Majority of parents pursue IQ testing before age 10, MyIQ study shows.

A new MyIQ study of over 3,000 parents of children aged 5 to 15 finds that formal IQ testing is moving earlier and becoming more routine. 62% of respondents plan to assess by age 10, and 41% have already tested at least one child. Parents frame the decision as a practical step toward identifying strengths, though some also view it as a means of signaling competitiveness or social standing.

In the MyIQ survey, 46% cited early identification of advanced reasoning or learning differences as the primary driver, and 38% pointed to school placement or enrichment access. At the same time, 29% acknowledged status concerns, including pressure within parent groups and private school communities. Among parents who had already tested a child, 24% reported sharing scores with friends or online; of that group, 61% described the response as affirming, while 19% experienced criticism or second-guessing.

The timing of assessments clusters in a narrow window. Interest peaks between the ages of 8 to 11, when schools begin screening for advanced coursework. Households earning above $100,000 were 1.7 times more likely to test before age 9 than lower-income households, according to MyIQ. While regional differences were modest, the trend reflects similar competitive pressures across education systems.

Parents also weighed the risks. 33% worry about premature labeling, and 18% reported that talk of scores increased a child’s anxiety. Yet among families who completed a full assessment, 35% said testing led to changes such as access to enrichment, adjustments for twice-exceptional learners, or earlier curriculum compaction. A smaller cohort, 12%, said results prompted them to reduce extracurricular overload and prioritize sleep, citing a better match between cognitive load and daily routines.

The social dimension remains pronounced. MyIQ data indicates that competitive disclosure tends to follow a predictable pattern: scores circulate first within tight-knit parent chats, then migrate to broader networks when the result is perceived as exceptional. Parents who shared scores were 2.3 times more likely to say testing "validated" private tutoring investments. However, families who kept scores private were 1.8 times more likely to report sustained well-being improvements. While these groups may overlap, the contrast suggests that benefits often depend on context and containment rather than publicity.

These findings suggest that IQ testing is no longer seen solely as a diagnostic tool, but increasingly as a map for long-term educational and emotional planning. Families are not just measuring aptitude; they are managing identity, investment, and resilience within increasingly visible ecosystems. MyIQ recommends that cognitive results be paired with broader psychological markers such as temperament, motivation, and executive functioning. Used this way, testing becomes a strategic input, not a status symbol, but a scaffold for smarter, more responsive parenting.

About MyIQ:
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.

Media Contact:
Sophie de Villiers
PR Manager
MyIQ
pr@myiq.com