Question

Mental age is a measure of

• A. Actual age
• B. Absolute level of intelligence
• C. Chronological age
• D. None of these

Hint:

Remember the IQ formula: IQ = (Mental Age / Chronological Age) x 100. This shows that Mental Age is the measure of intelligence, which is then contextualized by the Chronological Age.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The concept of "mental age" (MA) was developed by Alfred Binet. It represents a person's level of intellectual functioning. The question asks what mental age actually measures.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
(B) Absolute level of intelligence: Mental age indicates the age at which a typical individual achieves a certain level of cognitive performance. For example, if a 6-year-old child can solve problems that an average 8-year-old can solve, their mental age is 8. This "age" of 8 represents their measured level of intellectual performance, or their absolute level of intelligence at that moment.
(A) Actual age and (C) Chronological age: These two options are synonymous. Mental age is compared {to} chronological age (CA) to calculate an Intelligence Quotient (IQ), using the formula IQ = (MA/CA) x 100. However, mental age is not a measure {of} chronological age; it is a measure of intellectual development.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Mental age is a score that represents a person's level of intellectual performance, which corresponds to the average performance of a specific age group. Therefore, it is a measure of the absolute level of intelligence.