your intelligence?

Taking a quick test like this one will provide you with a score that is a benchmark for what you might expect on a longer form IQ test. Our goal is to provide you an estimate of where you stand on the grand scale of human intelligence via this 25 question IQ test. The questions must be completed within the 6-minute assessment window and any incomplete questions will score you no points. With this short time frame, you’ll need to be quick to comprehend and answer questions correctly. In order to gain a more accurate indicator of what your true IQ score is, taking a longer form IQ test may help. However, if you are just looking to practice typical IQ questions in a sample IQ test format, this quick test gives you the opportunity to do so. Many test takers use this 25 question test as they are preparing for an IQ test that they may have to take for employment or academic qualification purposes.

What is IQ?

IQ stands for “intelligence quotient” and it’s a term developed to explain human intelligence. An intelligence quotient is derived from several different types of standardized intelligence tests that use different methods to measure IQ. One of the most popular tests is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, though there are also other varieties of the Wechsler test designed to assess the mental ability of people from several different age groups.

In recent years, new intelligence tests have become popular which are less reliant on language and cultural knowledge. These types of “culture fair” tests are designed to assess non-verbal intelligence as psychologists continue to try to understand and measure strengths and weaknesses in different areas of intelligence. The Cattell Culture Fair Test is an example of one such test that takes this approach.

How do IQ scores work?

IQ scores follow a standard bell curve and have a mean score of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. That means approximately 68% of scores will fall within a range of 85 to 115, and around 95% of scores will fall between 70 and 130. Many people are curious as to what ranges constitute high IQ scores, and there is some general consensus around this. A score above one standard deviation, or 115, typically signals that a person has above average intelligence. Scoring over 130 will put you into the 98th percentile of intelligence, which is considered gifted. For someone to have a genius IQ they would typically need to score 160 or above, which only a fraction of a percentage of people in the world can attain. It’s important to keep in mind that these scores only constitute an estimate of a person’s intelligence, as there’s no way yet to perfectly measure a concept as abstract as intelligence. In fact, intelligence has been proven to be malleable, as people have found methods to increase their cognitive abilities and their scores.

IQ tests and Mensa

Mensa is a non-profit community set up as a network of individuals with high intelligence levels for the purpose of intellectual exchange. In order to be admitted to Mensa, you will need to score in the top 2 percentile or higher on an official Mensa test. If you are interested in joining Mensa, it is a good idea to take as many practice IQ tests as you can. When you feel that you are ready to take an official Mensa test, you can contact your local Mensa chapter for instructions on taking a Mensa approved test.

What are IQ tests used for?

While sites like this one can be good for giving you a rough idea of your mental abilities, an official IQ test can be used in a number of capacities. One of the most prominent uses for these tests is in educational environments to help identify learning disabilities place students in the appropriate classes to best match their perceived academic potential. Another use of these tests is in job placement. Some companies use this as one of the factors in rating job applicants to see if they have the mental capabilities to meet a job’s requirements.

While current methods of testing intelligence have been rigorously studied for validity, there is a long history of organizations large and small trying to develop intelligence related testing to help match people up to their appropriate tasks. After World War I the United States Army used tests developed by Robert Yerkes to try to assign military recruits to the most suitable task. These tests would later be replaced by the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) as their methods wouldn’t stand up to critical review. However, the widespread use and notoriety these tests received helped validate the field of psychology in the United States and earn it greater funding.

While a full-scale IQ test can be overkill, or simply too cumbersome for some businesses as they screen applicants, some shorter intelligence tests are still widely used. The most popular of those being the Wonderlic Test. This short form test is extremely popular for everything from white collar jobs to the NFL and is seen as a useful tool in gauging someone’s ability to think on their feet.