What Was Albert Einstein’s IQ?

Written by

Amy Tikkanen

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Britannica Editors

History

Unfortunately, Albert Einstein’s IQ is unknown. There is no evidence that he ever took an IQ test. However, that has not stopped some people from trying to determine how smart he was. According to some sources, Einstein’s IQ was probably about 160, which is commonly considered genius level. This number is largely derived from his achievements in physics. In 1905 Einstein published four papers that laid many of the foundations for 20th-century physics. In addition, examinations of his brain found unique features that suggest a superior intelligence. Notably, Einstein’s prefrontal cortex, which is associated with cognitive function, was much larger than it is in most people’s brains.

Einstein, however, wasn’t brilliant in all areas. He struggled with words, and he was less adept at math than many of his peers. And Einstein himself would have disputed that he was a genius. He attributed his success to determination and instincts, once saying, “God gave me the stubbornness of a mule and a fairly keen scent.”