<p>Yeah, Intelligence Quotient relates actual age to mental age. So, it's natural for ones IQ to lower over time, seeing as the precocious child will not mentally advance as quickly as his older self. Therefore, the ratio of mental age to chronological age draws nearer to 1. </p>
<p>As for MENSA, their IQ requirement is that of the top 2% of the population. This is <em>generally</em> accepted to hover around the 132-3 mark. In my school district, the gifted program is for students who score above 130 on a psychologist administered IQ test. My IQ on the school administered test hovers in the 145 range. On the internet tests, they can go anywhere between 130-180.</p>
<p>The internet tests suck.</p>
<p>Overall, IQ is a flawed way of measuring the intangible idea that is intelligence. No more, no less. IQ holds no importance when it comes to success. There are plenty of kids in the top 5% of my graduating class that are not in the gifted program, albeit they are intelligent. "Genius" can, in no way be defined by a single number, whether it be 140, 180, whatever. It involves the entire package. A genius cannot sit by with the label of a number. Ambition needs to be present, creativity...and for those who say higher IQs come with greater creativity, you may see this, but from my experience many of these students lack the creativity needed to succeed out of the drab days of school</p>
<p>Sorry for the long rant, but IQ debates intrigue me.</p>