Can You Increase Your IQ? Can Intelligence, Cognitive Abilities, and IQ Scores Be Improved?

Have you ever wondered whether you can make yourself a little smarter and increase your IQ score?

Our answer — an emphatic YES!

Just like you can keep your brain young, you can also improve your intelligence and cognitive abilities, consequently improving your IQ score.

The reverse is also true. If you neglect improving your cognitive abilities, they will suffer a decline and hence lower your current IQ score.

Since you're here, it means you're motivated to learn how to improve your IQ levels. This article explores the intelligence quotient and answers the all-important question, "Can intelligence be improved?" with twelve practical and bona fide ways to increase your intelligence, cognitive abilities, and IQ score.

But before we can discuss how to increase our intelligence, let's start with a brief background about what IQ is all about.

What Is This Thing Called an Intelligence Quotient?

Intelligence Quotient, or IQ, is a measure of intelligence that assesses an individual's cognitive and intellectual abilities and how they apply them in solving problems and making predictions compared to people in your age group. Your IQ level is measured by taking a standardized IQ test, and depending on how well a person excels in the tests, they achieve a corresponding IQ score.

IQ is often used as a shorthand for "smartness," but it's important to understand that it's just one aspect of intelligence.

IQ scores are designed to measure cognitive skills like problem-solving and logical reasoning but don't capture the entire spectrum of human intelligence.

Emotional intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, practical know-how, and social skills are just as crucial to a person's overall intellectual ability but aren't reflected in IQ scores. Some theorists reject the concept of IQ scores in favor of looking at people in terms of different types of intelligence, none of which is better than the other.

That said, for the sake of this discussion, we will focus primarily on the intellectual abilities and cognitive processes used to determine a person's intelligence quotient.

Can You Increase IQ? 

An IQ score reflects abilities like memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. When people ask, “Can you increase your IQ?” they usually mean, “Can you become smarter?”

While you can train to improve test scores, genuine gains come from developing your overall cognitive skills. This includes enhanced reasoning, faster learning, and better decision-making.

Research shows IQ can be improved with consistent mental training, especially in late adolescence.

Studies highlight gains in fluid intelligence, which involves solving new problems without relying on prior knowledge, unlike crystallized intelligence, which draws on experience.

Though timelines vary, fluid intelligence is trainable. Once believed to be fixed and mostly genetic, IQ is now understood to be more flexible and influenced by environment and effort.

You May Also Like: Can You Prepare for Taking an IQ Test to Get a Better IQ Score?

How Can You Increase IQ: 12 Tips

When we talk about boosting intelligence, we're looking at much more than just nudging up an IQ test score — it’s about enhancing how you think, learn, and interact with the world around you.

Taking an IQ test can provide great insights into some of your intelligence abilities, but as research shows, your efforts and deliberate actions can also make an impact on your IQ.

Remember that the human brain is more malleable than you can imagine. It creates new neural pathways that can accommodate new challenges like learning a musical instrument or using your non-dominant hand for important chores.

That said, if you want to raise your IQ score (and have it indicate increased intelligence and cognitive health), you would need to work on areas that IQ testing focuses on, including problem-solving and reasoning activities.

Below, we'll look at the strategies you can adopt to raise your IQ, cognitive abilities, and overall brain health.

Want to get a baseline? Take our online IQ test today. 

1. Play Brain-Engaging Games

Brain exercises are one of the best ways to boost IQ. 

Studies show that brain-training games improve memory and strengthen other cognitive abilities like concentration, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Many doctors encourage dementia patients to play memory games to keep the brain active and agile and fight cognitive decline.

Some of the best games you can try out to garner better cognitive scores include:

• Chess: Playing chess has been proven to improve memory and executive function, and these improved functions can earn you some extra IQ points. Numerous studies have also shown that the complex game of chess can increase academic performance in middle school children.
• Strategy Board Games:  Beyond chess, games like Go, Checkers, Settlers of Catan, Stratego, or Risk involve planning, critical thinking, and tactical skills. Strategy board games require players to anticipate opponents' moves and devise long-term plans, which sharpens strategic thinking and improves problem-solving skills.
• Jigsaw Puzzles: Doing jigsaw puzzles (or the modern version of sticker puzzles for adults) challenges your brain to recognize patterns and think analytically, skills that can lead to improvements in cognitive functioning and potentially boost your IQ score.
• Crossword Puzzles: Solving crossword puzzles and playing word games enhances your vocabulary, verbal skills, and memory, all of which can contribute to better cognitive flexibility.
• Sudoku: Playing Sudoku and other logic games sharpens your reasoning, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills, helping you to develop greater mental agility and focus.
• Card Games: Playing card games improves strategic thinking and memory retention, enhancing your ability to make quick decisions and analyze complex situations.
• Online Matching Games: Research supports that playing online matching games can enhance short-term memory and pattern recognition skills. These games require players to remember the location and attributes of various elements, which can improve cognitive agility and attention to detail.
• Trivia Games: Engaging in trivia games boosts your ability to recall information quickly and accurately, enhancing knowledge retention and cognitive speed. Playing with others adds a social dimension that can enhance cognitive resilience and emotional intelligence, as interacting and competing in a fun environment encourages quicker thinking and adaptability.
• Memory Games: Memory games strengthen neural connections by challenging players to recall sequences and locations, thereby enhancing both working memory and concentration.

If you are not one for "company," you can take up online IQ games and have fun working toward gaining a higher IQ from the comfort of your home.

2. Play Role-Playing Games

Role-playing board games, like Dungeons and Dragons, can have a positive impact on cognitive functioning and overall cognitive health. These games involve complex storytelling and problem-solving, requiring players to think critically and creatively.

Players often have to strategize, make quick decisions based on new information, and adapt to evolving scenarios, which can enhance cognitive flexibility and planning skills. Additionally, the social interaction and collaborative aspects of these games can improve communication skills and emotional intelligence, further contributing to cognitive resilience.

Classic “in-person” role-playing games like D&D, Warhammer, Shadowrun, and Magic the Gathering have stood the test of time due to their rich settings, deep lore, and the flexibility they offer players in crafting unique stories and experiences. Some popular role-playing board games that are currently well-liked among gamers include Gloomhaven, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Descent: Journeys in the Dark, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, and Star Wars: Imperial Assault, just to name a few.

3. Play a Musical Instrument

Musical instrument learning has been shown to significantly improve cognitive function, including memory retention and spatial reasoning. 

One study showed that 75 minutes of music lessons for 12 weeks significantly improved IQ scores in preschool children. Another study found a positive relationship between musical training and improved IQ and executive function.

Since we know memory's important role in intelligence tests, taking up a musical instrument may not be such a bad idea, even if it's just for fun! You'll not only learn a new skill and enhance your cognitive processes, but you could also increase your chances of "passing" the IQ test with a higher score.

4. Practice Meditation

Meditation provides numerous benefits for our physical and mental health. These benefits include increased focus, better memory, and reduced stress and anxiety.

When it comes to things you can do to boost your average IQ, meditation ranks high on the list.

One study compared people who practiced brief meditation training to an active control group. They found that the meditation training had significantly improved working memory, visual-spatial processing, and executive functioning, all areas connected to IQ.

The University of Wisconsin also found that meditation synchronizes both hemispheres of the human brain. The epic whole-brain synchronization allows for deeper thinking, faster problem-solving abilities, and enhanced attention, leading to increased IQ.

The good news is that you don't have to meditate for hours to attain a high IQ! A consistent 20-minute daily routine is enough to give you a significant boost.

Learn more:

• Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation for Cognitive Health and Memory
• Does Meditation Increase IQ Scores? Benefits of Meditation for Intelligence

5. Practice Executive Functioning Activities

Executive functions refer to mental processes that enable you to plan, maintain focus and self-control, manage complex tasks, and solve unexpected challenges. Since these broad elements of intelligence are connected to IQ, incorporating executive function-boosting exercises can help you attain a higher IQ.

Here is a list of example activities (some of which we have already discussed) that can help enhance these cognitive abilities:

• Time Management Exercises: Utilize planners and digital tools to schedule your day and prioritize tasks. Practice setting specific, measurable goals for short-term and long-term projects to improve planning and prioritization skills.
• Task Switching Challenges: Engage in activities that require you to switch between different tasks quickly, such as alternating between different types of work or puzzles. This practice can help improve your mental flexibility and control. Ensure you are doing this in a controlled manner to avoid the negative consequences of multitasking.
• Memory Building Games: Try games and apps designed to enhance working memory, such as word games like Scrabble, word puzzles, and card games that require tracking progress or complex strategy games that involve remembering a variety of factors and outcomes.
• Mindfulness and Meditation: As we mentioned earlier, regular practice of mindfulness exercises can improve your focus and self-control. Meditation enhances the ability to maintain attention and resist distractions.
• Problem-Solving Activities: Regularly engage in activities that require critical thinking, such as solving complex mathematical problems, strategy-based video games, brain teasers, and riddles, or even escape rooms that challenge you to work under pressure.
• Decision-Making Exercises: Practice making decisions quickly and assessing their outcomes. You could do this through simulation games, sports strategies, or even by role-playing different scenarios in a controlled environment.

Each of these activities targets different aspects of executive functioning and can be practiced regularly to help improve cognitive skills associated with a higher IQ.

Apart from the list above, improving your internal self-regulation mechanism is one of the best high-IQ traits you can learn. Self-control allows you to depend on facts and utilize practical decision-making skills to solve problems effectively. This is especially true if impulsivity is your go-to strategy for stressful situations.

6. Physical Exercise

Aerobic exercises like jogging, cycling, and swimming do more than reduce stress — they enhance brain health and cognitive performance.

A Swedish study linked cardiovascular fitness to higher intelligence, with up to a 50% increase in verbal IQ.

Further research shows aerobic activity boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports memory, learning, and mental agility.

It also increases brain volume in regions tied to memory and executive function, like the hippocampus.

In short, regular aerobic exercise may be a powerful way to raise your IQ and sharpen your mind.

7. Read More Books

We know that individuals with IQ levels are often avid readers, and for good reason. Reading consistently and extensively expands your knowledge and improves your vocabulary.

Reading further improves different aspects of cognitive function like memory, concentration, reasoning, and judgment. A reading culture profoundly affects brain development if picked up in young adulthood. Still, adults can also significantly boost their IQ levels over time by just spending 30 minutes a day reading a book.

8. Start a New Hobby

Picking up a new hobby isn’t just fun—it can boost your IQ and protect against cognitive decline. New activities stimulate the brain, build neural connections, and support long-term mental health.

Creative hobbies like painting, writing, or music enhance problem-solving and divergent thinking, which are linked to higher IQ.

Physical hobbies such as dancing, gardening, or sports improve memory and brain function by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Relaxing hobbies like yoga or bird-watching reduce stress, helping preserve cognitive abilities and mental clarity.

By exploring new hobbies, you strengthen your mind, enhance creativity, and support lifelong brain health.

9. Learn a New Language

Learning a new language boosts memory, attention, listening, and problem-solving skills.

While research suggests early exposure has the greatest IQ impact, adults still gain major cognitive benefits.

Language learning sharpens mental flexibility, improves task-switching, and strengthens executive function. It’s also linked to better brain health and reduced risk of cognitive decline.

Even if IQ scores don’t spike dramatically, the long-term mental gains are worth the effort.

10. Pursue Continued Education

We all rely on education to increase our intelligence. By continuing your formal education, whether that's an extra graduate degree or taking online courses at home, you are on the right path to increasing your IQ.

So, can education improve intelligence? Well, yes. These researchers conducted a review of studies on education and IQ. The meta-analysis revealed that a person gains one to five IQ points every year of formal education.

11. Enhance Cognitive Relational Skills

Improving your ability to understand relationships between concepts boosts cognitive flexibility and intelligence. Relational Frame Theory highlights this as key to mental agility.

For kids, comparing objects and their attributes builds these skills. Adults can benefit from language learning, logic puzzles, or abstract discussions that challenge relational thinking.

These activities strengthen problem-solving and complex reasoning, supporting long-term IQ growth.

12. Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle plays a key role in supporting IQ. A balanced diet rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and vitamins boosts brain function and helps reduce stress, which can harm cognitive performance. Exercise improves blood flow and supports neural health.

Sleep is essential for memory consolidation and toxin removal. Lack of it can impair focus, reasoning, and problem-solving.  

Avoiding substances like tobacco and excessive alcohol protects brain cells and helps maintain long-term cognitive health. Daily habits matter for sharper thinking and a stronger IQ.

See, You Can Increase Your IQ (and Intelligence!)

Having a high intelligence quotient is not enough. Like a muscle, if you don't take care of your cognitive abilities, they can dwindle with time, and you must inevitably deal with the age-related cognitive decline factor.

The good news is that you can delay the process by adopting as many of the cognitive training tips we've explored above to keep your cognitive health and IQ score at their best.

But remember, IQ is not the only factor important for success!