(a) Find out the IQ of a 14-year-old child with a mental age of 16.

OR

(b) Differentiate between a verbal and a non-verbal test.

Q: (a) Find out the IQ of a 14-year-old child with a mental age of 16. OR (b) Differentiate between a verbal and a non-verbal test.

**This is an OR question — either (a) or (b) may be attempted.** **(a) IQ calculation:** Using the formula $IQ = (\text{Mental Age} \div \text{Chronological Age}) \times 100$: $IQ = (16 \div 14) \times 100$ = **114.29 (approximately 114)**. This IQ score above 100 indicates that the child's mental age exceeds their chronological age, suggesting above-average intellectual functioning for their age group. **(b) Verbal vs Non-verbal test:** | Basis | Verbal Test | Non-verbal Test | |-------|-------------|------------------| | **Medium** | Requires use of language — reading, writing, or speaking | Uses pictures, diagrams, symbols, or objects; language is not required | | **Administration** | Suitable for literate individuals who share the test's language | Can be administered to illiterate persons, young children, or across different language/cultural groups | | **Example** | Vocabulary or verbal analogy tests | Raven's Progressive Matrices |

Variations in Psychological Attributes

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Calculation / Verbal vs Non-verbal Tests

Official Answer

This is an OR question — either (a) or (b) may be attempted.

(a) IQ calculation:

Using the formula $IQ = (\text{Mental Age} \div \text{Chronological Age}) \times 100$ :

$IQ = (16 \div 14) \times 100$ = 114.29 (approximately 114).

This IQ score above 100 indicates that the child's mental age exceeds their chronological age, suggesting above-average intellectual functioning for their age group.

(b) Verbal vs Non-verbal test:

Basis	Verbal Test	Non-verbal Test
Medium	Requires use of language — reading, writing, or speaking	Uses pictures, diagrams, symbols, or objects; language is not required
Administration	Suitable for literate individuals who share the test's language	Can be administered to illiterate persons, young children, or across different language/cultural groups
Example	Vocabulary or verbal analogy tests	Raven's Progressive Matrices

intelligence quotientmental agechronological ageIQ formulaverbal testnon-verbal testRaven's Progressive Matricesculture-fair test

Marking Scheme

1(a) 1 mark: correct formula $IQ = (\text{MA}/\text{CA}) \times 100$ written/applied.
2(a) 1 mark: correct final answer $\approx 114$ (or 114.29) with correct substitution.
3(b) 1 mark: first correct point of difference (medium — language-based vs picture/symbol-based).
4(b) 1 mark: second correct point of difference (administration — literacy/language dependency vs culture-fair, non-verbal administration).

Hint

(a) $IQ = (\text{MA}/\text{CA}) \times 100$ — plug in $\text{MA}=16, \text{CA}=14$ . (b) Verbal tests need language; non-verbal tests use pictures/symbols and don't need language.

Quick Oral Answer

IQ equals mental age divided by chronological age, times 100 — here $(16/14)\times 100$ gives about 114; verbal tests need language while non-verbal tests use pictures and can be given to non-literate individuals.

Analysis & Explanation

This is a two-part choice question — one numerical, one conceptual — testing the assessment section of the intelligence chapter.

Part (a) concept: The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) formula, originally proposed by William Stern and used in Binet-Simon-based scales, compares mental age (level of intellectual functioning as measured by a test) to chronological age (actual age in years), multiplied by 100 to remove the decimal. An IQ above 100 means mental age exceeds chronological age (advanced development); below 100 means the reverse.

Part (b) concept: Verbal and non-verbal tests differ in the medium used to present and answer items. Verbal tests depend on language proficiency, which can disadvantage those with limited literacy or from different linguistic backgrounds; non-verbal tests avoid this by using universal visual stimuli, making them more culturally fair.

Exam trap: In part (a), students often forget to multiply by 100, giving 1.14 instead of 114.29; in part (b), students often give only one point of difference rather than a full comparative answer.

Common Mistakes

1Forgetting to multiply by 100 in the IQ formula, giving an answer like 1.14 instead of 114.29.
2Inverting the formula (using $\text{CA}/\text{MA}$ instead of $\text{MA}/\text{CA}$ ), which would incorrectly give an IQ below 100.
3In part (b), giving only a definition of one test type instead of a genuine point-by-point comparison of both.

Interesting Facts

The IQ formula ( $\text{MA}/\text{CA} \times 100$ ) was introduced by German psychologist William Stern in 1912; earlier Binet-Simon scales used mental age alone without this ratio.

Raven's Progressive Matrices, a classic non-verbal test, is still widely used today because it can be administered across cultures and languages with minimal bias.

Modern IQ tests like the Wechsler scales have moved away from the strict $\text{MA}/\text{CA}$ ratio formula, instead using deviation IQ scores compared against a same-age norm group.

Spotted a mistake or something unclear?

Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an IQ of 114 mean?

An IQ of 114 means the child's mental age (16) is higher than their chronological age (14), indicating intellectual functioning above the average expected for their age group (average IQ is 100).

Why are non-verbal tests considered more culture-fair than verbal tests?

Non-verbal tests use pictures, diagrams, or symbols instead of language, so they do not disadvantage people who are illiterate or speak a different language, making them fairer across diverse cultural and linguistic groups.