A numerical score from a standardized intelligence test with 100 as the average is known as what?

• A. IQ (Intelligence Quotient)
• B. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale
• C. Standardization
• D. Normal Distribution (Bell Curve)

Answer: (A)

Think of the label given to the numerical score produced by a standardized intelligence test when the average is set at 100. That label is IQ, or Intelligence Quotient. Modern IQ tests are designed so the mean is 100 with a standard deviation around 15, creating a bell-shaped distribution that lets us compare a person’s performance to the general population. The other terms are different ideas: the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is the test itself, not the score; standardization refers to the process of creating a uniform scoring system; and a normal distribution describes the overall shape of score results, not the name of the score. For example, a score of 115 sits about one standard deviation above average, indicating higher relative performance compared to the typical range.