The study concluded that men's IQs are almost four points higher than women's.

British-born researcher John Philippe Rushton, who previously¹ created a furore by suggesting intelligence is influenced by race, says the finding could explain why so few women make it to the top in the workplace.

He claims the 'glass ceiling' phenomenon is probably due to inferior intelligence, rather than discrimination or lack of opportunity.

The University of Western Ontario psychologist reached his conclusion after scrutinizing² the results of university aptitude³ tests taken by 100,000 students aged⁴ 17 and 18 of both sexes.

A focus on a factors such as the ability to quickly grasp a complex concept, verbal reasoning skills and creativity - some of the key ingredients of intelligence - revealed the male teenagers had IQs that were an average of 3.63 points higher. The average person has an IQ of around 100.

The findings, which held true for all classes and levels of parental⁵ education, overturn a 100 year consensus⁶ that men and women average the same in general mental ability. They also conflict with evidence that girls do better in school exams than boys.

But Prof Rushton, who was born in Bournemouth and obtained his doctorate⁷ in social psychology⁸ from the London School of Economics, argues that the faster maturing of girls leads to them outshining boys in the classroom.