Have you ever taken an IQ test and wondered what the results mean? Many people seem to hold IQ in high regard, making it fundamental to their self-image and using their score to determine their place in society. However, as suggested by recent studies, IQ may not mean much at all.

An Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Test assesses a range of cognitive abilities, providing a score for measuring an individual's intellectual abilities and potential. Though many types of IQ tests today range in length, format, and accuracy, they all attempt to quantify how smart someone is. But how is intelligence, a seemingly abstract quality, supposed to be quantified, and what are the factors that should be considered when trying to determine one’s intelligence?

The first recorded studies of intelligence date back to the late 1800s, when Sir Francis Galton defined intelligence by quantifiable physical traits such as reaction time, introducing the idea that the unmeasurable concept can be studied and analyzed empirically.

In the years following Galton, many theories of intelligence have been developed. Charles Spearman proposed his General Intelligence Theory in 1904, which stated that the general ability to perform any task, be it mathematics or music, was dependent on the possession of a central general intelligence (g) factor. Basically, you either had the g factor and were smart, or you didn’t. Thirty years later, Louis Thurstone would challenge Spearman’s one-dimensional proposal, identifying seven primary mental abilities. Reasoning ability, word fluency, verbal comprehension, numerical ability, spatial visualization, rote memory, and inductive reasoning, as comprising general intelligence. Howard Gardner further built upon Thurstone’s multifaceted approach with his Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Rather than having many factors define general intelligence, Gardner believed each factor constituted its own distinct intelligence with his updated Theory of Multiple Intelligences comprised of nine unique types:

1. Verbal-linguistic: ability to process and utilize sounds and words.

2. Logical-mathematical: ability to think conceptually and recognize patterns. 

3. Spatial-visual: ability to think in images and visualize spaces.

4. Bodily-kinesthetic: ability to control one’s body. 

5. Musical: ability to produce and appreciate qualities of sound and music. 

6. Interpersonal: ability to recognize and respond to others. 

7. Intrapersonal: ability to understand one’s own feelings, values, beliefs, and thought processes.

8. Naturalist: ability to recognize and categorize non-human objects and animals.

9. Existential: ability to think through deep questions about human existence.

Gardner believed that these intelligences added up to a holistic summary of one’s capability of performing tasks, and could be used to understand other concepts, like creativity and leadership. With the widespread attention of this theory, traditionally black-and-white views were forced to consider a more all-encompassing understanding of intelligence and reconsider classical intelligence theories and IQ tests that measured them.

Though Gardner’s proposal has been widely acknowledged, the criticism it has received over missing factors shows how many definitions of cognitive ability exist. For example, the Cattell-Horn-Carroll Theory, which defines intelligence as the combination of fluid intelligence, (creative problem-solving ability) and crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge), takes the passage of time as a central factor, with fluid intelligence decreasing and crystallized intelligence increasing over time. Another theory by Robert Sternberg defines intelligence by three aspects: analytica, the ability to analyze problems and arrive at solutions; creative, the ability to create novel and innovative ideas; and practical, the ability to adapt to the demands of the environment. Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory introduces personal and social context to the ever-changing picture of intelligence, which will only continue to evolve as our understanding of ourselves grows.

With so many websites eager to measure your intelligence and how smart you can be, it’s important to remember that intelligence cannot be fully captured by a single test or theory. Everyone has unique strengths and abilities that contribute to their own version of success and fulfillment. Instead of focusing on a number, embrace the diverse ways you can grow, learn, and make a meaningful impact in the world.