In 2026, understanding how your mind works means identifying how you process information, reason, learn, memorise and mobilise your abilities depending on the context. An IQ test can shed light on part of this cognitive profile, but it sums up neither your overall abilities nor the person.
What is cognitive functioning?
Cognitive functioning covers several dimensions: verbal comprehension, reasoning, working memory, processing speed, attention, mental flexibility and the ability to inhibit an automatic response. These functions interact with motivation, emotions, fatigue and the environment.
In other words, having abilities does not guarantee you can express them at any time. You may reason very well in a calm setting and fall apart under pressure. That is why a useful reading does not stop at a number: it seeks to understand under what conditions your resources become available, in other words, under what conditions you are TRULY in a state of intelligence.
7 questions to ask yourself
- In which situations do I learn quickly?
- Do I need to understand the big picture before the details?
- Is my thinking mainly verbal, visual, intuitive, sequential…?
- Which tasks cause boredom, distraction or overload?
- How and when does stress improve or block my performance?
- Is there a gap between what I understand and what I manage to produce?
- What concrete change do I expect from an assessment?
These questions do not make any diagnosis. They help you formulate a more precise request before seeing a professional.
IQ test, cognitive assessment or coaching: what are the differences?
| Approach | Goal | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| Psychometric test | Measure certain aptitudes | Standardised indices and a results profile |
| Psychological assessment | Link results, history and difficulties | A contextualised interpretation and recommendations |
| Neuropsychological assessment | Explore different cognitive functions | An analysis of attention, memory and executive functions |
| Psychological support | Transform how you function day to day | Strategies, decisions and long-term work |
For adults, the WAIS is a commonly used scale; for children, the choice depends on age, in particular between the WPPSI and the WISC. Only a qualified professional can select the right tool, administer it and interpret the results.
But be careful! These tests are never taken in so-called “ecological” conditions. For example, taking attention or cognitive efficiency tests in a calm environment free of cognitive disruption is obviously a bias. So a good practitioner will always rely more on clinical observation (the person's history in context) than on tests.
Why a score is not enough
Two people can obtain a similar overall score and have very different profiles. One may excel at verbal reasoning while being slowed down by time pressure; the other may process information quickly but find it harder to hold several items in memory.
A good feedback session therefore looks at:
- the different indices, not just the total;
- the gaps between domains;
- the way tasks are approached;
- the influence of fatigue, anxiety or attention;
- consistency with the person's school, professional and personal history.
Philocognition and intelligence: are they the same thing?
No! In the model proposed by psychologist Dr Fanny Nusbaum, philocognition refers first and foremost to a strong appetite for thought and knowledge: loving to analyse, question, know and debate. Because a philocognitive particularly loves the realm of thought, their IQ will generally be higher than that of their peers. But an IQ below 120 or 130 does not mean that someone is not philocognitive!
Intelligence, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to do with cognitive abilities. Rather, it refers to a state that allows you to express your abilities appropriately. So a person can think a great deal (Philocognitive) without managing to produce the expected result when tired, stressed or in an unfavourable environment… They are then not in a state of intelligence. Another person may be less focused on thinking and more on action (Operative) or relationships (Connective)… and yet be in a state of intelligence more often, because they are better able to mobilise their abilities and resources in everyday life.
This distinction is useful because it shifts the question from “How intelligent am I?” to “How can I better mobilise my abilities?”.
Who should you see to better understand your profile?
The first point of contact is usually a psychologist trained in philocognition. Check four points:
- the professional's training and title;
- the use of standardised, up-to-date, age-appropriate tools;
- that the practitioner does NOT confuse IQ and philocognition, IQ and high potential, IQ and intelligence, high potential and intelligence, or philocognition and intelligence when communicating.
A psychologist since 1998, Fanny Nusbaum has in-depth experience of testing children and adults and works on intelligence, philocognition and performance. Her approach focuses on support and on the concrete mobilisation of potential to enhance your life. Consultations are by phone only.
Discover Fanny Nusbaum's support
How do you turn understanding into progress?
An assessment is only useful if it leads to decisions. For example, you can:
- identify the environments where your thinking is clearest;
- adjust the way you learn;
- reduce sources of overload;
- prepare differently for high-pressure situations;
- choose goals consistent with your strengths;
- work on the habits that prevent your abilities from being expressed.
The aim is not to lock yourself into a profile, but to create the conditions for more effective and freer functioning.
