Yes, IQ test scores can increase with practice due to familiarity with test formats and patterns, but this often reflects improved test-taking skills (practiced intelligence) rather than fundamental changes to overall intelligence (g-factor). While education and some early interventions show small, lasting gains, most online "brain training" apps don't significantly boost real intelligence, making focused learning in meaningful domains a better investment for cognitive growth.
Practice makes perfect, not smarts
Being intelligent is useful to achieve life goals. Performance on cognitive tests does improve with practice. For example, a study found that just taking a common nonverbal reasoning test twice increases scores by roughly the equivalent of eight IQ points.
A 72 IQ is considered Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF), falling just above the threshold for intellectual disability (usually around 70), placing it in the lower end of the spectrum (70-79) and indicating slower learning and potential needs for support in daily living, though it's not low enough for an official intellectual disability diagnosis by itself, notes Quora user. It's in the bottom few percentiles of the population, requiring more time to grasp complex concepts but not necessarily severe impairment.
The following IQ ranges are not universally agreed upon, but they are the most up-to-date ranges that are commonly referenced by many experts and organizations in the field: 120–129: Advanced Learner. 130–144: Gifted. 145–159: Highly Gifted.
No, an IQ of 97 is not considered dumb; it falls squarely in the average range (90-109), indicating typical cognitive abilities, though some tests might place it slightly below the exact midpoint of 100. An IQ score of 97 means you performed better than 42% of people, and due to the test's margin of error, your score could be anywhere from the high 80s to the mid-100s, still within normal intelligence.
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump: At an early age, Forrest is deemed to have a below-average IQ of 75. He has an endearing character and shows devotion to his loved ones and duties, character traits that bring him into many life-changing situations.
Studies have shown that intelligence has a genetic component, but they have not conclusively identified any single genes that have major roles in differences in intelligence. It is likely that intelligence involves many genes that each make only a small contribution to a person's intelligence.
Snoop Dogg has publicly stated he has an IQ of 147, a score that falls into the "highly gifted" or "genius" category, much to his own surprise given his self-described average school performance (straight Cs). While this self-reported score suggests exceptional intellect, IQ tests measure specific cognitive abilities, and success in life and business (like Snoop Dogg's multifaceted career as a rapper, entrepreneur, and media personality) reflects a broader range of intelligence and skills.
Commonly used assessments in Australia include:
Educational psychologists consider a gifted IQ to be 130 or higher (98th percentile) on the WISC or WPPSI, or around 132+ on the Stanford-Binet.
Lady Gaga's IQ is widely rumored to be around 166, placing her in the "exceptionally gifted" or genius category, though this is an estimation often cited in celebrity lists, not a officially verified number from a public test. This high estimate is supported by her early academic achievements, like attending a summer program for the top 1% of students, and her demonstrated creative and musical genius as a composer and performer, notes Us Weekly and Brainmanager.io.
In the early 2000s another large epidemiological study reported that an IQ < 70 was observed in only 50% of children with ASD (6), while a more recent epidemiological study (7) reported a further decline toward an amount of 31% of children with ASD, that were classified in the range of cognitive impairment (IQ < 70).
The term borderline intellectual functioning describes a group of people who function on the border between normal intellectual functioning and intellectual disability, between 1 and 2 standard deviations below the mean on the normal curve of the distribution of intelligence, roughly an IQ between 70 and 85.
Approximate IQ range of 50 to 69 (in adults, mental age from 9 to under 12 years). Likely to result in some learning difficulties in school. As adults individuals will be able to work and maintain good social relationships and contribute to society.
In 1987, Flynn took the position that the very large increase indicates that IQ tests do not measure intelligence but only a minor sort of "abstract problem-solving ability" with little practical significance.
How to increase IQ at home
According to Coren, scores on intelligence tests decline cumulatively on each successive day you sleep less than you usually sleep. The daily decline is approximately one IQ point for the first hour of sleep loss, two for the next, and four for the next.
Japan ranks highest in average IQ globally, with an average IQ score of 106.48, according to recently updated data from DataPandas on May 20, 2025. National IQ is influenced by factors such as education, healthcare, nutrition, and economic stability.
As noted above, 2.2% of the population falls in the 130 and above category. So, technically, those whose IQ is 130 and 131 do not quite meet the criteria. According to Mensa's website, the cutoff score for acceptance is 132.
Experts often categorize gifted children into five levels to better understand their abilities:
Madonna reportedly has a genius-level IQ of around 140, well above the average, with sources citing her intelligence and business acumen, often linking it to her ability to recognize patterns and disrupt culture. This high score is sometimes associated with her academic achievements, like receiving a scholarship to the University of Michigan, and her remarkable career longevity, making her a highly successful artist.
Rappers IQ's, Jay Z has an IQ of 148, Kendrick Lamar has an IQ of 129, Tupac Shakur IQ is 124, Lil Wayne IQ is 120, and last is Eminem with 110 IQ. Archived post.
Emmy Award winner James Woods is an Oscar-nominee and superstar has a whopping IQ of 180. While in high school, Woods was in a UCLA linear algebra course. In addition, his SAT scores were amazing. Even though he had a full scholarship to MIT, Woods dropped out to pursue acting.
A weighted average has been calculated at 0.75, with about an absolute average difference of 8.0 IQ points. In comparison, identical twins reared together typically differ by 6 IQ points, non-twin siblings differ by 12 points, and complete strangers differ by 16.9 points.
By contrast, intelligence tests at birth cannot predict intelligence at age 18 years. At 2 years of age, infant intelligence tests predict less than 5% of the variance of intelligence in late adolescence37,38.
Highly intelligent people are often extremely reflective. They journal, analyze their thoughts, think about their identity, question their motives, and explore philosophical ideas about the self.