The intellectual capacity of an individual has for long been a determinant of their academic performance. This relationship determines if the individual is going to perform well at school. It is also a kind mental construct used to categorize individuals based on the colleges they attend and the kind of company they work at. In this article we shall see Does GPA correlate with IQ?
For example, it is assumed that individuals who attend or have attended Ivy League schools have a higher IQ, due to the difficulty of the entry-level exams in such schools or the kind of company the individual works at because of the presumed difficulty level of the assessment tests.
The overall assumption is that the higher the Intelligence Quotient of an individual, the higher the Grade Point Average. In simple terms, an individual’s academic performance is directly proportional to his academic prowess.
Psychological Perspective
The field of psychology has made several findings, all of which point to one conclusion- there is a positive relationship between IQ and GPA. These results also point to personality and behavior as factors that have a significant effect on the relationship between IQ and GPA.
According to psychology, self-discipline, self-control, dedication, and determination have a positive impact on academic performance. These behaviors, despite an individual’s IQ, can influence academic performance. Intelligence is a trait that can be improved on throughout the life of an individual. Through lifestyle changes like exercising, continuous learning, reading, as well as feeding habits, an individual’s intellectual capacity can be improved. Except in extreme cases.
Also, a person with a high IQ may have a very low GPA. This could be caused by factors like socioeconomic instability, lack of support system, and skipping classes, among others. Therefore, a high IQ or a low IQ cannot entirely translate to a low or high GPA because several factors influence academic performance.
Comparing IQ and GPA
| GPA | IQ scores |
| 4.0 | 140 and above |
| 3.5 | 130-139 |
| 3.0 | 120-129 |
| 2.5 | 110-119 |
| 2.0 | 100-109 |
| 1.5 | 90-99 |
| 1.0 | 80-89 |
| 0.5 | 70-79 |
Please note that the IQ – GPA comparison here is not an absolute and may vary based on individual differences.
Intellectual Disability Versus IQ.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
Unlike the general idea that individuals with autism spectrum disorder may be unable to perform well academically, statistics show that about 31% of individuals with ASD have an IQ of less than 70, 44% are above a score of 85, and 25% are between 71-85.
A very famous person that lived with ASD is Albert Einstein. It is said that if he lived in this time he would have been diagnosed as one with ASD. The IQ of Albert Einstein is said to be between 200-225. Others are Charles Darwin, Bill Gates, Isaac Newton, and Elon Musk, etc.
One may wonder how come these individuals do not look like they live this condition, but autism manifests itself in different ways in different individuals. Autism has a unique trait known as restricted interests. This trait allows people living with ASD to have a passion for one particular activity.
Unlike people without autism, who have varying and diverse interests in different topics, people with autism always commit to one particular interest and most times excel above others in the same field living without autism due to the maximum dedication and consistency they put into it since they cannot have a wide range of interests.
This is why the aforementioned famous individuals have been able to excel in their chosen fields.
Down’s Syndrome
Down’s syndrome otherwise known as trisomy 21 is another intellectual disability that affects an individual’s IQ. This syndrome presents itself with physical characteristics like low muscle tone, short stature, a flat nose, and a protruding tongue. Individuals with Downs Syndrome can be classified as mild, moderate, and severe.
Individuals with mild cases have an IQ between 50-69, moderate IQ is between 35-50, and severe cases have an IQ between 20 and 35. There is also the mosaic Down’s syndrome which has an IQ of 10-30.
Sujeet Desai, Chris Burke, Madeline Stuart, Pablo Pineda, Zach Gottsegen, Isabella Springmuhi Tejada, Tim Harris, Jamie Brewer, Chelsea Werner, and Collette Divitto, amongst others with most of them participating in sports, music, and the entertainment industry in general.
These are some intellectual disabilities and their impact on the IQ of individuals living with them. This goes further to prove what was stated earlier about intelligence being improved upon based on internal factors.
Conclusion
Intelligence is the ability of a person to think and act rationally and purposefully, and also make effective use of available resources in one’s environment. This description of intelligence helps in the measurement of an Intelligence Quotient through various intelligence tests. Academic performance is one of the many ways of determining IQ.
An individual may have a high IQ but perform poorly, due to external factors, while an individual may have a low IQ and may perform well academically.
No wonder, we may see an individual whom we do not expect to do well, probably based on his cultural background, have an outstanding performance. Intelligence knows no race, culture, or physical appearance. Intelligence is dynamic, not static, and it can be improved upon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I know my IQ?
IQ can be measured using various intelligence tests like the Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS), Stanford-Binet intelligence scales (SBIS), Woodcock-Johnson (WJ) test of cognitive abilities, Raven’s progressive matrices (RPM), etc.
What IQ is regarded as a genius?
IQ scores above 160 are regarded as a genius.
Does IQ increase with age?
An individual’s IQ is relatively stable across the lifespan of the individual, although an individual’s intelligence can be improved upon. This means that our intellectual abilities can be improved upon.
Can my personality affect my IQ?
The various personality traits are linked to various levels of intelligence. Openness is one personality trait that is strongly linked to a higher level of intelligence because such individuals are interested in new and complex ideas that help improve their intellectual capacity.
