10 IQ Test Questions With Answers — Sample Cognitive Questions Explained

Curious what an IQ test actually looks like? Most people have never seen a properly structured cognitive assessment. This article walks through 10 sample questions — one for each major domain — with answers and step-by-step reasoning.

These are representative examples of the question types you'll encounter on well-structured IQ tests, including ours.

Domain 1: Verbal Reasoning

Q1 — Analogies

Pen is to Writer as Brush is to ___.

Options: A) Painter   B) Canvas   C) Ink   D) Artist

Answer: A — Painter. A pen is the tool a writer uses; a brush is the tool a painter uses. The relationship is tool → profession.

Q2 — Vocabulary

Which word is closest in meaning to TENACIOUS?

Options: A) Fragile   B) Persistent   C) Cautious   D) Impartial

Answer: B — Persistent. Tenacious means holding firmly to a position or persisting despite difficulty. It comes from the Latin tenax ("holding fast").

Q3 — Odd One Out

Which word does NOT belong? Violin — Cello — Flute — Viola

Answer: Flute. Violin, cello, and viola are all string instruments in the same family. A flute is a woodwind instrument — the category-breaking item.

Domain 2: Logical Reasoning

Q4 — Syllogism

All doctors are professionals. Some professionals are wealthy. Therefore:

Options: A) All doctors are wealthy   B) Some doctors may be wealthy   C) No doctors are wealthy   D) All wealthy people are doctors

Answer: B. We know all doctors are professionals. Some professionals are wealthy — so some of those professionals could be doctors. We cannot conclude all doctors are wealthy, but some might be.

Q5 — Pattern Completion

The sequence: 2, 6, 18, 54, ___ follows what rule?

Answer: 162. Each term is multiplied by 3: 2×3=6, 6×3=18, 18×3=54, 54×3=162.

Domain 3: Quantitative Reasoning

Q6 — Number Series

What comes next: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___?

Answer: 36. These are perfect squares: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6² = 36.

Q7 — Applied Arithmetic

A train travels 240 miles in 3 hours. At the same speed, how far will it travel in 5 hours?

Answer: 400 miles. Speed = 240 ÷ 3 = 80 mph. Distance in 5 hours = 80 × 5 = 400 miles.

Domain 4: Visual-Spatial Reasoning

Q8 — Matrix Completion

A 3×3 grid contains ■, ●, and ▲ in every row and column exactly once (a Latin square). The bottom-right cell is missing. Row 3 has ● and ▲ already; column 3 has ■ and ▲. What fills the missing cell?

Answer: ●. Row 3 needs ■. Column 3 needs ●. The only shape that satisfies both constraints is ●.

Q9 — Mental Rotation

An arrow pointing North rotates 135° clockwise. Which direction does it now point?

Answer: Southeast (SE). North (0°) + 135° clockwise = 135° = SE.

Domain 5: Working Memory

Q10 — Digit Span

Study this sequence: 7, 3, 9, 1, 5. Now reverse it. What is the reversed sequence?

Answer: 5, 1, 9, 3, 7. This tests your ability to hold information in mind and manipulate it — a core component of working memory.

How Are These Questions Scored?

In a properly normed IQ test, each question has a difficulty rating and a weighting. Your raw score (number correct, adjusted for difficulty) is converted to a standardized score by comparing it to how others your age performed on the same questions. The result is your IQ estimate — a percentile-ranked number with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15.

Questions that most people answer correctly carry lower weight than harder questions that only high-performing test-takers get right.

Try the Full Test

Take IQ Test Center's free 30-question assessment — covering all five cognitive domains above, with age-calibrated scoring. You'll get your estimated IQ score, percentile rank, and a full domain breakdown. No signup required to start. See how it works →