IQ Test for Kids: How Children’s IQ Is Tested and What the Scores Mean

Updated 18 October 2026. About 14 minutes to read.

Is there an IQ test for kids?

Yes. Psychologists use IQ tests designed specifically for children, with questions, pictures and puzzles suited to each age. The test results are compared with a large sample of children the same age, sometimes down to the exact month. That is very different from an adult test, which compares you with adults.

Children are usually tested for one of three reasons:

• To check for giftedness, for entry to gifted or talented programmes.
• To understand learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, ADHD or a general learning delay, alongside other assessments.
• To plan the right support, such as school placement or an education plan.

If you want a general explanation of how IQ tests work for everyone, see our guide to what an IQ test is.

The main IQ tests for children

Group tests used by schools, such as CogAT and CAT4, are useful for screening a whole class. An individual test with a psychologist gives a far more detailed and reliable picture of one child.

What does a child IQ test involve?

An individual test usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes, sometimes with a short break. Most children find it like a series of games and puzzles. A WISC-V assessment, for example, looks at five areas:

The child gets a score for each area and an overall Full Scale IQ. The pattern across areas is often more useful than the single number. For example, a child with very high reasoning but slower processing speed may need different support from a child who scores evenly across the board.

What is the average IQ for a child?

The average IQ for a child is 100, whether they are 5, 10 or 15 years old. That is because children are only compared with others of the same age. A 7-year-old with an IQ of 100 is right in the middle for 7-year-olds, even though they cannot yet solve the puzzles a 14-year-old can.

Older tests used a “mental age” approach. If a 10-year-old performed like a typical 12-year-old, their IQ was 12 ÷ 10 × 100 = 120. Modern tests no longer work this way, but the idea helps explain why children’s IQs are always relative to their age. Our guide to how IQ is calculated explains the modern method, and what an IQ of 100 means covers the average in detail.

What is a good IQ score for a child?

Child IQ tests use the same scale as adult tests. These are the descriptions used on the WISC-V:

Any score from about 90 upwards is within or above the typical range. To see the exact percentile for any score, use our IQ percentile calculator.

What IQ do kids need for gifted programmes?

Many gifted programmes use an IQ of 130, the top 2%, as their threshold. Some accept lower scores, around 120 to 125, or use the top 5% to 10% of a school’s own results. Others combine IQ with achievement tests, teacher reports and portfolios of work. Our guide to gifted IQ levels explains the different levels, from mildly to profoundly gifted.

What does a low score mean?

A low score on one test does not define a child. Tiredness, anxiety, illness, language differences, or attention difficulties can all lower a score. An IQ below about 70 is one part of how intellectual disability is assessed, but a diagnosis also requires difficulties with everyday living skills and is made only by qualified professionals.

At what age can a child’s IQ be tested?

Tests such as the WPPSI-IV can be used from age 2½, but scores from very young children are much less stable. A child’s score at age 3 or 4 is a weaker guide to their later IQ, because young children develop at different speeds.

From about age 6 to 8, IQ scores become noticeably more stable. A famous Scottish study by Ian Deary and colleagues found that IQ scores at age 11 still correlated strongly with scores at age 77. Even so, a child’s IQ can change by several points over the school years, and occasionally by much more.

How can I test my child’s IQ?

1. Talk to your child’s school first. Teachers, a school psychologist or, in the UK, the special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) can advise whether testing would help and what is available.
2. Ask about free assessments. In the US, public schools must evaluate children suspected of having a disability at no cost to parents. In the UK, educational psychologists may assess children through the school or local authority, especially as part of an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment.
3. Consider a private educational psychologist if you need a faster or more detailed assessment. Check that they are qualified and registered, for example with the HCPC in the UK or a state licensing board in the US. Private assessments commonly cost several hundred pounds or dollars, and sometimes more.
4. Ask what you will receive. A good assessment comes with a written report explaining the scores, your child’s strengths and any recommendations.

Can kids take online IQ tests?

Older children and teenagers can try online tests for fun, but parents should know their limits:

• Most online IQ tests are designed for adults. They compare scores with adults, not children of the same age, so the number will not be accurate for a child.
• They are not a substitute for a professional assessment. Schools and gifted programmes do not accept online results.
• Some online tests are designed to sell. Avoid any that ask for payment or an email address to see results. Our guide on whether online IQ tests are accurate explains the warning signs.

IQScore’s tests are free with no sign-up. Our Quick IQ Test and full IQ test are written for teenagers and adults, roughly age 12 and up, and their scores are not normed for children. Younger children may enjoy our brain games, such as the Sequence Memory Test and Reaction Time Test, as fun challenges with a parent nearby.

Is the 11-plus an IQ test?

Not exactly. The 11-plus, used for entry to grammar schools in parts of the UK, usually includes verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, maths and English. The reasoning sections look similar to IQ test questions, but the exam is designed to select pupils for particular schools, and children can improve their scores a lot with practice. That is not true of a properly administered IQ test to the same degree.

How to prepare a child for an IQ test

• Don’t drill them. Practising the same types of puzzle can inflate a score and make the results less useful for understanding your child.
• Explain it simply. Tell them they will do puzzles and games with a friendly adult, and that nobody gets every answer right.
• Make sure they are well rested and fed. Tiredness and hunger can lower a score.
• Reschedule if they are unwell. A test on a bad day can give a misleading result.
• Bring glasses or hearing aids if your child uses them.

Can a child’s IQ change?

Yes. IQ is partly influenced by genes, but environment matters, especially in childhood. Research shows that education raises IQ by about 1 to 5 points for every extra year, and that a stimulating home with plenty of reading, conversation and play supports thinking skills. Good sleep, nutrition and health matter too. Read more in our guides on whether IQ is genetic and how to increase your IQ.

Should I tell my child their IQ score?

Many psychologists suggest focusing on what your child is good at and what helps them learn, rather than the number itself. A high number can create pressure to always perform, and a lower number can hurt confidence. Praising effort, curiosity and persistence tends to help children more than labels. If your child asks, an honest, age-appropriate explanation of their strengths is usually better than a single score.

Frequently asked questions

IQScore guides are for education and information. They are not a substitute for professional advice. If you have concerns about your child’s development or learning, please speak to their school, doctor or a qualified educational psychologist.