Quick Answer
The New York Times crossword clue “Geniuses have high ones” is answered with IQS.
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Answer: IQS
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Length: 3 letters
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Clue number and direction: 5 Down
In the grid, it appears as a three‑letter vertical entry for 5 Down: I Q S.
Why “IQS” Is the Right NYT Answer
The clue refers to “geniuses” having “high ones,” which clearly points to high IQs, i.e., high intelligence quotients. “IQ” is the standard abbreviation for intelligence quotient, and the plural “ones” in the clue tells you the entry should be plural, so IQS fits perfectly.
The 3‑letter slot for 5 Down matches this plural form, and once you see patterns like I Q _ or _ Q S from crossings, IQS becomes the obvious and natural fill that satisfies both the definition and grammar of the clue.
What “IQS” Means in Plain English
In plain English, IQs are intelligence scores derived from standardized tests meant to measure certain aspects of cognitive ability. Saying “geniuses have high IQs” is a common way of saying they tend to score very highly on such tests.
For crossword purposes, you mainly need to remember that “IQ” is the base abbreviation, and when the clue uses plural wording like “ones,” the entry will almost always be IQS.
How “IQS” Fits the Grid and Crossings
For 5 Down, the answer length is 3 letters, so the starting pattern is:
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Pattern before solving:
_ _ _ -
Final fill:
I Q S
As you fill in Across entries, you might see I Q _ or _ Q S, and the combination of the rare letter Q in the middle and the clue’s reference to “geniuses” strongly signals IQS. If a crossing seems to conflict with the Q or S, it’s usually the crossing that’s wrong, because the clue–answer fit here is very direct.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
When you see clues about intelligence, scores, or “geniuses,” try these moves:
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Watch for plural wording: “High ones,” “good ones,” or “theirs are high” often indicates IQS rather than singular IQ.
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Think of common abbreviations: IQ, GPA, SAT, LSAT, etc., are frequent in American‑style crosswords; here, “geniuses” strongly nudges toward IQ.
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Use the Q to your advantage: A Q in the middle of a short answer is distinctive; pair that with a 3‑letter slot and an intelligence‑related clue and IQS should be your first guess.
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Check tense and number: Make sure the plural in the clue (“ones”) matches the plural in the answer (IQS).
Possible Alternate Clues for “IQS”
You might see IQS clued in other puzzles in ways like:
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“Scores for some geniuses”
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“Brainpower measures, briefly”
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“Stanford–Binet results, briefly”
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“Smarts stats, briefly”
All of these are different angles on the same idea: intelligence scores, in abbreviated plural form.
