Which statement best describes the IQ range among students for whom English is a second language?

• A. They typically have above-average math skills.
• B. They have much lower IQ scores than students who speak English as a first language.
• C. They exhibit a range of IQ scores similar to those of native English speakers.
• D. They cannot be expected to read at grade level.

Answer: (C)

IQ scores measure cognitive ability across multiple domains, not a student’s language background. For students who learn English as a second language, language proficiency can influence performance on the verbal parts of an IQ test, but the overall distribution of IQ scores generally mirrors that of native English speakers. In other words, ESL status does not predict a different IQ range; there are ESL students with a wide variety of scores just like their peers who speak English as a first language. This makes the statement that their IQ range is similar to native speakers the most accurate.