New data from the self-knowledge platform MyIQ suggests that the difference is not in how smart we are, but in how that intelligence operates.
A large-scale analysis of anonymised results from over 1 million users worldwide reveals measurable differences in how men and women perform across key cognitive domains. Rather than answering the tired question of who is smarter, the findings point to distinct patterns of strength and suggest that intelligence is far more multidimensional than commonly assumed.
Women scored on average 12% higher in short-term memory tasks and were 9% faster in attention-switching exercises conducted under time pressure. These results suggest superior cognitive flexibility and working memory, which are crucial skills for multitasking and dynamic environments.
Men outperformed women by 15% in logic-based challenges, particularly in areas requiring structured problem-solving and abstract reasoning. They were also more likely to maintain consistent performance in long-form cognitive tasks lasting over 10 minutes.
When it came to brain agility, which is defined as the ability to adapt between different types of cognitive tasks, scores were nearly identical, with a less than 2% difference between genders. However, the split revealed nuance: women had sharper peak bursts of focus, while men maintained attention longer in uninterrupted formats.
Among younger users, aged 18 to 24, the data showed the highest internal variability, with score ranges up to 38% within the same gender group. This finding challenges the idea that abilities are fixed in early adulthood, highlighting the brain’s adaptability during a time marked by growth and self-discovery.
These findings are derived from MyIQ’s platform, which departs from conventional IQ testing by evaluating a wide range of cognitive traits, from pattern recognition to emotional insight, and breaking them down into independently assessed metrics. The goal is not to compress intelligence into a single number, but to offer a more detailed cognitive fingerprint for each user.
According to MyIQ, understanding these variations has practical value. In teams, relationships, career development, and leadership settings, knowing how people think can be just as important as what they know. Rather than reinforcing stereotypes, the data encourages nuance and complexity. Where one person’s cognitive profile may favour analytical endurance, another may bring speed, flexibility, or creative synthesis. As the conversation around intelligence shifts from ranking to recognition, data-backed insights like these help redefine how we think about ability, performance, and potential.
MyIQ was launched in 2024 and is used by over a million individuals worldwide. It is a digital self-knowledge platform that offers more than an IQ score, with over 9 million completed tests across the various test categories, cognitive, personality, and relationships, all with personalised, actionable insights. The platform offers over 25 brain games, more than 150 intelligence puzzles, over 20 hours of expert video content, and 300+ available lessons on emotional intelligence, problem-solving, innovation, confidence-building, and decision-making. Through its IQ test, full-spectrum personality assessment, and relationship insight quiz, MyIQ delivers structured, personalized feedback that helps individuals better understand their inner world and behaviour.
Contact Information:
MyIQ.com
pr@myiq.com
Sophie de Villiers
PR manager
MyIQ.com
pr@myiq.com
Sophie de Villiers
PR manager