How to Boost Your IQ Test Score

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A guide to scoring higher on IQ tests, plus how to practice & prepare for them

Co-authored by Katherine Demby

Last Updated: December 21, 2023 Fact Checked

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Ways to Improve Your Score

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Taking the Test

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

An IQ or “Intelligence Quotient” test measures your natural and acquired intelligence at a particular moment in time. As IQ tests are not designed to assess your mastery of a skill set, it is hard to study for them successfully. However, it may be possible to improve your IQ score if you follow certain practices.^{[1]
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Go to source} In this article, we'll walk through some easy ways to improve your IQ test score, as well as how you can put your best foot forward on test day.

Section 1 of 2:

Ways to Improve Your Score

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1
Study every day. Set aside 20-30 minutes every day for test-specific studying. This could be taking a practice test, working on your basic math skills, or playing a brain game. The goal is to be consistent over time. You want your mind to anticipate being challenged in unpredictable ways.^{[2]
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- By practicing every day you will keep your brain engaged and avoid ‘losing’ knowledge due to extended breaks. For example, students enrolled in summer learning programs generally maintain or increase their IQ levels. In contrast, students who do not study over the summer holiday often experience an IQ drop by the time that they return in the fall.
- It is important to stop studying for the day when you begin to feel fatigued or mentally foggy. So, the time limit is a bit flexible (especially if you are taking an extended practice test), but 20-30 minutes of concentrated studying often yields the best results as it forces you to focus for a limited amount of time. It also helps you to resist the urge to ‘cram’ in the final days before your test.
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Take practice tests. It is best if you can use old versions or current practice tests of the exam that you would like to take. Find these by approaching the company that runs the exam or by searching the exam name online. You can also look for a generic free IQ test online.
- Take as many different tests as you can. The more puzzles you solve, the sharper your problem-solving skills will be.^{[3]
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  Katherine Demby
  Test Prep Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.}
- Some IQ test booklets also contain whole or partial exams. Go to your local bookstore and flip through a couple of books before making a purchase to ensure the content is worth the cost. If buying online, use the preview function to look inside the text.
- Be aware that some groups, such as American Mensa, refuse to release their past tests, citing copyright restrictions. As a result, practice tests that fall into these categories may be more difficult to locate.^{[4]
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Play games. Keep your mind flexible by engaging in a variety of mental games. Pick those games that challenge your memory and require speed, such as Dual-N-Back. This is a game that pushes a player to recall a geometric sequence. It is available online for free practice by searching “Dual-N-Back.”^{[5]
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- Playing these games can count as your mind practice. Just don’t overdo it by going beyond 20-30 minutes each day.^{[6]
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- Be wary when playing generic brain training games. If you play them frequently enough you will improve your gameplay but not your overall cognitive abilities. Your best bet is to move on once any game gets easy.^{[7]
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Read. Sitting down with a book as often as you can is a cheap, quick way to stimulate your brain. Recalling the sequence of events helps with memory retention. The act of reading itself is relaxing and can improve focus. For maximum benefit, jump between different genres and authors to keep your brain challenged.^{[8]
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- Most IQ tests are written and contain a significant verbal component so reading is a natural form of preparation. As you read make sure to look up any terms that are unfamiliar to you. Also, work on comprehension by re-reading any passage that is unclear to you.
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Learn something new. Actively seek out “novelty” or challenging mental tasks, such as mastering a new language. Performing these “new” tasks often prompts your body to increase dopamine levels which in turn leads to the production of new neurons, a necessary step in long-term learning and retention.^{[9]
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- Music lessons are one way to reap an IQ benefit over time. The mental challenges and novelty of even consistent lessons push the brain to adapt and result in climbing IQ numbers.^{[10]
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Put aside your technology. On occasion, lock up your cell phones and other devices and go through the world relying on your wits and skills alone. This may mean writing out a math problem instead of looking up the answer. All of these added tasks stimulate your brain in a positive way.^{[11]
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- One example of this is trying to navigate your route to somewhere by using a paper map instead of a GPS. If you can do this without compromising your safety, try it.
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Stay away from the TV. We’ve known for quite some time that watching television holds little to no cognitive benefits. So, it should come as no surprise to you that TV time does nothing for your IQ. Limit yourself to 30 minutes a day and use the remaining “TV time” to do something new, challenging, and active instead.^{[12]
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- When you do watch TV, try to steer yourself towards educational programming. It is not active learning, but it is still something.^{[13]
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Aim for 8 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep every night. This will allow your body to head into a deep sleep cycle and replenish. Your brain gets to rest after a hard day of work. Keep this pattern up heading into a test and make sure to sleep in the days immediately before.
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Eat well. Consume a well-balanced diet of fruit, veggies, grains, and meat. Eat regular meals and snacks. Try to avoid processed and sugary foods. Keeping a close eye on your diet gives your brain the fuel that it needs to perform at a top level. Pay attention to those foods that make you feel mentally sharper, such as walnuts.
- Diets that are high in fats and sugars can lower mental reaction times, reduce memory retention, and prompt feelings of depression. All of these outcomes are problematic in many ways, including damaging your IQ potential.^{[14]
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- Herbal supplements may also prove helpful. Ginseng and sage are both potential memory boosters.
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Exercise. Engage in cardiovascular exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes each session. This will help to increase the blood supply headed to your brain which in turn elevates the oxygen level as well. Exercise creates a better physical environment for your brain to do difficult work.^{[15]
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- There is currently some talk about creating a series of “exergames” that combine physical activity with brain training.
As you take the test, concentrate on making deep, slow inhalations of breath. Mentally repeat the mantra “calm down” if you get stressed by a particularly difficult question. Put your arms over your head and do a slow stretch. Practice in the days and weeks before to figure out exactly which methods calm you down the best.^{[16]
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Wear comfortable clothing. Nothing will distract you more than fiddling with your clothing or jewelry mid-test. Wear simple, basic clothing without any embellishments that you can play with. Choose something that you will comfortable sitting in for a long time. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks, you are there for the test.
- If you can find out the general temperature of the room beforehand that may be helpful. Some test centers keep rooms extra-cold to prevent drowsiness meaning sweats may be a good idea for you.

Section 2 of 2:

Taking the Test

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1
Know what the test covers. All IQ tests are a bit different but they usually cover the same basics. Look for questions about spatial reasoning, verbal knowledge, and quantitative understanding. Memory and retention questions are spread throughout. “Emotional intelligence” and creativity are generally not measured, creating a disadvantage for certain out-of-the-box thinkers.^{[17]
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American Psychological Association
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- It is a good idea to practice your basic math and vocabulary skills headed into any IQ test as these types of questions are ever-present.^{[18]
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Before taking the test, try to set a score goal for yourself. The raw score for most tests is the result of the number of correct answers. Some tests also factor in your age as well. Your raw score is then converted into your IQ by comparing it to the scores of other test-takers. You will also see a percentile ranking showing how your IQ stacks up against others.^{[19]
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Eliminate wrong choices. As you proceed through the test, increase your odds of choosing the correct answer by instantly identifying and disregarding those options that are incorrect. Each time you do this you make your final choice a bit easier and more precise.^{[20]
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- For example, on a question with answers A through D, try to scratch out the least likely option before making your final choice.
4
Search for patterns. This is especially helpful when dealing with visual or listing questions. Recognize that you are being tested on your ability to perceive order amongst the chaos. If you see a question that at first appears totally disorganized it is your job to look for a potential organization that works. Think about it that way and the questions are not so intimidating.^{[21]
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- Treat every question like a puzzle. Think about what information you know, then figure out what you need to know to get to the answer. Then, start connecting the pieces.^{[22]
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  Expert Source
  
  Katherine Demby
  Test Prep Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.}
- Working backwards can also sometimes be a way to find an answer.^{[23]
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  Katherine Demby
  Test Prep Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 17 December 2020.}
Spatial aptitude segments of an IQ test will often show a series of geometric or odd shapes sometimes with additional symbols placed therein. When you see a question like this remember that your point of view is not fixed. You can rotate the image in your mind or simply turn the paper until a pattern or solution emerges.^{[24]
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It goes without saying but while you are taking the test remove all outside distractions. Turn off and put away your cell phone. Arrange it so that you are not disturbed. Paying attention to a task beyond the test, even briefly, could lower your IQ score by 10 points or more.^{[25]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I improve my IQ score?

Katherine Demby
Test Prep Specialist
Katherine Demby is an Academic Consultant based in New York City. Katherine specializes in tutoring for the LSAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, and academic subjects for high school and college students. She holds a BA in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a JD from Yale Law School. Katherine is also a freelance writer and editor.

Katherine Demby

Test Prep Specialist

Expert Answer

Theoretically, there's nothing you can do. However, if you take a lot of different types of IQ tests, you'll become more familiar with the question types, and you'll improve your problem-solving skills.

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Question

What kind of questions are on an IQ test?

Katherine Demby
Test Prep Specialist
Katherine Demby is an Academic Consultant based in New York City. Katherine specializes in tutoring for the LSAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, and academic subjects for high school and college students. She holds a BA in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a JD from Yale Law School. Katherine is also a freelance writer and editor.

Katherine Demby

Test Prep Specialist

Expert Answer

Think of every problem as a puzzle. Start by asking yourself, "What information is this problem giving me?" and "What information and I looking for?" Then, start to connect the pieces—what information do you need that would help you get that answer.

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Tips

IQ scores fall on a range between 70 to over 200. Most of the population carries a score of between 80 to 120. As you go up the scale you are in the company of fewer people.^{[26]
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Remember that getting a high score on an IQ test does not guarantee success in life. The opposite is true as well. You can get a lower or average score and still achieve great things and be happy in life.^{[27]
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If you are taking a proctored IQ test, find out all of the details well in advance by contacting the testing center or the test program officers. Ask if there is any paperwork that you’ll need to bring with you. Find out what items you are allowed to bring into the testing room.

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Warnings

Beware of online programs or classes that promise to aggressively increase your IQ score. Enhancing your score takes a great deal of time and effort and, unless you just had one really bad test day, it usually doesn’t change overnight.

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