What is the Average IQ of an English Major? Everything You‘ve Been Curious To Know, Explained in Detail

As a data analyst always exploring the science behind human intelligence, I’ve been fascinated by the typical IQ scores for different college majors and career fields. One question I’m often asked is—what is the average IQ for an English major?

Based on multiple studies, the short answer is that English majors tend to have IQs in the superior range, averaging around 120-130. But there’s a lot more depth to unpack about what IQ tests really measure, the limitations of these assessments, and how raw intelligence interacts with passion, determination and opportunity in shaping achievement in life and work.

Let’s explore some of those fascinating details together!

A Layman‘s History of IQ Tests and What They Aim To Measure

IQ as a concept arose from the field of psychology in the early 1900s, as researchers looked for ways to quantify and assess human intelligence. The first viable IQ test was developed by psychologist Alfred Binet in France in the early 1900s. Binet‘s goal was to identify children who might need specialized assistance in schools.

This sparked the idea that measuring intelligence could help society support those with greater needs. Later researchers took Binet‘s concept further to develop more comprehensive IQ assessments for both children and adults.

Today, IQ tests aim to measure two main components of intelligence:

• Fluid intelligence – the ability to logically reason and think flexibly to solve novel problems.

• Crystallized intelligence – accumulated knowledge, verbal skills, and the ability to interpret information based on experience.

Beyond these two core elements, IQ tests may also assess things like:

• Visual spatial processing – the capacity to visualize patterns and mentally manipulate images.

• Working memory – being able to hold information in mind while processing or reasoning over it.

• Processing speed – how quickly someone can interpret data and respond to problems.

Over the decades, different scales and versions of IQ tests have been devised, leading to some variation in scores. But most modern IQ tests are designed so that the average or mean score is 100. And the standard deviation – how far most people‘s scores fall from the mean – is set at 15 points.

So this creates a normal distribution bell curve, where about 68% of people score between 85 and 115, and 95% score between 70 and 130. Only 2% of the population is estimated to have an IQ over 130, which is considered superior or gifted intelligence.

Genius-level IQs, such as prominent physicist Albert Einstein‘s estimated 160 IQ, are exceptionally rare at the extreme upper end of the scale. Some estimates reserve 140+ IQ scores for true genius territory, representing less than 1% of test takers.

Typical IQ Ranges Across College Majors: How Do English Majors Compare?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what IQ aims to measure and the normal distribution, where do college students and English majors in particular tend to fall on the spectrum?

Overall, the average IQ of college graduates across all majors is estimated around 112-115, slightly higher than the general population mean of 100. This indicates that completing a college education does correlate with a modest IQ bump on average.

Looking at differences across majors, we see:

• Humanities/Liberal Arts: 110-117
• Law: 111-118
• Business: 107-114
• Medicine: 112-124
• Sciences: 112-128
• Mathematics: 117-138
• Engineering/Technology: 118-128

So the humanities, while stronger verbally, tend to score lower than more technical and science-driven fields like math and engineering. But still higher than majors like business, education, or social work.

Specifically comparing English majors, research suggests:

• English majors have an average IQ around 132, in the 98th percentile.
• This compares to 107 for business/political science majors, nearly 1 standard deviation lower.
• English majors score higher than social sciences but lower than natural sciences like physics (139 IQ on average).

So in summary, while physics and mathematics majors take the top spots for highest IQs, English majors are comfortably in the superior range, ranking higher than many other arts, humanities, and social science majors in terms of raw measured intelligence.

What Does a 120-130 IQ Score Imply for English Majors‘ Abilities?

Based on the typical 120-130 IQ range, what types of cognitive strengths and limitations tend to characterize English majors versus extremely high-IQ fields like physics?

Strengths Associated With Above Average English Major IQs:

• Verbal reasoning – Through reading complex texts, writing analytical essays, and articulating ideas, English majors develop strong vocabulary, reading comprehension, and written communication skills. Their IQ advantage translates to rhetorical flair.

• Critical thinking – Analyzing themes, characters, rhetoric, metaphors, and arguments in literature exercises the brain’s logic and reasoning centers. This builds English majors’ broader critical thinking capacities.

• Cultural sophistication – Immersing oneself in the literary canon, studying the human condition through impactful narratives, and discussing philosophical questions leads to increased social, cultural, and emotional intelligence.

• Mental flexibility – Grappling with different authors’ divergent worldviews, writing styles, and creative choices trains mental flexibility and nuanced thinking vs. black-and-white views.

Limitations vs. Extremely High-IQ Technical Fields:

• Math ability – While scoring higher than average in IQ, most English majors are closer to the verbal end of the spectrum. Their math reasoning ability typically won’t match those drawn to highly technical quantitative fields.

• Spatial skills – Interpreting complex scientific visuals, diagrams, data sets, and formulas involves different mental muscles than reading and writing text. So English majors’ visuospatial processing can be a relative weakness.

• Working memory – Fields like physics and engineering lean heavily on holding many variables and formulas in mind simultaneously. English literature allows more focus on a sequential argument without straining working memory limits.

So in cognitive profile, the typical English major‘s IQ advantages lean verbal and conceptual more than visuospatial or mathematical. But this is a sweeping generalization – exceptions certainly exist!

Now that we‘ve explored the IQ landscape, what does this mean for English majors‘ future success and how should we interpret these scores?

Why IQ Is Not Destiny: Many Factors Beyond Intelligence Influence Achievement

While English majors’ above-average IQs suggest strong intellectual horsepower, it’s important not to put the cart before the horse and view intelligence quotient as destiny. IQ is merely potential – hard work, passion, creativity, emotional intelligence, and opportunity play huge roles in converting talent into achievement.

Highly accomplished people across fields demonstrate that success reflects much more than raw brainpower. Just a few examples:

• Famous author John Steinbeck was a mediocre English student who partied through college before finding his writer’s voice.

• Innovators like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates dropped out of college to launch tech revolutions despite lacking credentials.

• Brilliant artists like Vincent Van Gogh lived in obscurity and poverty due to lack of opportunity to have their talents recognized.

So while IQ tests capture important elements of cognitive reasoning, they miss many other talents and traits that allow people to thrive. Intellectual potential must be combined with determination, resilience, likability, risk-taking, and serendipity to reach the pinnacle of professional domains.

For English majors, identifying and playing to one‘s strengths beyond IQ – whether teaching ability, empathy, public speaking skills, or knack for research – can unlock doors regardless of intelligence score. Some of history‘s most impactful writers, educators, journalists, and leaders prove that passion and creativity can outweigh pure brainpower.

Conclusion: IQ Is an Imperfect Yardstick, Not the Whole Picture

In closing, while the average IQ of English majors falls in the respectable superior range, this should be considered a partial snapshot of their abilities – not the final word. The limitations of standardized intelligence testing are well documented, from cultural biases to ignoring unteachable traits like imagination, drive, and emotional gifts.

So I encourage all aspiring English majors to view IQ as only one piece of their talents. Find your unique voice and interests, work hard at your craft, build strong relationships, and have confidence that you have more than enough intelligence to make a difference. The world needs people who think deeply and communicate skillfully to improve the human condition.

What additional insights about the abilities, strengths, and potential of English majors would you add to the discussion? I‘d love to hear your thoughts!