November 2020 – WW IQ TEST
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Mankind has always been on a mission to better itself in whatever field or endeavor it sought out

to accomplish. In doing so, our race came upon the need to quantify and differentiate. This is ever

more valid for the human intelligence.

Pinpointing the birthdate of the IQ Test is, more often than not, an arduous journey that can vary

from author to author. In the early 19th century, Paul Broca and Sir Francis Galton were two of the

first academics who pondered on the importance of measuring intelligence under what we now

know is the wrong assumption that intellectual prowess is directly linked to the size of the human

skull – the bigger your head, the smarter you are. Around the same period, Wilhelm Wundt

suggested that mankind’s innate capacity to process thoughts was the real method of measuring

one’s intelligence. In today’s day and age, it is fair to say that both these lines of thinking are no

longer relevant, but were in fact the predecessors of what is now called the modern IQ Test.

At the beginning of the 1900s, two French psychologists by the names of Alfred Binet and Theodore

Simon were solicited by the Ministry of Education to create a test that would assist in distinguishing

between children who suffer from any form of mental impedance and those who did not have any

disorders but were what we normally refer to as “lazy”. It is important to provide the historical

context that led to the need for this test: a recent law had been passed making it mandatory for

children to attend school, thus the need to devise a way of branding a child’s needs based on their

intellectual capacity.

Binet and Simon’s initial approach was to formulate questions founded on subjects that are not

commonly trained at school such as focus, memory and problem-solving skills. The goal of this

process was to regulate and ultimately predict the overall success of the child at an academic level.

Once Binet started processing the data he had obtained, it came to his attention that physical age

was not a defining factor when it came to correctly answering the questions – some potential

scholars were better at answering more complex questions when compared with older children.

The opposite was also valid. Intrigued by this prospect, Binet then came to suggest the idea of

mental age, this being the measurement of intelligence based on a child’s average ability within a

specific age group.

After obtaining and analyzing a significant amount of data, the first intelligence test was born under

the name Binet-Simon Scale. This innovative method became the foundation of the intelligence

tests that are still carried out during our times. This is not to say that Binet, the test’s creator, didn’t

find some flaws in its effectiveness: it is not reasonable that a person’s level of intelligence be

labelled based solely on a standardized test. Binet emphasized that several intellectual factors need

to be considered and that an ideal result would only be possible when comparing subjects with

similar upbringings. The initial use of the term IQ dates back to 1912 when William Stern, a German

psychologist, entertained the idea of an intelligence quotient, based on the works of Binet.

Despite its limitations, the Binet-Simon Scale was a remarkable milestone in quantifying the human

psyche and quickly found a place for itself within the United States where it was first used by Lewis

Termin, a Stanford University psychologist, who applied the test to a sample of American applicants.

This evolution of the initial test was published in 1916 as the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and

remains the standard intelligence test used in the country to this day. The result of this test, also

known as the IQ or Intelligence Quotient score is calculated by dividing the test taker’s mental age

by their chronological age and then multiplying this number by 100. For instance, considering a child

with a mental age of 15 and a chronological age of 12, their IQ would be 125 (15 ÷ 12 x 100).

The IQ Test’s first massive trial by fire happened during World War I where 2 million recruits were

asked to undergo this examination with the intent of allocating soldiers to certain roles and

leadership positions. In 1917 two tests were developed by Robert Yerkes, the then chair of the

Committee on the Psychological Examination of Recruits – the Alpha and Beta tests. The Alpha test

was planned as a written test, while the Beta test was comprised of images oriented at soldiers who

could not read and/or speak English. Despite the end of the war, these tests remained prominent in

everyday life. As an example, they were used as a selection process for new immigrants intending

to enter the United States. The massive use of this test did however lead to wrong preconceptions

about specific nationalities which, in its place, led to restrictions related to human influx.

Unhappy with the restrictions of the Stanford-Binet scale, American psychologist David Wechsler

issued a new intelligence test, acknowledged as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), in

1955. Much like Binet, Wechsler thought that intelligence involved different mental abilities.

Wechsler also established two different tests explicitly oriented to children: the Wechsler

Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence

(WPPSI). The adult equivalent of the test has undergone intense revisions since its maiden version

and is currently known as the WAIS-IV.

The WAIS-IV covers ten subtests as well as five complementary tests. The test covers four key areas

of intelligence: verbal understanding, perceptual reasoning, memory and processing speed. Instead

of utilizing a chronological and mental age premise, the WAIS score is obtained by associating the

subject’s score with individuals in the same age group. This scoring method has become the

standard technique in intelligence testing and is also used in the modern revision of the StanfordBinet test.

As is valid for all forms of human experience, quantifying one’s intelligence is not a simple process

and, as has been mentioned, suffered several updates throughout the decades. What is true though

is that we can rest assured that great minds are constantly studying and perfecting what we know

about the mystery that still is the human mind.

Performance is the main reason for pressure and stress in today’s high-paced world. We are

constantly on the spotlight when it comes to getting whichever task done as quickly and efficiently

as possible that we often forget to take care of ourselves. We are always on the clock and this takes

a huge toll on our overall health and energy levels.

This is not something you should worry too much about though. There is no need to think you are

going crazy, let alone to start knocking on your friendly neighborhood therapist’s door. All you need

is a little motivation. The following list will run you through 10 great apps to help you keep the juices

flowing and your mental health as sharp as ever.

1. Lumosity

Lumosity is one of the most respected, well known and consolidated brain training and mental

fitness programs in the market today. What makes Lumosity stand out is its games that mostly focus

on improving one’s memory and problem-solving skills while also working on your attention span.

You can either play the game directly on their website or through their free apps for either iOS or

Android. Lumosity also provides a meditation and mindfulness app called Lumosity Mind. As an

interesting sidenote, studies performed on children with cancer-related brain injuries have shown

developments in memory and executive function after undergoing Lumosity-like brain training.

2. Sudoku

There is nothing wrong with going with a golden oldie and pen and paper favorite like Sudoku. With

no need for fancy graphics nor flashy animations, Sudoku is one of those puzzle games that will get

your brain focused for hours. Sudoku hasn’t lost any of its appeal and it isn’t hard to find a huge

variety of apps to choose from with a countless supply of variations to go with it. Not only does

Sudoku provide brain training, as it relies on short-term memory, it is also a great way of passing

the time and provides you with that added ego-boost every time you complete a puzzle!

3. CogniFit Brain Fitness

Created with the priceless contribution of neuroscientists, this entertaining app is aimed at

improving a user’s levels of memory and concentration. Apart from being able to track your progress

as you go, you can also challenge your friends in an ever-satisfying battle of the brains! What is really

appealing about the app is that it adjusts the difficulty level based on your overall performance and

results. CogniFit Brain Fitness isn’t time consuming and you will start seeing results with a few 20-

to-30-minute sessions per week.

4. Eidetic

Eidetic is a memory enhancement app that uses the repetition technique to aid users in memorizing

important information such as phone numbers, credit card details, passwords or even specific

words. Apart from this Eidetic also notifies you when it is test time, in an attempt to help you retain

information in your long-term memory. Eidetic is a very interesting app for older adults, particularly

those who are beginning to notice memory lapses. Apart from being free, this app is very userfriendly.

5. Braingle

Braingle prides itself in having the largest collection of brain teasers available with over 15,000

puzzles and games. Different from other apps, that focus on memory and reaction-based tests,

Braingle’s approach to help maintain brain sharpness is through the use of riddles, codes and

ciphers, trivia quizzes and optical illusions. You can even play against your friends and family which

adds a lot of interactivity to this already unique product.

6. Personal Zen

Personal Zen’s goal is to reduce stress and increase the user’s well-being. According to the creators,

a 5–10-minute use may improve well-being while a continuous interaction of up to 40 minutes per

week may assist in significantly reducing your stress level. Another very important aspect of this app

is that it trains the brain to focus on positive aspects and provides strategies on keeping out

negativity that can have an unpleasant impact on your mental capabilities.

7. Elevate

Alongside Lumosity, Elevate is widely considered as one of the top 2 brain training apps today. With

over 35 games that track five different types of mental development, it is easy to see why Elevate is

an app to consider. Elevate pays special attention to reading, writing, speaking and math apart from

allowing you to customize your training and focus on whichever subjects you would prefer to pay

more attention to. As with most other brain games, you can track your progress to see how your

skills are improving. The app is free for both iOS and Android.

8. Peak

Peak is an iOS and Android oriented app that looks gorgeous with its very visually pleasing design,

game layout and highly intuitive flow. Peak delivers brain games to work on focus, memory,

problem-solving, mental agility as well as other cognitive functions. Its competitive side is also a plus

as you can challenge other users and are able to compare your progress with Peak’s ever-growing

community. Should you have an Apple Watch, you can seamlessly integrate the app with it. Peak is

free to use and offers a subscription model should you be interested in trying some of its more

advanced features.

9. Crosswords

Alongside Sudoku, Crosswords are a classic brain trainer that combines not only verbal language but

also memory. This is possibly the most recognized form of brain training and surely the one we all

grew up doing, be it printed in the last pages of newspapers, magazines or in dedicated exercise

books. Crossword puzzles are easily found online via free or very cheap apps.

10. Happy Neuron

Happy Neuron splits its games and activities into five important brain areas: memory, attention,

language, executive functions, and visual/spatial, all based on scientific research. As is the case with

other renowned brain training apps, it tailors the training to your personal needs and tracks your

progress. Happy Neuron offers a free trial so you can test their product before purchasing it. The

monthly subscription is well worthwhile, allowing you to access its full content via their site and/or

Android app.

Our body is a wonderful piece of art and, like all forms of complex chemical and mechanical

matter, we need to understand it in order to better take care of it. The most mysterious and

intriguing of these is our brain. It holds countless secrets that science is yet to find answers to

and, as with all muscles, it needs to be exercised in order to fully function. Here are a few tips

and tricks to keep your brain in ideal condition regardless of the effects of aging.

Get Physical Exercise

Body and Mind are connected in more ways than we can imagine. The way you treat your

physical side is going to undeniably reflect itself on your mind. Make sure that you stay physically

active, even if you can only make time for a simple walk. Numerous studies have shown that the

slightest form of motion can go a long way into improving both memory and cognitive skills. At

an anatomical level, the impact caused by your foot when walking causes pressure waves

through the arteries which increases blood flow. Sports that are proven to be optimal sources

of brain health are:

Team sports such as basketball or football

Cycling

Yoga or Tai Chi

Aerobic or gym exercise

Walking

Running or jogging

Water sports

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Food is the fuel that keeps us running as human beings so maintaining a close eye on what we

consume is extremely important. Our brain is particularly fond of nuts, fish and even red wine;

however, these products are also known to give our mind an extra boost:

Salmon – a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids

Green Tea – rich in polyphenols and antioxidants, it not only improves alertness and

focus, but is also known to reduce the risk of serious diseases such as Alzheimer or

Parkinson.

Eggs – packed with essential nutrients such as B6, B12, folate and choline, all elements

that help regulate both our memory and our general mood

Blueberries – the antioxidants they contain aid in improving the communication

between brain cells, delay short-term memory loss and also reduce inflammation.

Work on your posture

It might sound like a cliché that your parents, teachers and even television has been feeding you

throughout the years, but the truth is that having good posture plays a beneficial role on your

wellbeing. Studies show that keeping an upright posture does improve the circulation and blood

flow to the brain. Here are three simple tips to make sure you’re in the right direction:

Sleep with an aligned spine – resting on your back or on the side is known to generate

less stress on your spine. When sleeping on your back, gravity makes sure that your body

is centered on your spine. Should you sleep on your side, try to point your chin straight

ahead.

Balance- exercising your overall body balance will not only avoid occasional tripping and

falling, but it also benefits your spine. More relaxing activities such as Yoga or Tai Chi are

very beneficial in this regard.

Weigh healthy – Being over or underweight adds stress to your muscles and ultimately

makes you more inclined to adopt a wrong body posture

Sleep as much as you can

This is a tricky one and will clearly vary from person to person. Not getting enough sleep can

deeply impact your overall state of mind and lead to severe problems related to memory,

concentration, as well as cognitive functions. It is during our snooze time that newly acquired

skills and memories are processed by our brains creating a permanent imprint. As a rule of

thumb, adults above 65 should attempt to get 7-8 hours sleep, while those aged 26 to 64 should

aim at 7-9 hours. Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of our bedtime:

Consistency – try to go to bed and wake up at the same time on a routine basis.

Repetition is key to a healthy rest.

Light dinners – having very large meals can lead to longer digestive periods which can

both be harmful to your stomach and deprive you from sleep. Try to keep your evening

food consumption to small snacks such as nuts or fruit.

Cut on stimulants – Coffee, Chocolates, Cola or Cigarettes should be highly avoided

between four to six hours prior to going to bed. Alcohol should also be limited as it

disrupts both REM and slow-wave sleep, both essential to a healthy memory.

Never Stop Learning

Not only is the unknown exciting, but it also stimulates the brain. Studies have shown that

reading and writing on a regular basis, for instance, helps reduce memory loss at a later stage in

life by 32%. Playing a musical instrument is also a beneficial way of engaging your memory and

so is learning a foreign language as it improves cognitive functioning in older adults as well as

helps strengthen your decision making, believe it or not. Having a hobby also increases your

notion of self-esteem and self-worth which in itself can do wonders for the mind. Simply think

about something that interests you and go for it. A few ideas to start things off:

Carpentry

Gardening

Cooking

Photography

Fishing

Painting

Swimming

Don’t over-use your brain

It is important to remember that we are not machines, meaning that we have the luxury of not

having all the answers at all times. Save your mental energy by choosing what needs to be

remembered and what doesn’t. Use calendars, planners, shopping lists or address books instead

of wasting away mental power that could be used for other, more significant, tasks. Not having

to worry about too many details will help you focus better and free up your memory.

These are but a few tips and tricks that will get you on your way to programming your brain to

better aid you in day-to-day tasks. Keep in mind that aging is part of life, but we have the power

to take care of ourselves and make sure that our journey on Earth is an amazing one from day

one.

Life is made out of unforeseeable circumstances, some pleasant and heartwarming, others bitter

and full of pain. Illness is without a doubt the main source of discomfort and lack of quality of

life. Dementia, a general term used to describe the loss of memory and other related thinking

abilities, can lead to other more serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s. But what if there are

simple ways of training our brains into preventing or at least delaying the effects of this

troublesome disease?

Training one’s brain is a continuous task that, when done correctly, has exceptional results not

only on a person’s mental prowess but also on their wellbeing as a whole. Common forms of

activities that challenge the brain are crossword puzzles, sudoku and a wide variety of computer

games. Many studies have been undertaken with the sole goal of answering one question: can

brain training prevent dementia? Some say yes. Evidence shows that cognitive training can

improve both memory and thinking, especially among middle-aged or older individuals.

Evidence also suggests that brain training may even help older adults to perform their daily tasks

at a more satisfying pace, however, further studies are required in order to consolidate these

claims.

Brain training is based on the idea that if you do not use something, you will end up losing it. As

such, the more you challenge your brain the less likely you are to suffer any form of cognitive

impairment, which obviously includes dementia. The premise for this theory is that individuals

who perform highly complex jobs or who do crosswords, puzzles or learn new hobbies tend to

have lower rates of dementia.

The biggest study taken to date with the use of computer brain training was sponsored by the

Alzheimer’s Society and counted with nearly 7,000 people above the age of 50. The brain training

program in display tested the individual’s cognitive and problem-solving skills. The outcomes

unveiled that there were progresses in reasoning and the recollection of words six months after

the test. The further the exercises were accomplished; the more likely participants were to see

enhancements in these brain functions. Some people in the study took cognitive tests but did

not participate in the brain training games. This type of study is considered precise because the

investigators can compare the results of those who did brain training with those who did not.

This helps to analyze the true effect of a study on a patient. Those above 60 years of age who

partook in the study described that the brain training test also improved their ability to

experience their daily activities such as handling a household budget, making meals, shopping

or even using public transportation.

There are a great variety of commercial brain training games and products on the marketplace,

some of which have been tested in rigorous studies while most of them have not. This can be a

delicate matter as brain training games are designed to challenge different brain functions so be

on the alert when choosing a training game. These may not have scientific evidence backing

them up which may mean that they are making false claims for their own financial benefit.

Alzheimer’s disease affects 5.4 million people in America alone, most of which are over 65. As

our society ages, higher is the number of individuals who suffer from this disease. Alzheimer’s

causes issues with memory, discerning and conduct, and while it is normal to sporadically

overlook things as you get older, Alzheimer’s is not a standard part of aging. Alzheimer’s disease

is the most frequent form of dementia, a general term for memory and thinking difficulties that

are so severe that they can affect day to day events, accounting for at least 60 percent of

dementia cases, mostly among those 65 and older. In some situations, however, it can distress

younger people. Alzheimer’s is a progressive and sadly uncurable disease. Nevertheless,

investigators have confidence that it is possible to try and delay the onset of symptoms or stop

them from progressing at a fast pace. One of the ways researchers trust as a form of delaying

the start of dementia is with the help of brain training. The premise behind brain training is that

just as exercise helps you keep your body in good shape, mental exercises help your brain stay

nice and fit.

A rigorous study discovered that brain-training actions can decrease the risk of dementia. The

technique used is called speed-of-processing, being the main objective to have the person

speedily recognize and recall an object that is before them.

Throughout the study, applicants were arbitrarily placed in one of three training groups: verbal

memory skills training, reasoning and problem-solving skills and the third for speed-ofprocessing training. All through speed-of-processing training, contributors acknowledged an

object in front of them, as well as objects in their peripheral vision. As the game carried on,

applicants had less time to identify objects and also faced distractions on the screen.

The group of contributors that established speed-of-processing brain-training sessions

experienced a 29 percent reduced risk of dementia for the following 10 years. Still, academics

note that more revisions need to be performed in order to understand why speed-of-processing

brain training is effective, as opposed to the other types of brain training.

Despite the fact that it is uncertain if games tailored explicitly in the direction of dementia and

Alzheimer’s prevention actually work, there is proof that maintaining your mind sharp and taking

good care of yourself can help keep your brain healthy as well.

Taking care of oneself, such as getting 150 minutes of exercise per week, eating a healthy diet

filled with fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and dairy may encourage brain health.

Additionally, staying mentally and socially dynamic as you age may help to keep your brain

healthy. Consider lively events such as adult education classes, handicraft workshops, reading a

stimulating book, doing crossword puzzles or other errands that expose your mind to new and

fulfillng tasks.

Nobody likes being labelled. The same principle is valid for intelligence. It is part of our DNA to

continuously try to better ourselves and let’s face it – no one likes being called dumb. There has

been a lot of debating recently regarding IQ results and if we are stuck with the same score for

the rest of our lives. In this article we will try to shed some light on this matter.

At a first glance, one can claim that our IQ will remain unchanged throughout our lifetimes. It is

a fact that our personal life experiences and growth play a very important part in our path, but

it is common ground to consider that an individual’s IQ score will remain unchangeable.

Should we dig deeper, it will come to our attention that even the standard IQ score shifts in

different stages of our lives. The IQ of a child will mutate as he matures, this is only logical. If we

add working-memory training to the mix the results are even more significant. The only obstacle

in IQ gain is old age – where disease plays a negative role on the intellectual integrity of a person.

One of the most intriguing age spectrums are the teenage years. Research suggests that during

this period, an individual may either increase or decrease his IQ. This is most probably related

to the development changes that a teenager experiences in terms of brain structure.

Longitudinal brain-imaging studies further show evidence that fluctuations in grey matter are

the possible cause for this unstable occurrence.

MRI brain scans and standard IQ tests were performed on 33 normal people in their early

teenage years and then again in their late adolescent years. Results were far ranging, being the

picked-up IQ scores between 77 and 135 in the early teen group and 87 to 143 in the later years

group. The reached conclusion was that the IQ score altered between -20 to +23 in terms of

verbal IQ and -28 and +17 for non-verbal IQ. Further analysis showed a link between the IQ and

increases in cortical density and the brain volume related to the regions involving verbal and

movement functions.

This discovery is immense and provides answers to serious questions. Experiences during an

individual’s teenage years presumably alters one’s brain structure and mental capacity.

Occurrences such as drug abuse, social stress or poor education seem to have significant

negative impacts on a young adult’s IQ level while a mentally healthy environment and an

abundant educational experience can hugely benefit a teenager’s intellectual ability.

This data proposes that, no matter how much importance is given to a child at a pre-school level,

it is the middle school and early high school years that form and shape our true intellectual

growth. This makes us question the social neglect given to those who are “slow learners” as

opposed to early high achievers who, more often than not, fail to live up to expectations as

parents and educators assumed that they already had what it took to manage social experiences

on their own. This is a clear indication that educational care is something that should be

incentivized no matter how autonomous a pupil appears to be.

Alterations in a person’s IQ depends on a countless number of factors. Something we should

consider, though, is that maybe it is not about making a person smarter, it is actually about

making said person function better. It is possible to teach a child to be better at math without

the need to teach him actual math. What is important is that we teach the child to organize and

plan his strategy better, this will improve their academic outcome not only in a determined

subject but in the global comprehension of the task at hand. To some academics, being smarter

is actually being more efficient at using the tools we are inherently given.

Comprehending changes in IQ also calls for delicate and pondered consideration on how we are

measuring a given intelligence. There is a huge misconception about skill and knowledge – we

can improve our vocabulary through studying but this does not mean that we are getting any

brighter. The best approach to measuring intelligence is to analyze the skills that motivate the

gain of knowledge we are looking to achieve.

Even further studies seem to indicate that individuals, especially in more modern societies, are

experiencing significant changed in IQ over time – approximately 3 points per decade. To be

more precise, there seems to have been an 18-point increase from 1947 to 2002. Putting things

into numbers, the average IQ of a 20-year-old in 1947 was lower than that of a person with the

same age in 2002. Results also show that the older you are, the more stable your test score will

be.

It is important to differentiate between three distinct connotations of the word intelligence.

There is biological intelligence, or what is classically defined as neural efficiency. Then there is

psychometric intelligence – your measured IQ score – which is an incidental and flawed method

of estimating biological intelligence. Research throughout the past decade with the use of

several state-of-the-art forms of neurotechnology (ie. brain fitness programs) suggest that it is

possible to tweak your neural productivity. Your cognitive functions can be made to work more

competently and in a more synchronized form. Taking all this into account, it is fair to say that

people can change their IQ scores. Your score may alter not due to any significant change in

general intelligence, but because different tests may be used which measure different levels of

skill. Furthermore, some abilities tend to stabilize over time – such as verbal and reasoning –

while others tend to deteriorate – for instance, processing speed and short-term memory.

As a conclusion, yes, our IQ varies throughout our lives, both in an increasing and a decreasing

pattern. Data seems to validate that our teen years are important in shaping our standard IQ

score, however it is not the only decisive factor. What is really determinant is how we use the

level of intelligence we are given, the way we approach a task and how well we plan a strategy

to face it. Being prepared is the key. Never stop challenging ourselves is the door.

Trying to come up with a list of the smartest people who ever stepped foot on the planet is

anything but an easy task to accomplish. Intelligence is highly subjective and so are the skills that

define someone as smart. Being intelligent is one thing, using that intelligence to in some way

advance humanity, is something entirely different. At an IQ level, anything above 140 is generally

considered near genius. Nonetheless, here is a list of some of the brainiest unsung humans who

ever lived.

William Sidis

William James Sidis was an American child prodigy said to have an IQ between 250 and 300,

possibly the highest score ever. Apart from his above-average math skills, which allowed William

to join Harvard at the age of 11, he also spoke 40 languages. Sadly, William did not live up to

expectations and matured into an average human being, landing mediocre jobs and getting into

trouble with the law on several occasions.

Judit Polgár

With an IQ of 170, Judit Polgár was a Hungarian chess player who is widely considered to be the

best female chess player of all time. At the age of 15 years and 4 months, Polgár won the title of

Grandmaster, at the time the youngest to have done so. She is also the youngest person to ever

break into the FIDE top 100 players rating list. She was the top-rated woman in the world from

January 1989 until her retirement on 13 August 2014.

Philip Emeagwali

Philip Emeagwali is a Nigerian computer scientist who won the 1989 Gordon Bell Prize for priceperformance in high-performance computing applications, by using an innovative mathematical

formula and applying it in an oil reservoir modeling calculation. With an IQ of 190, Philip was

voted as the greatest African scientist of all time. As an interesting sidenote, his math work is

often considered as being influential in the construction of the internet.

Srinivasa Ramanujan

Srinivasa Ramanujan was an Indian mathematician who made significant contributions to

analysis, number theory, infinite series and continued fractions, together with solutions to

mathematical problems then deemed unknowable. Ramanujan, who had almost no proper

training in mathematics, initially developed his own research in isolation. His estimated IQ was

185.

Hypatia of Alexandria

Hypatia was a Greek astronomer, philosopher and mathematician who lived in Egypt, then part

of the Eastern Roman Empire. Although heralded by Pandrosion, another Alexandrine female

mathematician, she is the first female mathematician whose life is reasonably well recorded.

With an estimated IQ of 170-190, she was brutally murdered by a group of Christian fanatics

after being accused of witchcraft.

Gottfried Leibniz

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a renowned German polymath and one of the most significant

logicians, mathematicians and natural philosophers of the Enlightenment and is best known for

inventing calculus. In philosophy, Leibniz is most illustrious for his optimism – his conclusion that

our universe is, in a limited sense, the best possible one that God could have created. Leibniz’s

IQ estimates range from 182 to 205.

Andrew Wiles

Sir Andrew John Wiles is an English mathematician and a Royal Society Research Professor at

the University of Oxford, specialized in number theory. In 1995, Wiles verified a 358-year-old

mathematical theory called Fermat’s Last Theorem, which until then was registered in the

Guinness Book of World Records as the “most difficult math problem” in the world. He was

appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000. Sir Andrew Wiles is

said to have an IQ of 170.

Emanuel Swedenborg

Emanuel Swedenborg was a Swedish theologian, scientist, philosopher and mystic. He is best

known for his book on the afterlife, Heaven and Hell. In 1741 he began to experience dreams

and visions which concluded in a “spiritual arising” in which he received a revelation that he was

appointed by Jesus Christ to write The Heavenly Doctrine to reform Christianity.

Christopher Hirata

Christopher Hirata is an American cosmologist and astrophysicist who was hired by NASA at the

age of 16 to do some research on the colonization of Mars. Christopher was only 13 when this

child prodigy won the gold medal in 1996 at the International Physics Olympiad. He also received

his PhD under the supervision of Uroš Seljak in 2005 from Princeton University in Astrophysics.

Kim Ung-Yong

Kim Ung-Yong is a South Korean professor and former child prodigy said to hold the highest IQ

score (210) according to the Guinness World Records. At the age of one, Kim had learned both

the Korean alphabet and 1,000 Chinese characters by studying the Thousand Character Classic,

a 6th-century Chinese poem. At three years old, he began to solve calculus problems. At 5, Kim

had acquired astonishing linguistic skills and could speak Korean, English, French, German and

Japanese.

Ainan Cawley

Ainan Celeste Cawley is a Singaporean boy prodigy who, according to his parents, had said his

first word when he was two weeks old, could walk at six months of age and build difficult

sentences by his first birthday. Cawley gave his first public speech at the age of six and at seven

years and one month of age, he had passed the GCSE chemistry and studied chemistry at the

Singapore Polytechnic a year later. At the age of 9, he was able to recite pi to 518 decimal places

and could remember the periodic table.

Christopher Langan

Christopher Michael Langan is an American autodidact who is considered an intellectual prodigy.

ABC’s 20/20 estimated that Langan’s IQ is anywhere between 195 and 210 dubbing him what

most journalists consider as the smartest man in America. Growing up, Christopher Langan

quickly showed above-average skills: he could speak at six months of age, read by his third

birthday and even question the existence of God by age five. He obtained a perfect score on his

SAT, despite having fallen asleep during the test. He is an avid learner, regardless of the subject,

and can study math, languages and philosophy for long periods of time each day.