The Ratio IQ score was historically calculated using the formula: $ \text{Ratio IQ} = \left( \frac{\text{Mental Age}}{\text{Chronological Age}} \right) \times 100 $.
However, this method presented significant limitations, particularly when comparing intelligence across different age groups. The primary issues were:
This non-constant standard deviation made direct comparisons difficult. A score that indicated a certain level of cognitive ability relative to peers at one age might represent a different relative standing at another age.
To overcome these challenges, Deviation IQ was developed. It provides a score that directly compares an individual's performance to the average performance of their peers within the same age cohort. Deviation IQ scales are standardized to have a consistent mean (typically 100) and standard deviation (typically 15 or 16) for all age groups, enabling more accurate and meaningful comparisons.