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Quizzes > History > Modern History

Challenge Yourself with Our IQ Test History Quiz

Think you know the history of IQ testing? Start the challenge!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for IQ Test History Quiz on a coral background

Use this IQ Test History Quiz to review the origins, key figures, and big milestones in IQ testing, and put events in order while you race the clock. You'll sharpen recall and pick up a few facts along the way; if you want to warm up first, try our quick U.S. history warm‑up.

Who is credited with developing the first practical intelligence (IQ) test?
Lewis Terman
Charles Spearman
Alfred Binet
William Stern
Alfred Binet, along with his collaborator Théodore Simon, created the first systematic intelligence test in 1905 to identify French schoolchildren needing special assistance. The Binet-Simon scale introduced the concept of mental age and laid the groundwork for modern IQ testing. This test was later adapted and standardized in the United States. .
In what year was the original Binet-Simon intelligence scale first published?
1899
1905
1916
1925
The first edition of the Binet-Simon scale was published in 1905 after several years of research into measuring children's intellectual abilities. This edition marked the debut of systematic IQ testing based on mental and chronological age comparisons. Subsequent revisions refined the test and introduced the concept of IQ scores. .
What term did Binet use to describe a child's level of cognitive development on his original test?
Mental age
Intellectual quotient
Developmental level
Cognitive index
Binet introduced the concept of mental age to indicate the age level at which a child performed intellectually. This was compared to the child's chronological age to assess whether cognitive development was ahead or behind peers. Mental age became a core concept in early IQ calculation. .
Which psychologist standardized the Binet-Simon test at Stanford University, creating the first American version of the IQ test?
Charles Spearman
David Wechsler
Lewis Terman
Raymond Cattell
Lewis Terman of Stanford University revised the Binet-Simon scale and published the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale in 1916. His version introduced the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) formula to make scores more comparable across ages. The Stanford-Binet became the primary IQ test in the U.S. for decades. .
What is defined as the average IQ score on most modern intelligence tests?
100
85
115
90
Modern IQ tests are standardized so that the mean score is 100, placing the average individual at the center of a normal distribution. This scaling helps compare individuals across different age groups and populations. Standard deviations (often 15 points) measure variability around that mean. .
Which high-IQ society administers standardized IQ tests to individuals scoring in the top percentile for membership?
Rotary International
Phi Beta Kappa
Sigma Xi
Mensa
Mensa, founded in 1946, admits members who score at or above the 98th percentile on approved standardized intelligence tests. The society provides its own testing sessions and accepts scores from many major IQ tests. It is the largest and best-known high-IQ group worldwide. .
Which nonverbal intelligence test features abstract pattern completion and is widely used in research and clinical settings?
Stanford-Binet
Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Cattell Culture Fair Test
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Raven’s Progressive Matrices, introduced in 1938, consists of visual pattern puzzles that assess abstract reasoning without relying on language skills. It’s designed to measure the general intelligence factor (g) and is considered culture-fair. Its nonverbal format makes it widely used in cross-cultural research. .
Which psychologist introduced the concept of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) formula in the 1916 Stanford-Binet revision?
Alfred Binet
William Stern
Theodore Simon
Lewis Terman
Lewis Terman coined the term IQ and formalized the calculation as (Mental Age/Chronological Age) × 100 in his 1916 Stanford-Binet revision. This formula standardized scores so that a mental age equal to the chronological age resulted in an IQ of 100. Prior versions did not use this numerical quotient. .
In what year was the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale first published in the United States?
1923
1916
1905
1939
The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, standardized by Lewis Terman, was first published in 1916. This edition introduced the IQ formula and established a new norming sample based on U.S. children. It remained a primary IQ assessment tool for decades. .
Which World War I assessment was among the first large-scale applications of group IQ testing?
Raven’s Progressive Matrices
Wechsler-Bellevue
Cattell Culture Fair
Army Alpha
The Army Alpha test, developed in 1917, was designed to efficiently screen large numbers of U.S. military recruits during World War I. It assessed verbal and numerical abilities using a group-format test. This was one of the first large-scale uses of standardized IQ testing. .
Who developed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) in 1955?
Lewis Terman
David Wechsler
Raymond Cattell
Alfred Binet
David Wechsler introduced the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale in 1955 to assess adult intelligence with both verbal and performance subtests. His scales used a deviation IQ model rather than the mental-age ratio. The WAIS remains one of the most widely administered IQ tests globally. .
During which decade was Raven’s Progressive Matrices first published?
1920s
1940s
1950s
1930s
Raven’s Progressive Matrices were first introduced by John C. Raven in 1938. The nonverbal test was designed to assess abstract reasoning independently of language or cultural background. Its simple format of completing visual patterns remains effective in varied populations. .
What phenomenon describes the observed rise in average IQ scores over successive generations?
Flynn effect
Halo effect
Placebo effect
Practice effect
The Flynn effect refers to the substantial and long-sustained increase in both fluid and crystallized intelligence test scores measured around the world. Named after researcher James Flynn, it documents that average IQ scores have risen about three points per decade in many countries. The causes are debated and include improved nutrition, education, and testing familiarity. .
Which statistical method underlies the identification of distinct abilities measured by IQ test subscales?
Regression analysis
Chi-square test
ANOVA
Factor analysis
Factor analysis, pioneered by Charles Spearman and others, is used to determine how different test items cluster together, revealing underlying cognitive abilities or factors. IQ tests often identify verbal, performance, and other subscale factors using this technique. This method supports construct validity in psychometrics. .
What is the typical standard deviation used in modern IQ test scoring?
20 points
15 points
10 points
25 points
Most modern IQ tests, such as the WAIS and many versions of the Stanford-Binet, use a standard deviation of 15 points around the mean of 100. This scaling allows for consistent interpretation of score deviations across different test editions and populations. Some older scales used a 16-point deviation. .
In what year was the first edition of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) published?
1975
1963
1940
1955
The WAIS was first published by David Wechsler in 1955 as an adult intelligence test replacing earlier scales that were biased toward children. It introduced a deviation IQ based on a standard normal distribution with a mean of 100. The WAIS has undergone multiple revisions to remain current. .
Who developed the Culture Fair Intelligence Test, later known as Cattell Culture Fair III?
Howard Gardner
Alfred Binet
Louis Thurstone
Raymond Cattell
Raymond Cattell aimed to create an intelligence test free from cultural and linguistic bias, publishing the Culture Fair Intelligence Test in the 1940s and later revisions as CFIT III. His work distinguished between fluid and crystallized intelligence. The CFIT III remains influential in cross-cultural assessments. .
What term describes an IQ test’s consistency in measuring what it aims to measure across repeated administration?
Norming
Reliability
Standardization
Validity
Reliability refers to the consistency of a test’s measurements over time or across different raters. A reliable IQ test will yield similar scores for the same individual under consistent conditions. High reliability is essential for any standardized assessment. .
Which form of validity assesses how well a test predicts future performance or behavior?
Construct validity
Content validity
Predictive validity
Face validity
Predictive validity measures how accurately test scores forecast future outcomes, such as academic or job success. This type of validity is crucial when using IQ tests to make decisions about placement or interventions. It is established by correlating test scores with subsequent performance. .
In the original IQ formula (Mental Age/Chronological Age) × 100, what purpose does the multiplication by 100 serve?
It adjusts for test difficulty
It standardizes the standard deviation
It calibrates for age differences
It scales the quotient to center average IQ at 100
Multiplying by 100 scales the mental-chronological age ratio so that a child whose mental age equals their actual age receives an IQ of 100. Without this constant, the ratio would lack intuitive numerical meaning. This simple scalar set the early convention for intelligence scores. .
Which IQ test distribution originally used a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 16?
Raven’s Progressive Matrices
WAIS
Army Alpha
Stanford-Binet (original)
The early Stanford-Binet scale used a deviation IQ model with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 16. This choice was based on Terman’s empirical data and conventions of the time. Later tests and revisions adjusted the SD to 15 for broader consistency. .
The Army Beta test was specifically designed to assess recruits who were:
Senior officers
Women recruits
Illiterate or non-English speakers
Physically disabled
The Army Beta test was a nonverbal counterpart to the Army Alpha, intended for recruits who could not read English or were illiterate. It used picture-based tasks to evaluate intelligence without relying on language comprehension. This distinction allowed the military to assess diverse recruits during WWI. .
Which psychologist first proposed the concept of a general intelligence factor (g) in 1904?
Raymond Cattell
Louis Thurstone
Charles Spearman
Alfred Binet
Charles Spearman introduced the idea of a general intelligence factor, or g, based on statistical analyses showing that diverse cognitive tests tended to correlate. His two-factor theory distinguished between g and task-specific s factors. This concept has been foundational in modern psychometrics. .
In modern deviation IQ scoring, which formula converts a raw score to a standardized IQ score?
IQ = (raw score/age) × 100
IQ = (raw score – mean) / SD
IQ = (percentile rank × 1.5) + 85
IQ = (z-score × 15) + 100
Modern IQ tests use the deviation IQ formula, where individual raw scores are converted to z-scores (standard scores), multiplied by the standard deviation (commonly 15), and then added to the mean (100). This ensures a normal distribution of scores around 100. The approach replaced the older ratio IQ. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the Evolution of IQ Testing -

    Trace the major milestones in iq test history from early intelligence theories to modern assessments.

  2. Identify Foundational Theories -

    Recognize key contributors and their theories in the history of the IQ test, including pioneers like Binet and Wechsler.

  3. Analyze Chronological Developments -

    Arrange significant events and publications in history iq quiz to see how assessments evolved over time.

  4. Compare Assessment Approaches -

    Differentiate between historical and contemporary methods used in iq test history and the history of iq testing.

  5. Evaluate Societal Impact -

    Assess how historical milestones in iq test history influenced educational and psychological practices globally.

  6. Recall Key Historical Milestones -

    Recall important dates and breakthroughs to boost your performance in our history of the iq test challenge.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Binet-Simon Scale Foundations -

    The first modern iq test history milestone was set by Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon in 1905 at the Sorbonne, aiming to identify schoolchildren needing extra help. They introduced the "mental age" concept, a catchy mnemonic like "BRAIN = Binet's Rapid Age Implicit Notion" can help you remember their focus on developmental benchmarks. Their work laid the groundwork for all subsequent history of iq testing research in educational psychology.

  2. Stanford-Binet Revision & IQ Formula -

    In 1916, Lewis Terman at Stanford University published the Stanford-Binet revision, marking a key chapter in the history of the iq test with the now-famous IQ formula: IQ = (Mental Age ÷ Chronological Age) × 100. For example, a 12-year-old with a mental age of 14 scores an IQ of 117. Use the mnemonic "IQ = MA/CA × 100" to lock this fundamental formula into memory for your history iq quiz.

  3. Wechsler Scales Split: Verbal & Performance -

    David Wechsler introduced the Wechsler-Bellevue test in 1939 and later the WAIS and WISC, revolutionizing the history of iq testing by balancing verbal and performance subtests. The two-factor structure yields Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, and a combined Full Scale IQ, reflecting both language and problem-solving skills. Try categorizing sample items (vocabulary vs. block design) to reinforce how modern assessments differ from early versions.

  4. The Flynn Effect & Rising Scores -

    James Flynn's research uncovered a consistent rise in IQ scores across generations, reshaping how we view long-term trends in iq test history. This phenomenon averages a 3-point gain per decade on standard tests, prompting updates in test norms every 10 - 15 years. Remember "Flynn Up Three" as a quick mnemonic for this steady upward drift in measured intelligence over time.

  5. Computerized & Adaptive Testing Innovations -

    Modern history iq quiz formats now often use computerized adaptive testing (CAT), where item difficulty adjusts in real time based on your answers, optimizing precision and efficiency. Tests like Raven's Progressive Matrices have also gone digital, employing algorithms grounded in Cattell-Horn-Carroll theory to fine-tune each question. Familiarize yourself with the basic CAT model flowchart - select an easy item first, then let the algorithm guide you to a tailored difficulty level.

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