IQ of 45 what is the mental age

on

One of the main factors to take into account when looking at an IQ score is the age of the person that has taken the test. IQ scale: IQ charts by age. Different scores mean different things depending on age.

Even though there are many IQ tests available, they all use the same scale. Originally, the whole notion of IQ was arrived by the American psychologist and author Lewis Terman. Terman did not only devised the original IQ tests but also the scale used to classify all the different scores.

The IQ Scale

Although the scale for IQ scores can have slightly different names, it is always the same otherwise. Here is the original classification according to Terman:

Any IQ scores under 70 are classified as being “definite feeble-mindedness” or “low.” Scores between 70 and 79, indicate a “borderline deficiency” or “borderline low.” Those scores between 80 and 89 are indicative of “dullness” or “lower average.”

But scores between 90 and 109 indicate a “normal or average intelligence” or “higher average.” While scores between 110 and 119 are indicative of a “superior intelligence” or “above average.” Anyone scoring between 120 and 140 in their IQ test would be classified as having a “superior intelligence” or being “gifted.” The highest possible scores are those over 140, which indicates “genius or nearly genius.”

“We have seen that intellect and achievement are far from perfectly correlated.” — Lewis Terman

How are IQ Scores Distributed?

What follows is a very general estimation of the percentage of the population that fits into one of the categories that we have gone over.

Let us begin with the lowest scores. It is estimated that about 0.13% of people score low. About 2.14% of people score borderline low. 13.59% of people score below average, and 34.13% lower average.

Now let us look at the higher scores on the IQ scale. It is estimated that also about 34.13% of people have a higher average score. 13.59% of people have an above-average score. Only 2.14% of people attain a gifted score, while a tiny 0.13% of people can be classified under genius status.

People with a growth mindset believe that they can improve with effort. They outperform those with a fixed mindset, even when they have a lower IQ, because they embrace challenges, treating them as opportunities to learn something new. – Travis Bradberry

How Accurate Is The Data?

Although scores by age or nationality should always be taken with a pinch of salt it may be useful to look at them under certain circumstances.

There is no actual data organized by age, but there is some information about age groups. The following information should only be used for entertainment purposes, as it may not be totally accurate or the information may be out of date.

“If we encounter a man of rare intellect, we should ask him what books he reads.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is only data for people between the ages of 16 and 74. This is mostly because IQ tests are not recommended for younger children unless individually recommended and guided by a psychologist.

Having said all of that, here are the average scores on the IQ scale for each age group.

Average IQ For Each Age Group

It is estimated that the average score for 16 to 17-year-olds is 108, which denotes “normal or average intelligence.”

For adults between 18 and 19 years of age, the average IQ score is 105, which also denotes “normal or average intelligence.”

The average score for people between 20 and 24 years of age is 99, which also denotes “normal or average intelligence.”

For people between 24 and 34 years of age, the average score is slightly lower at 97, which still denotes “normal or average intelligence.”

The scores begin to go up again after that age, among older adults. For example, the average score for people between 35 and 44 years old is estimated to be 101, still within the “normal or average intelligence” scale.

If we don’t plant the right things, we will reap the wrong things. It goes without saying. And you don’t have to be, you know, a brilliant biochemist and you don’t have to have an IQ of 150. Just common sense tells you to be kind, ninny, fool. Be kind. – Maya Angelou

And for people between the ages of 45 and 54, the average IQ score goes up to 106 within the “normal or average intelligence” scale. But the highest average score for people under 64 is attained by those people between the ages of 55 and 64, which gets to 109 in the IQ scale, just about falling short of being classed as having a “superior intelligence” or “above average” intelligence and remaining firmly within the limits of a “normal or average intelligence” like all the other age groups.

Both age groups over 65 get a higher score. People between 65 and 69 have an average IQ score of 114, which puts them in the “superior intelligence” or “above average” end of the scale. But people between 70 and 74 who are tested for IQ get an even higher average score of 119, which puts them a mere 1 put short of getting into the “gifted” category, which means that they are still firmly within the “above average” or “superior intelligence” group together with their younger 65-69 years old counterparts.

It should not be a surprise to anyone that all age groups that have been tested always attain an average score since, as we have already seen, overall, most people who get their IQ tested get scores within that scale.

What Is the Normal Distribution of IQ Scores?

If you do not take age into account, you can look more globally at IQ scores.

For example, did you know that about 50 percent of IQ is between 90 and 110? Or that 70 percent have a score of between 85 and 115? These figures are surely illuminating. But, wait, it gets more interesting! About 95 percent of all IQ scores are between 70 and 130. And, the overwhelming majority of them (99.5 percent) do fall somewhere between 60 and 140.

Only the people who are in the highest 2 percent of the IQ scale can be admitted into Mensa, the largest and most prestigious high IQ society in the world, with members in most countries around the world.

IQ charts by age or any other criteria must be treated with the utmost care. One reason for that if that we must always ensure that we keep it scientific and that no prejudices whatsoever go into it. Also, there are many different tests available but only a small portion of people would actually take those tests. And then there is the issue of mortality that still varies considerably in different countries around the world.

While you might often hear a lot of talk about high and low intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, many people aren't quite sure what these designations really mean. IQ is short for "intelligence quotient," which is a measurement of human intelligence and mental abilities derived from standardized tests.

IQ tests include questions that are designed to measure a range of different mental abilities and intellectual potential. These questions focus on things such as spatial recognition, analytical thinking, short-term memory, and mathematical ability. These tests are not meant to measure what a person has learned, but rather what they are capable of doing. 

Low IQ scores may be associated with deficits in mental abilities that may impact life areas including school performance and job performance. Low Iq may also affect an individual's ability to live and function independently.

An IQ score of 70 or below is considered a low score. On most standardized tests of intelligence, the average score is set at 100. Anything over 140 is considered high or genius-level. Approximately 68% of all people score somewhere between 85 and 115, the range within 15 points of the average.

So what does it mean to have a score 70 or below? In the past, an IQ score below 70 was considered a benchmark for mental retardation, an intellectual disability characterized by significant cognitive impairments.

Today, however, IQ scores alone are not used to diagnose intellectual disability. Instead, the criteria for diagnosis include:

• An IQ of 70 or below
• Evidence that these cognitive limitations existed before the age of 18
• Serious limitations in areas such as learning and reasoning
• Severe limitations in adaptive areas such as communication and self-help skills.

Intellectual disability is the most common type of developmental disorder and affects approximately 0.05% to 1.55% of all people.

IQ is a score derived from a standardized test designed to measure intelligence. IQ tests formally emerged in the early 1900s with the introduction of the Binet-Simon test, which was later revised and became known as the Stanford-Binet. Binet developed his initial test to help the French government identify students with cognitive impairments who needed additional assistance in school.

IQ tests have proven to be very popular both within psychology and with the general public, but there remains a great deal of controversy about exactly what IQ tests measure and how accurate they are.

Older conceptions of low IQ tended to focus purely on cognitive abilities. However, more modern approaches also stress how well an individual functions mentally and in areas of everyday life.

Individuals with an IQ score below 70 may be diagnosed with an intellectual disability if they also experience impairment in one adaptive domain. Examples of such adaptive behaviors include the ability to take care of oneself and the ability to communicate and interact with other people.

The term "mental retardation" was previously used to describe individuals diagnosed with low IQ, but this term is now viewed as an insult and has been largely replaced by the term "intellectual developmental disorder" or "intellectual disability."

The term "mental retardation" is still used in some settings, including some diagnostic codes and for insurance purposes.

The most common causes of intellectual disability include:

• Genetic conditions such as Down syndrome
• Injuries such as head trauma and illnesses such as meningitis and seizure disorders
• Labor and delivery problems, such as not getting enough oxygen at birth
• Problems during pregnancy that impact brain development such as drug and alcohol use

Low cognitive ability can present a range of challenges in many different areas of life. Research suggests that low IQ is associated with an increased risk of unsuccessful educational and occupational achievement. Because of this association, it is important to identify potential problems as soon as possible in order to provide effective interventions and assistance.

IQ testing is sometimes used as part of the job screening process. For example, the U.S. military has enlistment standards stipulating that applicants must score at or above the tenth percentile on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Such scores are roughly equivalent to an IQ score of 85. 

IQ scores below 70 may indicate the presence of some type of intellectual disability and may be accompanied by difficulties in functioning including learning, self-care, and independent living.

IQ testing is often offered in educational, healthcare, and psychological settings, often to diagnose intellectual disability in children. IQ tests are also available online, but many of these are informal assessments and should not be used for diagnosis purposes.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, around 85% of kids with an intellectual disability score between 55 and 70.

IQ scores are just one way of measuring mental abilities. While a doctor or psychiatrist will consider IQ scores when diagnosing intellectual disability, they will also look at other factors including adaptive skills and overall functioning. While knowing your IQ score may help you better understand your needs, IQ alone does not determine success in life.

Thanks for your feedback!

What are your concerns?

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Trahan LH, Stuebing KK, Fletcher JM, Hiscock M. The Flynn effect: a meta-analysis. Psychol Bull. 2014;140(5):1332-60. doi:10.1037/a0037173

2. Weiss LG, Saklofske DH, Prifitera A et al. WISC-IV Advanced Clinical Interpretation. Elsevier; 2006.

3. McKenzie, K., Milton, M., Smith, G. et al. Systematic Review of the Prevalence and Incidence of Intellectual Disabilities: Current Trends and Issues. Curr Dev Disord Rep (2016) 3: 104. doi:10.1007/s40474-016-0085-7

4. McKenzie K, Milton M, Smith G, Ouellette-Kuntz H. Systematic Review of the Prevalence and Incidence of Intellectual Disabilities: Current Trends and Issues. Current Developmental Disorders Reports. 2016;3(2):104-115. doi:10.1007/s40474-016-0085-7

5. Nicolas S, Andrieu B, Croizet J-C, Sanitioso RB, Burman JT. Sick? Or slow? On the origins of intelligence as a psychological object. Intelligence. 2013;41(5):699-711. doi:10.1016/j.intell.2013.08.006

6. Papazoglou A, Jacobson LA, Mccabe M, Kaufmann W, Zabel TA. To ID or not to ID? Changes in classification rates of intellectual disability using DSM-5. Intellect Dev Disabil. 2014;52(3):165-74. doi:10.1352/1934-9556-52.3.165

7. Chiurazzi P, Pirozzi F. Advances in understanding - genetic basis of intellectual disability. F1000Res. 2016;5 doi:10.12688/f1000research.7134.1

8. Hegelund ER, Flensborg-Madsen T, Dammeyer J, Mortensen EL. Low IQ as a predictor of unsuccessful educational and occupational achievement: A register-based study of 1,098,742 men in Denmark 1968–2016. Intelligence. 2018;71:46-53. doi:10.1016/j.intell.2018.10.002

• American Academy of Pediatrics. Health issues: Intellectual disability; 2015.

• American Psychiatric Association (APA). What Is Intellectual Disability? Updated July 2017.
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Intellectual Disability. 2017.