What is this test for?
This page does two things. First, explain what a real IQ measure is: the WAIS-IV (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), taken one-on-one with a psychologist, normed on a representative sample, with timed subtests covering verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed.
Then, offer you something better than a fake number: 22 entirely original reasoning items — logical matrices, verbal analogies, number sequences — that give a qualitative tendency by area. Never an “estimated IQ”, never a points range: that would be scientifically baseless.
Who is it for?
For anyone typing “free IQ test” hoping for a serious answer: curious about their reasoning abilities, adults wondering about giftedness, or parents who want to understand what an assessment would really measure before committing their child to it.
How does it work?
You solve 12 matrices (completing a logical 3×3 grid), 5 verbal analogies and 5 number sequences, with no timer — take your time. Items are weighted by difficulty; the result is a descriptive tendency (median zone, above the median, high tendency) by area, computed in your browser. An inconclusive attempt has no negative value: the online format simply does not allow a conclusion.
The science behind this test
Why is no online IQ test valid? Three cumulative reasons. Norming: an IQ is a position relative to a representative normative sample — without norms, a raw score means nothing. Standardisation: individual session, exact instructions, timing, controlled conditions; your couch at 11 p.m. does not qualify. Item security: real tests (WAIS-IV, Raven’s Matrices) are protected instruments, sold only to qualified professionals — Pearson requires a doctorate in psychology or equivalent — precisely so the items do not circulate and stay valid.
Our matrices are generated in-house according to rules documented in the literature (progression, rotation, Latin squares, addition — see Matzen et al., 2010, who describe how to build Raven-type matrices): the method is free, the items are ours, and no protected-instrument item is reproduced. That is also why we show no number: our items have no norming, and we refuse to invent one.
For reference, open cognitive item banks exist for research (the ICAR — International Cognitive Ability Resource, Condon & Revelle 2014); they too are reserved for non-commercial use, and they too do not “give an IQ” without appropriate norms.
Full transparency
An original MoodTrakr exercise, neither normed nor validated: it produces no IQ, no IQ range, no percentile. The tiers (“median zone”, “high tendency”) describe your success on THESE items, nothing else. WAIS® is a trademark of Pearson, cited as a reference — no Pearson content is reproduced.
- Unnormed, untimed exercise: it produces NO IQ score, no numerical “range” — any claim to the contrary online is misleading.
- A low result online is not interpretable (fatigue, stress, unfamiliar format); a high result is a tendency, not a measurement.
- Original MoodTrakr items: no WAIS-IV or Raven’s Matrices item (protected instruments, for professionals) is reproduced.
The reference tests used by professionals
This questionnaire replaces none of the tools used in consultation. Here are the ones professionals actually use:
- WAIS-IV (adult) / WISC-V (child) — the reference scale, administered individually by a psychologist — the only recognised IQ measure
- Neuropsychological assessment — if the concern is about memory, attention or a recent change
Frequently asked questions
Why do you refuse to show an IQ, even an approximate one?
Because it would be false: an IQ is a position relative to a normative sample, and our items have no norming. Sites that show “IQ: 127” after ten questions invent a number — often flattering, so you share it. We prefer an honest tendency to a precise lie.
What are the free IQ tests on other sites worth?
Nothing, psychometrically: no norms, no standardisation, items sometimes copied illegally from real tests (which destroys their validity), numbers calibrated to flatter. Some mainly serve to sell a “certificate” or collect emails. An IQ number without a psychologist does not exist.
How much does a real assessment cost, and what does it include?
A full psychometric assessment with a psychologist (WAIS-IV administration, analysis, written report and interview) generally costs several hundred euros. It measures several indices — verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed — whose fine analysis is worth far more than the total score.
Does IQ change with age or training?
IQ is designed to be relatively stable in adulthood: it is calculated relative to people your age. Training on matrix-type items improves your performance on those items, not your general intelligence — all the more reason to be wary of online scores, inflated by familiarity.
What about Mensa admission tests?
Mensa administers supervised tests, under controlled conditions, with real instruments — that is precisely the difference from an online quiz. If your goal is a recognised measure, the two serious routes are an assessment with a psychologist or a supervised session of this kind.
Sources & methodology
This page draws on the references below — official guidelines, published studies and institutional documents. Every link is checked automatically at each release. Instrument attribution: Original MoodTrakr exercise (2026) — items designed in-house, matrix generation procedure based on Matzen et al. (2010). WAIS® is a trademark of Pearson, cited as a reference: no Pearson content is reproduced.
- Pearson — test purchaser qualification policy (level C for the WAIS-IV)
- APA — the security of psychological tests, and why items are protected
- Matzen et al., Behavior Research Methods, 2010 — generating Raven-type matrices: the method
- Condon & Revelle, Intelligence, 2014 — the ICAR, a cognitive item bank for research
Explore another test
Mood, attention, neurodivergence, sensitivity: our questionnaires complement each other. You can take them all, free and fully private.
See all tests