SO WHAT IS IQ?
IQ testing is a method used by psychologists to measure what is generally considered intelligence. The concept of IQ, or "Intelligence Quotient" was first introduced by French psychologist Alfred Binet in 1904. The "quotient" refers to Binet's definition of IQ as mental age divided by chronological age or M.A./C.A. this quotient is then multiplied by 100 to make it a whole number. An 8 year old child with the mental ability of a 12 year old has a mental age which is 1.50 times his chronological age (12/8 = 1.5). Multiplying this quotient by 100 gives the child's ratio IQ: 150, using this method a child functioning at the average level for her age would obtain an IQ of 100.
Modern IQ tests use a "deviation IQ" rather than a ratio IQ, with this method test takers are referenced to other people of their own age. The average IQ is still 100, but deviations from the average are assigned a number which corresponds to a percentile rank.