Ravi grew up in a very poor home in a drought-hit village. He often went without proper meals and rarely attended school. When he was 10 years old, a school psychologist tested him and found that his mental age was 6 years. Soon after, a couple of doctors in Pune adopted him. They gave him healthy meals, sent him to a good school and read with him every evening. When Ravi was 14 years old, he was tested again. This time his mental age came out as 14 years.
Based on Ravi's first test, which group would his IQ score place him in?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Intellectually disabled
Option (1) Intellectually disabled — Correct. IQ is mental age divided by chronological age, multiplied by 100. At the first test this gives 6/10 x 100 = 60. An IQ below 70 falls in the intellectually disabled group.
Option (2) Borderline — Incorrect. The borderline group covers IQ scores of 70 to 79. Ravi's first score of 60 is below this range.
Option (3) Low average — Incorrect. The low average group covers IQ scores of 80 to 89. A score of 60 is well below it.
Option (4) Average — Incorrect. The average group covers IQ scores of 90 to 109. Ravi reaches it only at the second test (14/14 x 100 = 100).
NCERT (2026-27): “Assessment of Intelligence … “The mean IQ score in a population is 100. People with IQ scores in the range of 90–110 have normal intelligence. Those with IQ below 70 are suspected to have ‘intellectual disability’, while persons with IQ above 130 are considered to have exceptional talents. …” |