The symmetrical bell-shaped pattern of scores in which most people score near the average and fewer score toward the extremes is known as what?

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

Answer: (B)

The normal distribution describes a symmetric bell-shaped pattern where most scores cluster around the average and only a few fall at the extremes. This shape shows up in many natural measurements and in standardized test scoring, because tests are designed so that the mean sits in the middle and values taper off toward the ends. It’s also the basis for the empirical rule: about 68% of scores fall within one standard deviation of the mean, about 95% within two, and about 99.7% within three. The other terms refer to specific tools or constructs rather than the distribution pattern itself: a widely used intelligence test and the resulting IQ score describe measurement, while emotional intelligence is a different, non-technical construct.