IQ tests explained
The named IQ tests, explained
Reviewed September 2026By the LifeScore Editorial TeamEditorial policy
Pick a test
- Read the guide
Raven's Progressive Matrices
Raven's Progressive Matrices is a non-verbal test of abstract reasoning
- Read the guide
Mensa practice test
Mensa admits people who score in the top 2% on an approved, supervised intelligence test
- Read the guide
WAIS
No
- Read the guide
Stanford-Binet
The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales are individually administered tests of intelligence for ages 2 to 85 and over
- Read the guide
Cattell Culture Fair test
The Cattell Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT) is a non-verbal test of fluid intelligence created by Raymond Cattell
- Read the guide
IQ test questions and answers
IQ tests draw from a small set of question types: matrix and pattern puzzles, number and figure series, verbal analogies and vocabulary, odd-one-out and similarity questions, working memory tasks and speed tasks
The tests side by side
| Test | Format | Can you take it online? | Score scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raven's Progressive Matrices | Non-verbal matrix puzzles | No, only style-alike practice | Percentile or standard score by age |
| WAIS-5 | Ten or more subtests, one-to-one | No, needs an examiner | Mean 100, SD 15 |
| Stanford-Binet 5 | Five factors, verbal and nonverbal, one-to-one | No, needs an examiner | Mean 100, SD 15 (older editions SD 16) |
| Cattell Culture Fair | Four short non-verbal subtests | No, only style-alike practice | Mean 100, SD 24 |
| Mensa admission test | Supervised reasoning test | UK proctored online test only | Top 2% qualifies |
How online IQ tests fit in
A score means something only when it is compared with a norm group under standardised conditions. Professional tests meet that standard. Most free online tests do not publish a norming sample, and they have no supervision, so their scores are estimates.
That does not make them useless. A well-made online reasoning test can show you how you handle patterns, sequences and rules, and can be a first step before deciding whether to pay for a professional assessment. Just do not treat its number as a Wechsler IQ. To see how test scores you already have relate to IQ, use the score converters.
IQ tests: common questions
What is the most accurate IQ test?+
Individually administered tests given by a psychologist, such as the WAIS-5 and the Stanford-Binet 5, are the most accurate. They use supervised conditions and large, recent norm groups. Free online tests cannot match them.
Which IQ tests can I take at home?+
None of the professional tests can be taken by yourself online. Mensa UK offers a proctored online test, and many websites offer free tests in the style of the professional ones. Those give estimates, not official scores.
What is the difference between Raven's, the WAIS and Cattell?+
Raven's and Cattell are mainly non-verbal reasoning tests. The WAIS is a broad battery with verbal, spatial, reasoning, memory and speed measures. Their scores use different scales, so compare percentiles rather than raw IQ numbers.
Why do IQ tests use different scales?+
Every IQ scale sets the average at 100, but the spread differs. Wechsler tests use a standard deviation of 15, older Stanford-Binet editions 16, and Cattell 24. A score of 130 on the first, 132 on the second and 148 on the third are the same level.
Is the LifeScore test one of these?+
No. LifeScore's test is a 25-question online visual reasoning test. It is not any of the named tests here, it is not clinically normed, and it is not a substitute for a supervised assessment.