My IQ was once over 190. It is now 160. What caused this?

Question

I know that IQ tends to drop over age, but a drop of 30 points in 6 years? I suppose its lack of stimulation over the years - all the schools I've been to are full of idiots (I still like these idiots, but in regards to intelligence, its just the sad truth).

I know its not an accurate measure, 160 is still extremely high, and I should really be concentrating on my goals, rather than my ability to meet those goals, yet I'm still curious.

Can anyone suggest exercises which would help me rebuild this level? I plan to work harder and constantly challenge my brain in the future instead of sitting bored all day, yet is there any exercises in particular you think is useful?

P.S. Yes, as someone else said, I'm overestimating the Yahoo Answers community, yet I've gotten good answers here before and I'm just curious what anyone has to say.

Answer 1

You know, I got extremely good test scores in high school, and I was MISERABLE! I think you are obsessing on a stupid set of numbers, instead of facing whatever it is that is bothering you about your life.

You love your friends, yet you call them idiots.

You are sure you are overestimating the Yahoo Answers community, yet you waste your time here.

Do the brain exercises if they make you happy (I like Sudoku, myself). You might try learning a foreign language, or taking up a muscial instrument you've never tried before. They will increase your brain connections, and may help with the IQ scores.

But if you get out, meet more people, and try to understand the world from their viewpoint, you'll increase your brain connections, and possibly be a much happier person. It might even raise your SOCIAL IQ.

Don't sit around bored all day, for goodness sakes. Find something useful to do, then do it. And stop worrying about your IQ. If you've got it, you've got it. If you've been mismeasured at one point or another, so what?

Good luck.

Answer 2

I hope you're not talking about one of those simplistic online tests - they are worthless! A real IQ test is much tougher on the brain.

I think you should take another test. A 30-point drop is bizarre and my guess is that one of those scores was due to good luck or bad luck. If not, then you need to get your brain examined to make sure you're ok.

There are no ways to raise your natural IQ - it's what you're born with. You can practice with any IQ-like material, but it will only sharpen you up...won't raise your IQ as per se.

If you still insist on trying to improve, I would suggest doing anything which involves visual or spatial images. Most IQ tests have a large part about selecting which image is next, or which isn't like the others. Practicing these will strengthen your brain into recognizing patters faster. You should also practice analagies as they're supposed to help you connect words and see relationships. There are IQ books out there, and you may want to give those a shot. Crosswords and Sudoko are also rumoured to help. I think that you should simply challenge yourself in as many ways as possible - visual, verbal, etc.

There's also the old Chinese method of having a person simultaneously draw a circle with his right hand, and a square with his left hand perfectly- if you could do things like that, you were presumed to be more intelligent.

Lastly, I don't particularly place any value in IQ tests as they only try to classify the way you process information. People with high IQs can absorb abstract concepts easier than average people. IQs are also often misused for boasting and bragging. Studies have shown that a lower IQ (about 115 I think) is optimal for happiness as these people are able to relate to others better.

Answer 3

That is a pretty substantial drop for six years. First off, READ! Try learning a foreign language on your own. Or try really difficult crossword puzzles, word games, math games, science quizzes, anything to keep those synapses growing. In fact, you can probably google something like brain games and find something to stimulate your mind. Just think of your brain as a muscle and exercise it.

Answer 4

IQ measures are imperfect and your true IQ is known only within a margin of error. There is nothing to worry about, scoring less on a test does not imply you are going ga-ga. It probably means that the first test overestimated your true ability and/or the second underestimated it.

As mental hygiene, I would suggest to just follow your interests - read on topics of interest to you, learn a new language, etc.

Answer 5

First of all, if your IQ is that high, you should know this. An IQ test is extemely unreliable. It is not meant to be completely accurate, in fact, it was developed in the first world war to determine who should be sent to the front lines (those who recieved low scores) and who should stay at home. In reality, it is a very rough estimate of intelligence, and being multiple choice, a lot depends on luck if you do not know the answer.

Answer 6

IQ measures what you have learned and retained from school and was originally meant to test and categorize mentally retarded students

there are multiple intelligence tests available to better assess your cognitive abilities

or you huffed too much glue and killed a few too many brain cells

Answer 7

I think you are onto something about the lack of stimulation thing and having low-intellegence friends. I thought maybe you might like this site:

http://www.increasebrainpower.com/

Good Luck.

Answer 8

Those tests always vary, it depends on your mood, what you ate, your concentration that particular day and its not surprising to see it vary that many points.
I wouldn't worry about it.
Remember: You don't need a school to learn and your never too old to learn something new :-)
I like Brain Age for Nintendo DS it helps you remember and its fun too!

Answer 9

Sometimes we just tend to forget to review some notes. Or maybe we are playing a happy-go-lucky sometimes we forgot about our real purpose and just stay contented on what we have. If you think you're superior to others, always aim high. because once you just go lay low, you'll tend to loose what you have.

Answer 10

I think it's the attitude in which you answer the questions. This may possibly drop your score. Try Polls & Surveys...now there's some intellectual stimulation. I've raised my score to 180 and it has been life-changing.