Question 162 marksVery Short AnswerSection B

(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.

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=(Mental Age÷Chronological Age)×100IQ = (\text{Mental Age} \div \text{Chronological Age}) \times 100:

IQ=(16÷14)×100IQ = (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:


BasisVerbal TestNon-verbal Test
MediumRequires use of language — reading, writing, or speakingUses pictures, diagrams, symbols, or objects; language is not required
AdministrationSuitable for literate individuals who share the test's languageCan be administered to illiterate persons, young children, or across different language/cultural groups
ExampleVocabulary or verbal analogy testsRaven's Progressive Matrices
Answer keywords:intelligence quotientmental agechronological ageIQ formulaverbal testnon-verbal testRaven's Progressive Matricesculture-fair test

Marking scheme

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

Hint

(a) IQ=(MA/CA)×100IQ = (\text{MA}/\text{CA}) \times 100 — plug in MA=16,CA=14\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)×100(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.

Common mistakes

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

Analysis and 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.

Interesting facts

The IQ formula (MA/CA×100\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 MA/CA\text{MA}/\text{CA} ratio formula, instead using deviation IQ scores compared against a same-age norm group.

Question details

Q16 of 33 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 12
Subject
Psychology
Year
2026
Section
Section B
Marks
2
Type
Very Short Answer
Chapter
Variations in Psychological Attributes
Topic
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) Calculation / Verbal vs Non-verbal Tests
Bloom's level
apply
Syllabus topic
Unit 1: Variations in Psychological Attributes — Assessment of Intelligence: IQ Formula, Verbal and Non-verbal Tests
Author
CBSE
Reviewed by
Padhantu Academic Team

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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.