Norms
Norms are reference data from representative samples used to interpret raw scores as percentiles or standard scores.
Reviewed by: Scientific Review Team · Last reviewed: July 2026
Psychometric norms describe how a calibration sample performed. Age bands, country, and test edition all affect norm tables. Without appropriate norms, percentiles and IQ labels are misleading.
Synonyms: normative data, norm tables
Related terms
Used in
- /iq-score-chart/
- /iq-score-chart/research/
- /iq-score-chart/research/iq-scale-explained/
- /iq-score-chart/research/what-does-my-iq-score-mean/
- /average-iq-by-country/
- /average-iq-by-country/research/
- /average-iq-by-country/research/average-iq-usa-explained/
- /average-iq-by-country/research/average-iq-world-ranking/
FAQ
Why do norms differ by country?
Sampling, education systems, and test editions create different reference distributions. Cross-national comparisons are methodologically contested.
Scientific sources
- APA Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing.