Question
Who can give an IQ test?
Short answer
Clinical IQ tests are given by qualified professionals, usually psychologists or trained examiners working under them. Publishers restrict who can buy them: Pearson sells its highest-level tests, including the WAIS-5, only to people with a relevant doctorate and assessment training, a state license or equivalent membership. Online tests have no such restriction.
Want your own number? The test is 25 visual puzzles, about 12 minutes, no sign-up.
Publishers control who can buy clinical tests
Test publishers sort products into qualification levels. Pearson's level C tests, which include the WAIS-5, may be bought only by people with a relevant doctorate and assessment training, a state license, or membership in a body such as the APA or NASP (Pearson: qualifications policy). Pearson rates the WAIS-5 at level C, its highest purchaser level (Pearson: WAIS-5). One effect is that the items stay out of public circulation, and the person giving the test is trained to score and interpret it.
Who actually sits with you
Individual tests such as the WAIS-5 and the Stanford-Binet 5 are given one to one (Pearson: WAIS-5) (PRO-ED: SB5). In many clinics a psychologist does the testing. In others, especially neuropsychology services, a trained technician called a psychometrist gives the tests under a neuropsychologist's supervision (Cleveland Clinic: neuropsychological testing).
Try one · Logical Reasoning
Which tile completes the second pair?
Tap the option you think is right, or show the answer.
Show the answer
The missing panel shows a large solid arrow pointing up, with small solid shapes: a triangle at the top-left corner and a triangle at the left side (option 5).
How to solve it
- Compare the first two panels and name exactly what changed.
- The whole figure turns a half turn.
- The large shape becomes solid.
- Nothing else changes.
- Apply the same changes to the third panel: a large hatched arrow pointing down, with small solid shapes: a triangle at the bottom-right corner and a triangle at the right side.
- So the missing panel shows a large solid arrow pointing up, with small solid shapes: a triangle at the top-left corner and a triangle at the left side.
That was 1 puzzle. The full test has 25.
Group tests in schools
Some ability tests are designed for groups, which is how schools screen for gifted programs. The OLSAT 8 can be given individually or to groups (Pearson: OLSAT 8), and the CogAT measures verbal, quantitative and nonverbal reasoning across grades K to 12 (Riverside: CogAT Form 8). See CogAT and OLSAT.
Mensa and online tests
American Mensa does not accept unsupervised testing, including electronic or internet-based tests, as evidence (American Mensa: qualifying scores). Online tests, including ours, can be taken by anyone, and that is exactly why their results are estimates for personal use. See how to find out your IQ and online vs clinical IQ tests.
Sources
- Pearson. Qualifications policy (purchaser levels A, B, C). www.pearsonassessments.com/professional-assessments/ordering/how-to-order/qualifications/qualifications-policy.html
- Pearson. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fifth Edition (WAIS-5), product page. 2024. www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Cognition-%26-Neuro/Wechsler-Adult-Intelligence-Scale-%7C-Fifth-Edition/p/P100071002.html
- Cleveland Clinic. Neuropsychological testing and assessment. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4893-neuropsychological-testing-and-assessment
- Roid, G. H. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition (SB5), PRO-ED product page. 2003. proedinc.com/products-13290.html
- Riverside Insights. Cognitively Speaking: Introducing CogAT Form 8. info.riversideinsights.com/hubfs/Cog%20Speakings/Cognitively%20Speaking%20-%20Introducing%20CogAT%20Form%208.pdf
- Pearson. Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, Eighth Edition (OLSAT 8), product page. 2003. www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Academic-Learning/Otis-Lennon-School-Ability-Test-%7C-Eighth-Edition/p/100000003.html
- American Mensa. Qualifying test scores. www.us.mensa.org/join/testscores/qualifying-test-scores/