This is a problem which afflicts the whole field of IQ testing, particlarly at the upper and lower ends of the scale where sample groups are small. The lack of a truly “standard” test also muddies the waters significantly.

For example, I have undertaken six or seven IQ tests over the years, from pre-teenage through to my mid-30s. Most accepted tests are supposed to make allowances for age, yet over those series of tests I’ve scored anywhere between high 130s to mid 160s. That’s a vast margin of error by ANY standard!

In reality, it’s impossible to say whose IQ is the highest. Without subjecting everyone to a single standard test, the question becomes invalid. In my experience, the measurement of IQ bears little or no relation to what might loosely be termed “smarts”. I’ve known some ridiculously intelligent people who had the common sense of a garden slug. Equally, I’ve known people who would struggle with basic concepts in one field (e.g. mathematics) but who would be off the scale in terms of another (e.g. philosophy.)

Everyone has their “niche”, their particular area of excellence. If we were all tested in our own specialised field then we would ALL be classed as geniuses!!!

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