How Our IQ Test Was Built
Here we set out the question structure, the scoring logic and the limitations openly. We want you to know what we do not measure just as clearly as what we do.
What the Test Is For
The Test Merkezim IQ test was built to give a practical sense of general cognitive performance, to exercise the mind and to try out reasoning skills in an enjoyable format. It asks for no account, is free, and takes roughly 15-20 minutes. Its purpose is not to diagnose anything, but to offer an impression of where your strengths lie across areas such as attention, memory and reasoning.
Question Structure: 28 Questions, 6 Skill Areas
The questions are not all one type; they are drawn from different task families used in classic intelligence testing:
Pattern Copying
Visual-spatial reasoning: transferring a given pattern to the correct positions on a grid.
Number Sequences
Numerical reasoning: finding the rule in a sequence and predicting the next number.
Schulte Table
Attention and processing speed: finding scattered numbers in order, quickly.
Memory Cards
Working memory: holding the position of card pairs in mind and matching them.
Stroop Task
Attentional control: resisting the distractor by focusing on the ink colour rather than the word.
Rule Inference
Deriving a rule from an example: matching shapes to the correct colours using a given key.
How Scoring Works
Scoring has three components and is fully automatic:
- Correct answers raise the score; wrong answers pull it down slightly more than a correct answer lifts it. That is deliberate, to discourage random guessing.
- Completion time makes a small adjustment: between two people with the same accuracy, the faster one edges ahead a little.
- The result is calculated around a centre of 100, following the "average = 100" convention of classic IQ scales, and is presented in the 70-150 range.
The scoring formula is applied identically to everyone; it does not vary by device, name or previous results.
The Research Behind It
The task types in the test are adapted from tasks with a long history in the psychological literature: pattern and matrix questions follow the tradition of Raven's Progressive Matrices, the colour-word conflict task rests on Stroop's classic 1935 study, and the number table task draws on the Schulte tables used in attention research. The "average of 100" scoring centre is the convention popularised by the Wechsler scales.
So the types of question come from an established tradition — but that does not make the test itself a standardised psychometric instrument. We explain that distinction honestly below.
Validity and Limitations
To be direct: this test does not replace a clinical or professional psychometric assessment. Your result is not an official IQ certificate; it is a practical indicator of your general cognitive performance.
- There is no norming study: tests such as the WAIS or Stanford-Binet are normed on representative samples and administered by a specialist. An online test cannot meet those conditions.
- The environment is not controlled: phone screen size, how tired you are at that moment and distractions can all affect the result.
- Single-session effect: the same person can get different results on different days; that is normal.
- Scope: the test focuses on analytical skills; it does not measure creativity, emotional intelligence or social skills.
If you need a formal assessment (educational placement, clinical diagnosis and so on), we recommend consulting a qualified psychologist.
Your Data
Taking the test requires no account and no personal information. Entering a name is entirely optional and appears only on the score board. Your answers and results are not shared with third parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the result of this test my real IQ score?
It is a practical indicator, not an official IQ score from a normed instrument. Treat your result as a general idea and do not use it for formal purposes.
How were the questions chosen?
They were adapted from task types with a long history in the psychological literature: matrix and pattern questions, number sequences, Stroop, Schulte and working-memory tasks.
Why does time affect the score?
Processing speed is one of the classic components of cognitive performance. Its influence is limited: accuracy is always the main determinant, and time only makes a small adjustment.
Will my result change if I take the test again?
It may, and that is normal. Recognising the questions, your attention on the day and your surroundings all affect the outcome. Small differences do not indicate a real change.
Is the test free, and is my data safe?
The test is completely free and requires no account. Entering a name is optional and appears only on the score board; your data is not shared with third parties.
Try the Test Yourself
28 questions, roughly 15-20 minutes. No account, no cost — your result appears on screen straight away.
Start the Free IQ Test →