what is the highest IQ

## Highest Recorded IQ Scores IQ scores don't have a strict upper limit, but the theoretical maximum on most standardized tests is around **160–200**, depending on the test. Scores above 160 are extremely rare and difficult to measure accurately because standard tests aren't designed to differentiate at that level. **William James Sidis** (1898–1944) is often cited as having one of the highest IQs ever estimated, with figures ranging from **250 to 300**, though these are retrospective estimates and not based on formal testing. He was a child prodigy who entered Harvard at age 11. **Marilyn vos Savant** holds the record in the *Guinness Book of World Records* (retired category) with a score of **228**, recorded in 1986. However, this figure is disputed by psychometricians, as such scores exceed what tests can reliably measure. **Terence Tao**, the mathematician, has a verified IQ of approximately **225–230** based on childhood testing, and is widely considered one of the most intellectually gifted people alive today. It's worth noting that IQ tests measure specific cognitive abilities and have measurement ceilings. Scores above ~160 are generally considered unreliable and are often extrapolated rather than directly measured. The concept of a single "highest IQ" is therefore more of a popular notion than a precise scientific fact.