Final answer:
The average score on most IQ tests is 100. This score represents the mean intelligence level, with a majority of the population scoring near this average following a bell curve distribution. A score of 100 serves as a benchmark for average intelligence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average score on most IQ tests is 100. IQ tests are designed to have a mean or average score of 100, with a standard deviation that indicates the variation in scores around this mean. The concept of IQ and intelligence testing emerged from the work of pioneers like Alfred Binet and was later advanced by others such as Louis Terman. Reliability in IQ testing is key, ensuring the test can produce consistent results. An IQ score of 100 is intended to represent the average intelligence level, and most people in the population will score near this point, with scores usually distributed in a bell curve. An IQ score within 85 to 115 is considered average, while scores higher than 130 indicate superior intelligence. Organizations such as MENSA require members to have an IQ in the top 2 percent of the population.