What this test measures
Two of the four categories test rules and two test knowledge. Grammar and punctuation have defensible right answers under standard written English. Vocabulary and usage are where an extra decade of reading shows up, and there is no shortcut through them.
| Category | Questions in bank | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar | 12 | Subject-verb agreement, irregular plurals, pronoun case, parallel structure, and the constructions that trip up confident writers. |
| Vocabulary | 9 | Precise meaning of uncommon words, including pairs that look like synonyms and are not. |
| Punctuation | 4 | Commas that change meaning, semicolons, apostrophes, and restrictive clauses. |
| Usage | 5 | Idiom, register, and the words people reliably swap for each other. |
The 30 questions in the bank are weighted toward the categories above; each session draws 25 of them, so no two attempts present the same paper.
A real question from this test
This item is taken directly from the bank, not written for illustration.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- Neither of the boys are ready.
- Neither of the boys is ready.
- Neither of the boys were ready.
- Neither of the boys am ready.
Show the answer
Neither of the boys is ready. Neither is the subject and it is singular; of the boys is a prepositional phrase that has no say in the verb. The plural noun sitting next to the verb is what makes the wrong answer sound right, and that pull is exactly what the item is testing.
How your score is calculated
Scoring runs on the proportion you answer correctly, put through a quadratic curve so that accuracy at the top of the range is worth more than accuracy at the bottom. The result is mapped onto the familiar scale where 100 is the population midpoint and 15 points is one standard deviation, then reported with a percentile and a per-category breakdown. Questions left unanswered when the timer expires count as incorrect.
Vocabulary scores are the slowest to move and the most informative. Grammar and punctuation can be raised in a few weeks of deliberate attention because they are finite rule sets. Vocabulary tracks reading volume over years, which is why verbal subtests carry so much weight in full IQ batteries.
How to read your result
Scores land in one of seven bands. The population percentages describe the standard distribution these bands are modelled on, not the people who have taken this particular test.
| Score | Band | Share of population |
|---|---|---|
| 145 and above | Highly Gifted | ~0.1% |
| 130 – 144 | Gifted | ~2% |
| 115 – 129 | Superior | ~14% |
| 100 – 114 | Above Average | ~34% |
| 85 – 99 | Average | ~34% |
| 70 – 84 | Low Average | ~14% |
| Below 70 | Below Average | ~2% |
A single number is a summary, and the category bars underneath it carry most of the useful information. Two people can reach the same total by very different routes. If you want to see where your score sits precisely, the IQ percentile chart converts any score on this scale into a rank.
Frequently asked questions
Does this test count as a verbal IQ test?
It measures the same underlying ability that verbal subtests in standardized batteries target: precision of word knowledge and command of written structure. It is scored on the 100-point scale for comparability with the other tests on this site, and like them it is an estimate rather than a clinical measure.
Is it written for American or British English?
The items avoid constructions where the two standards genuinely disagree, so spelling and collective-noun agreement are not tested. Where a rule differs, the question was left out of the bank.
Why is vocabulary weighted so heavily in IQ tests?
Because it is an unusually efficient proxy. Word knowledge accumulates through years of reading and inference, so a single vocabulary score carries information about learning rate, exposure, and verbal reasoning at once. It correlates with full-scale IQ more strongly than almost any other single subtest.
Can I improve my score?
The rule-based half, yes, quickly. Grammar and punctuation are closed systems and a focused week makes a visible difference. Vocabulary responds to reading widely over months, not to memorising word lists, which produces recognition without the sense of how a word is actually used.
Ready to take it?
25 questions, 23 minutes, scored the moment you finish.
Start the Grammar & Vocabulary TestRelated guides
- Signs of High Intelligence (And the Myths)What the research supports, and the popular signs that fail.
- How to Prepare for an IQ TestFormat familiarity, sleep, and the tactics that do nothing.
- Are Online IQ Tests Accurate?What separates a decent online test from a worthless one.
- IQ Percentile Chart: What Your Score Actually RanksThe full table from 70 to 145, and how percentiles are derived.