What is the IQ of the smartest 12-year-old?

The Smartest 12-Year-Old: IQ of 162 and Still a Football Fan

Rory Bidwell, a 12-year-old from Great Torrington in Devon, has achieved the highest possible score on the Cattell III B intelligence test — a remarkable 162. That places him among the brightest young minds in the UK and officially earns him a place in Mensa, the high-IQ society. What’s striking, though, isn’t just the number — it’s the boy behind it.

“Football still comes first,” Rory said, brushing off the weight of such an extraordinary achievement. While his IQ surpasses the estimated 160 attributed to Albert Einstein, Rory remains grounded, more focused on the pitch than the pedestal.

The Cattell III B test, designed for children, measures verbal and non-verbal reasoning, and a score of 162 is exceptionally rare. It reflects not just raw intelligence, but an advanced ability to think abstractly and solve complex problems at a level far beyond his peers. Despite this, Rory’s priorities sound refreshingly normal — school, friends, and, above all, football.

His parents describe him as curious and diligent, but never obsessed with rankings or labels. “He’s bright, yes, but he’s also very much a kid,” his mother shared. It’s a reminder that high intelligence doesn’t erase childhood — it simply adds another dimension to it.

Mensa, which accepts adults and children with IQs in the top 2%, celebrated Rory’s entry, but he’s not letting it go to his head. In fact, he’s more excited about his next match than any intellectual title.

Rory’s story is more than a headline about brilliance — it’s about balance. Exceptional intelligence, yes, but also humility, passion, and the kind of perspective that can’t be measured by a test. In a world quick to label child prodigies, Rory shows that being smart doesn’t mean you can’t also be simply a kid who loves the game.