Intelligence Quotient - Increase Yours Today

Would you like to increase your intelligence quotient or IQ? You can use brain power exercises and techniques designed to help you long-term, but what if you want a quick brain fix right now? Maybe you have an important meeting coming up, or a crucial test, or just a chess game you don't want to lose. If you want fast results, and not an argument about the definition of intelligence, try some of the following.

Breath To Increase Intelligence Quotient

Breath deeply through your nose. Breathing deeply relaxes you and puts more oxygen in your blood (and therefore in your brain). Since relaxation has been proven to improve brain function, and low oxygen levels in the blood have been shown to decrease it, you benefit doubly from deep breathing. Nose-breathing uses the diaphragm more, drawing air further into the lungs. This is an easy, effective way to improve the functioning of your brain immediately.

Meditation also helps, partly because of the deep breathing. A simple breath-watching meditation allows true relaxation, and is conducive to creative problem solving. Close your eyes and breath through your nose, deeply at first, then in whatever way is comfortable. Thoughts will arise, but just dismiss them and return your attention to your breath. Continue this for at least a few minutes.

Move To Increase Intelligence Quotient

Posture affects our state of mind, and helps us to think more clearly. Here's an experiment to prove this to yourself. First do math problems in your head while slouching, with your mouth open. Then try again while sitting up straight with your lips together. You'll notice that it's easier to think this way.

Exercise, but just enough to get the blood pumping. This can "wake up" your brain and help you think better. Walking works best for many, but any aerobic activity can help increase your IQ.

You probably knew that sleep can help brain function. However, the evidence shows that the quality of sleep is very important, not just the quantity.

Eat To Increase IQ

Ginkgo biloba leaves, whether in capsules or tea or off a neighbors tree, have been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, helping memory and concentration. The effect is quick, and doesn't seem to diminish with regular use.

Use caffeine. Everything from test scores on college exams to chess games have been shown to improve after a cup of coffee or other drink containing caffeine. However, it is a temporary effect, and caffeine may have adverse long-term effects for regular users.

Avoid sugar. Any simple carbohydrates taken in large quantities can give you a sluggish feeling that makes it difficult to think. Insulin is dumped into your veins after the sugar is, giving you the "sugar blues." Avoid white flour, sugar, potatoes, and other carbohydrates when you need a clear mind.

Results - Not Definitions

Experts can argue about whether you can increase your IQ in any absolute sense, but we know there are times when you would score higher or lower on an IQ test, right? If you slept well, exercised, drank coffee and ginkgo tea, then sat up straight and breathed deeply as you took the test, don't you think you would score a few points higher? Even more importantly, wouldn't you be better prepared for whatever mental tasks you faced? Get smarter now, and forget the arguments about intelligence quotient.

How To Score Above Average In An IQ Test - 3 Simple Steps

Most people have an average IQ score. Very few people will have an above average IQ score. For instance if you are currently at 70, it would be difficult to cross the 100 mark. But the fact remains that, no matter where you start at you can definitely improve. Below are three ways to do so:

1. Improve your test taking skills. Browse through the questions quickly. Do not waste time on questions which seem tough or time consuming. Come back to them after having solved the easier ones. This will help you find out the questions you can answer quickly, instead of wasting too much time on tricky questions.

Try to answer all questions in a multiple choice test. If not sure about the answer, use the technique of ruling out the wrong answers. If you are able to eliminate 2 out of 4 alternative given, your chances of answering the question correctly increase.

2. Be prepared in all ways for the test. Get a good sleep prior to the test. Have a straight posture while you sit and take deep breaths. This improves your score on any test. Eating fish too, has shown to speed up your brain waves and help you concentrate for longer periods of time.

If you are permitted to listen to music, I recommend you Mozart. If not allowed, then listen to it just before you take the test. One research has shown that people who listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D major,K. 448 for around 10 minutes before taking an IQ test improved their score by 9 points. Do not hesitate to do whatever will prepare your mind and body for the test.

3. Always exercise your brain. This is a technique to improve performance in the long term. Over a period of time your performance and hence the IQ score will improve.

It is my personal experience that the scores are higher when you take the test the second or third time. So it is best to take an online test the day before your test is scheduled. This will surely increase your average IQ score.

Read books that stimulate thought: Fiction is what most prefer to read, but it is hardly useful for enhancing the thought process. Reading books which are mentally challenging will help you improve your ability to read and write. Classics will improve your vocabulary to think in English and may even change the pattern of your thinking. Never ignore the words you don't understand. Look up for their meanings. Also put all your effort in understanding paragraphs which appear complicated. Read them again and again to understand the full depth. Cultivate this habit and you will soon be able to grasp any complicated matter.

I am sure that once you get hooked to stimulating books, you will no longer be tempted to read fiction. Learning and imbibing fresh ides is far more thrilling than reading a fiction novel.

We become so much involved in our daily life that we don't find time for ourselves. Concentration reduces. Find time where in you are alone and can think about issues. This will help organize your thoughts and you can prioritize your tasks and duties. You will be able to make clear cut decisions and focus on the most important issues. You cluttered mind will be a lot more clear and you will know why you are doing activities when performing them.

Improve IQ

Can you improve IQ and brainpower in general? You bet, and it isn't always difficult. I write about dozens of techniques for iq and general brainpower improvement, and I have seen IQ scores go up by applying these techniques. A more usable brain is more important than a score, though, so sit down with a cup of coffee (your first IQ improvement tip) and take notes as you read through the list below.

Improve IQ - A Few Ways

Improve your beliefs. When you believe you are smarter, you become smarter. Though affirmations may work, evidence is even better, so make a note of your successes. Start telling yourself, "Hey, that was really creative," when you do something creative. When you have a good idea, make a note of it. Gather the evidence for your own IQ improvement and you'll start to experience more of it as you believe in it.

Sniffing things. Rosemary may have an effect on the brain when the scent is inhaled. I am waiting for the research, but some people swear that just sniffing rosemary wakes up their brain. With safe techniques like this, I say give it a try. You probably have rosemary in your spice rack. I have been smelling everything in the kitchen, and it sure seems like some things calm me down, while others perk up my brain. This is safe enough that we can all be brain-enhancement science pioneers.

Write. This is good for your mind in a number of ways. You tell your memory what is important, which helps you recall things more easily in the future. Writing is a good way to clarify your thinking, and it is a way to exercise your creativity and analytical ability. Personal diaries, idea-journals, poetry, note-taking and story-writing are all ways to use writing to boost your brain power and improve iq.

Play Mozart. Researchers found, in a study at the University of California, that children who studied piano and sang daily in chorus, were much better at solving puzzles, and when tested, scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the non-musical group. In another study, 36 students were given three spatial reasoning tests on a standard IQ test. Just before the first test, they listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes. Before the second test, they listened to a relaxation tape. Before the third, they sat in silence. The average scores for all 36 students: 1st test: 119. 2nd test: 111. 3rd test: 110. Improve iq by nine-points with Mozart!

Eat fish. Eating fish speeds up brain waves, and improves concentration. Researchers have also found an almost perfect correlation between intake of fish and lowered levels of depression in the various countries of the world. The U.S. has 24 times the incidence of depression as Japan, for example, where fish intake is much higher. Not all fish are equal, though. Try to eat salmon and other fish that have a fair amount of fat in them.

Stop unnecessary arguing. Defend a position too vigorously, especially when it is just to "win" the argument, and you invest your ego into it. Ego-defending is not conducive to the easy acceptance and use of new information. In other words, you put your mind in a rut, and you dig it deeper with each argument. Debate can be a valuable thing, but when the ego takes over, the mind closes a little. This is not a way to improve IQ.

How To Have An Above Average IQ Score

What is the average IQ score? In theory the tests are designed so that half the population will score below 100 and half above, and are scored according to age of the test taker. Here is a breakdown of IQ scores in the typical population:

130 or higher: 2.2% of the population.

120-129: 6.7% of the population.

110-119: 16.1% of the population.

90-109 (Average): 50% of the population.

80-89: 16.1% of the population.

70-79: 6.7% of the population.

Below 70: 2.2% of the population.

Three Steps To An Above Average IQ Score

Is it possible for anyone to have an above average IQ score? Not likely. If you start at 70, for example, it would be tough to ever score over 100. The good news is that most people can raise their score somewhat from wherever they start. Here are three ways to do it:

1. Be a better test taker. Go through the test quickly. Skip over questions you aren't sure about, and return to them later. It's always better on a timed test to answer all the easy questions first. That way you don't eave several questions unanswered just because you spent too much time trying to get the answer to a tough one.

Always answer every question on multiple choice tests. When in doubt, first eliminate the answers that you know or suspect are incorrect, and then choose one of the remaining. If you eliminate two of four answers on a number of questions, you'll get half of those questions right on average.

2. Have the right conditions in place. Get good sleep before the test, breath deeply through your nose, and sit up straight. These are shown to improve performance on almost any test. Eat fish too. Recent studies show that eating fish speeds up brain waves and increases concentration.

If you're allowed music, make it Mozart. If you can't have music during the test, listen to it just before. In one study, subjects who listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes before an IQ test scored nine points higher. Do whatever you can to have your body and mind ready for the test.

3. Exercise your brain. This is a longer term strategy that assumes you can actually permanently improve your brain function and intelligence, and thus increase your average IQ score. It's a safe assumption in my experience, and no harm will come from the effort.

One final tip. It is my experience that my score is higher on an IQ test the second or third time I take it. Why not practice by taking an online test the day before your scheduled test? I wouldn't be surprised if this bumps up the average IQ score by a point or two.

High IQ - So What?

Does a high IQ (intelligence quotient) mean better grades in school? Does it mean a better life? Is your IQ score even a valid measurement of your intelligence? Let's take a look at these questions one-by-one.

High IQ - Intelligence

There is almost certainly a correlation between a high IQ score and being more intelligent. These test are imperfect, though, and you can find examples of cultural biases on many IQ tests. Also, there are specific test-taking skills that have been proven to raise scores on many tests, including IQ tests.

The last point makes sense, doesn't it? When you know how to efficiently "work" a test, you are likely to score higher. For that matter, even a cup of coffee may boost your score. Even the fact that your score can vary from test to test shows there are factors which can be manipulated to raise your score. There may be a general correlation between IQ score and intelligence, but certainly it's an imperfect one.

High IQ - Better Life

What evidence is there that people with higher intelligence have better lives or are happier? None that I am aware of, and how do you scientifically measure "better life?" How about a negative correlation? Many with a high IQ have committed suicide, such as Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, and Sylvia Plath, but this is just anecdotal. Various studies have shown that people with a high IQ AND a low IQ are slightly more likely to commit suicide, but even if these studies prove true, this doesn't prove causation, only correlation.

High IQ - Academic Performance

A study reported in the journal 'Psychological Science' found that IQ level correlated with academic performance, but there was a much stronger correlation with self discipline. Students with high self-discipline have better grades than high-IQ students. They found no correlation between IQ and discipline, meaning they are traits that vary independently.

High IQ - What Does It Mean?

Intelligence is an important tool, but it is just one of the tools we have to shape our lives with. As are money or power or abilities, it is beneficial in the abstract, but it only becomes beneficial in reality if applied in ways that better our lives. Raw computing capacity doesn't make a computer or a human more effective if they don't have the other necessary components.

Consider what people of average intelligence, like Henry Ford, have accomplished, before you place too much emphasis on a high IQ.

IQ Level - Who Cares?

What is your IQ level? What is "intelligence quotient anyhow? The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as "The ratio of tested mental age to chronological age, usually expressed as a quotient multiplied by 100." More or less, it's a test of intelligence, with 100 as the average score. IQ tests have some problems however.

One IQ test asks which of four fruits is different. It's the one with more than one seed, but what if you weren't familiar with these fruits? The test is culturally biased, because it assumes certain knowledge, yet is supposed to test for intelligence, not knowledge.

Look at these letters: "ANLDEGN." Rearrange them to spell the name of a(n): Ocean, Country, State, City or Animal. Tests are timed, so I start with oceans, since there are few oceans, and thus I can eliminate these quickly. The problem is that this is a test taking technique I use, and an intelligence test shouldn't be testing test-taking ability. I'll score higher than a person of equal intelligence who hasn't learned simple techniques for scoring higher on multiple-choice tests, right?

Real Life Results vs IQ Levels

An imperfect test is better than no test, and it is entertaining. I recently took an IQ test, and although I don't think my IQ is really the 138 it showed, it was fun. Of course you'll score higher on a good day than a bad day. Try these tips to make it a good IQ test day:

1. Breath deep through your nose.

2. Sit up straight and close your mouth.

3. Drink a cup of coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverage.

4. Exercise enough to get your blood pumping faster.

5. Eat or drink Ginkgo Biloba to increase blood flow to your brain.

By the way, what was Henry Fords IQ? Who cares! He was one of the most innovative people of the last century, and he did what he did by surrounding himself with intelligent people. This practice alone must be worth more than 20 IQ points. Do you see the point?

You want real life results, right? If you want to be more creative, learn creative problem solving techniques. To concentrate better, learn techniques for that. Learn speed-reading and you'll have double the knowledge in the same time. Once you paint your first Mona Lisa, build your first skyscraper or make your first million, who will care about your IQ level?

What is Mensa?

Mensa was founded in 1946, in England. The Mensa Society was formed specifically for intelligent individuals. The aim of Mensa was to create a non-political society free from all forms of racial or religious distinctions, that focussed on exceptional intelligence. All are welcomed into Mensa regardless of background, religion, socioeconomic condition, race, or age.

In fact, on February 14, 2005 the Mensa confirmed that a three-year-old boy had become the youngest current member of Mensa. Toddler Mikhail Ali of Bramley, Leeds in the UK has an IQ of 137 a level of intelligence which puts him in the top 2% of the population for his age. A mensa spokeswoman confirmed Mikhail was its current youngest member and said the organization only has 30 members under the age of 10. Mikhail was three years and six weeks old when he joined Mensa. The organization's youngest member ever was two years and 10 months old when he joined in the mid 1990's. These records are a meaningful only from a public-relations standpoint however, since IQ changes very little with age. That is, people who are smart in adulthood were just as smart as children and vice versa, regardless of whether or not they join Mensa.


The name Mensa comes from the Latin word for table and indicates a group of equals sharing ideas, like a roundtable discussion.

Mensa's stated purpose is to identify and encourage human intelligence for the benefit of humanity; to foster research in nature, characteristic and uses of intelligence; and to promote stimulating social and intellectual opportunities for society members.

Famous mensa currently include Isaac Asimov, and Gena Davis. Mensa sets a measured intelligence level in the upper two percent of the population. This is its only requirement for membership. Statistically, about six million people in the United States alone qualify for Mensa, of whom 50,000 have actually joined. Worldwide, about 120 million people qualify for mensa of whom 100,000 have joined.