Which description matches the Flynn Effect?

• A. A rise in average IQ scores over decades
• B. A decline in IQ scores with age
• C. IQ scores stabilizing after childhood
• D. IQ gains only in math tests

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is a generational shift in measured intelligence. The Flynn Effect describes a consistent rise in average IQ scores across generations—newer cohorts tend to score higher than older ones when tested at the same age. This pattern has been seen in many countries and across multiple IQ tests, typically amounting to a few points per decade. So the description that matches is a rise in average IQ scores over decades. The other scenarios describe different ideas: aging-related decline happens within individuals as they grow older, not across generations; stabilization after childhood would imply no change after a certain point, which isn’t what the Flynn Effect shows; and gains limited to math tests would miss the broad, cross-domain nature of the observed increases.