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What comes next in the pattern: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?

Before you start

  • Rules and timing

    • 20 questions, about 4 min.
    • Answer truthfully — there are no right or wrong answers for screener items.
    • Work alone, in a quiet place. Don't consult others mid-test.

  • No retake in this session

    For accuracy this test cannot be retaken in the same session. Make sure you have enough time and a focused environment before you start.

  • Disclaimer

    Taking our test should not be viewed as a comprehensive or precise evaluation of your abilities. Results are for informational and self-reflection purposes only.

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About this assessment
🧠

Free IQ Test

Take the free IQ test online. 20 questions testing pattern recognition, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, and logic. Instant cognitive score with brain-boosting tips.

20 questions5 minFree · Validated framework
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What Is the IQ Test?

This IQ Test measures your cognitive abilities across four key dimensions: pattern recognition, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, and logical thinking. These are the same dimensions tested in clinical IQ assessments like the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), condensed into 20 quick questions. The modern idea of an intelligence quotient traces back to Alfred Binet's 1905 work and was put on the 100-point, 15-standard-deviation scale by David Wechsler, the scaling this test mirrors.

Psychologists draw a useful line between fluid intelligence, your ability to reason, spot patterns, and solve novel problems without prior knowledge, and crystallized intelligence, the accumulated facts, vocabulary, and know-how you have built over a lifetime. The pattern, numerical, and logic items lean on fluid reasoning, while the verbal items tap crystallized knowledge, so the breakdown shows you which side of your cognition is doing the heavy lifting.

While not a replacement for a clinically administered IQ test, this assessment gives you a reliable directional indicator of your cognitive strengths and areas for growth. The questions range from classic number sequences and analogies to tricky logic puzzles and spatial reasoning, and the four-domain breakdown tells you where you are sharpest and where a little practice would move the needle most.

What You'll Discover

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Your cognitive bracket, from Developing to Exceptional

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Strengths across pattern, verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning

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Personalized tips to sharpen your cognitive abilities

⚖️

Your balance of fluid reasoning vs crystallized knowledge

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Where you sit on the 100-centered, 15-point IQ scale

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A shareable IQ result card

What a Question Looks Like

Question 1 of 20

What comes next in the pattern: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?

19 more after this · 5 min totalAnswer this one

How It Works

  1. 1

    Answer

    20 questions, 5 min. Auto-advance — no manual Next.

  2. 2

    See result

    Instant breakdown of your profile. Free, shareable, saved if you sign in.

  3. 3

    Go deeper

    Premium unlocks the full report — careers, strengths, growth paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a real IQ test?

This is a cognitive self-reflection exercise, not a clinically administered test. For an official IQ score, see a licensed psychologist. However, the questions cover the same cognitive domains (pattern recognition, verbal reasoning, numerical ability, logic) as clinical assessments.

Can I improve my IQ score?

Yes! While baseline intelligence has a genetic component, cognitive abilities can be sharpened through practice, learning new skills, physical exercise, quality sleep, and brain-training activities. Fluid intelligence (problem-solving) is more trainable than crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge).

How many questions are there?

20 questions across multiple cognitive domains. Most people complete it in about 5 minutes. There's no time pressure, take as long as you need.

How is my IQ score calculated?

Your score is normalized against a reference distribution centered at 100, with a standard deviation of 15, the same scaling used by clinical IQ tests. Scores above 130 indicate exceptional performance; scores below 70 indicate room for cognitive growth. The breakdown across pattern, verbal, numerical, and logic domains tells you where to focus.

What does the IQ scale actually mean?

IQ scores are scaled so that 100 is the average and each 15 points is one standard deviation. That means roughly two-thirds of people score between 85 and 115, about 95% fall between 70 and 130, and only a small fraction sit beyond either end. A score is always relative to the reference group, not an absolute measure of how 'smart' someone is.

What is a good IQ score?

Anything near 100 is, by definition, average and completely normal. Scores above 115 are above average, above 130 are often labelled 'very superior,' and below 85 indicate areas worth supporting. But IQ predicts only a slice of real-world success, motivation, conscientiousness, and emotional skills matter at least as much, which is why pairing this with the Big Five gives a fuller picture.

What is the difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence?

Fluid intelligence is your ability to reason and solve new problems on the spot, independent of what you already know, it peaks in early adulthood and gradually declines. Crystallized intelligence is your stored knowledge, vocabulary, and skills, and it keeps growing well into later life. This test's pattern, numerical, and logic items lean fluid; the verbal items lean crystallized.

Does a high IQ guarantee success?

No. IQ correlates with academic and some career outcomes, but it explains only part of the variation in real-life achievement. Traits like persistence, curiosity, emotional regulation, and the ability to work with others often matter more day to day. A high score is an asset, not a destiny, and a lower score is not a ceiling.

Can IQ tests be biased or affected by my mood?

Yes. Performance on any IQ test is affected by sleep, stress, caffeine, familiarity with the question format, language, and cultural background. That is one reason a single quick test is directional rather than definitive. If you are tired or distracted, your score can easily move several points, treat one result as a snapshot, not a verdict.

How long is the IQ test and is it free?

It is 20 questions and takes most people about five minutes, with no time limit, so you can work at your own pace. The test, your score, the four-domain breakdown, and the shareable result card are all free, no signup or payment required.

Is this the same as a Mensa IQ test?

No. Mensa admission uses supervised, professionally scored tests (such as the Cattell or Wonderlic) administered under controlled conditions. This is a free online self-assessment that covers the same cognitive domains for self-reflection and fun, but it is not an official, proctored exam and cannot be used to qualify for high-IQ societies.

Does IQ change with age?

Your IQ score, which is always measured relative to your age group, stays fairly stable across adulthood, but the underlying abilities shift. Fluid reasoning tends to peak in the late teens to twenties and slowly declines, while crystallized knowledge keeps rising for decades. So an older adult can score the same 100 as a younger one while relying on a very different mix of cognitive strengths.

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What comes next in the pattern: 2, 6, 12, 20, ?