What Is a Good IQ Score? IQ Chart, Percentiles and What They Really Mean
There is no single number that counts as a "good" IQ score. What matters is where a score sits on the bell curve, which scale it comes from, and what you are using it for. This guide walks through the standard IQ classification chart, shows you exactly how rare any score is, and explains how numbers like 100, 115 and 130 are actually used by schools, psychologists and groups like Mensa.
The short answer
- 100 is average. On the standard Wechsler scale, half of people score between 90 and 109.
- 115 is High Average, at about the 84th percentile, meaning you scored higher than roughly 84 in 100 people.
- 130 is Very Superior, about the 97.7th percentile and the usual cutoff for groups such as Mensa.
- "Good" depends on context. Average is a perfectly good score for everyday life; a higher bar applies only for things like gifted programmes or high-IQ societies.
The IQ classification chart
Modern intelligence tests such as the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) score people on a scale with an average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Test publishers group the results into labelled bands, shown in the table below.
| IQ range | Classification | Percentile | Roughly how many people |
|---|---|---|---|
| 130 and above | Very Superior | 98th and above | About 2 in 100 |
| 120 to 129 | Superior | 91st to 97th | About 6 in 100 |
| 110 to 119 | High Average | 75th to 90th | About 16 in 100 |
| 90 to 109 | Average | 25th to 73rd | About 50 in 100 |
| 80 to 89 | Low Average | 9th to 23rd | About 16 in 100 |
| 70 to 79 | Borderline | 2nd to 8th | About 6 in 100 |
| 69 and below | Extremely Low | Below 2nd | About 2 in 100 |
These labels and ranges come from the Wechsler scales, the most widely used family of IQ tests. Other tests, such as the Stanford-Binet, use very similar bands, sometimes with slightly different names.
How IQ scores are distributed
IQ scores are designed to follow a bell curve, also called a normal distribution. Most people cluster near the average, and scores become rarer the further they sit from the middle in either direction.
Because the curve is symmetrical, the pattern below 100 mirrors the pattern above it: just as few people score above 130, few score below 70.
Calculator: what does your score mean?
Move the slider to see the classification, percentile and rarity for any IQ score on the standard Wechsler-style scale.
IQ score to percentile and rarity
Drag the slider to check a score.
Average
Every IQ score has a margin of error, usually a few points either way, because no test is perfectly precise. Psychologists report scores with a confidence interval for this reason, so treat any single number, including the ones from this calculator, as a good estimate rather than an exact fact.
What counts as good depends on context
An IQ score only means something next to a purpose. The same number can be unremarkable in one setting and notable in another.
Everyday life
For most purposes, any score in the Average band, 90 to 109, is a completely typical, healthy result. Since it covers about half the population, it is by definition the most common outcome, not a disappointing one.
School gifted programmes
Many school gifted-and-talented programmes use a cutoff around 130, the entry point to the Very Superior band, though the exact threshold varies widely between schools, districts and countries, and many programmes use additional criteria alongside a test score.
Clinical and educational assessment
Psychologists use the full classification chart, not just a single cutoff, alongside other information about a person, to understand learning needs, plan support or investigate a possible learning difficulty.
Mensa and high-IQ societies
Mensa, the largest and oldest high-IQ society, sets a single entry requirement: scoring at or above the 98th percentile, the top 2%, on an approved, supervised intelligence test. Because test scales differ, the actual number needed changes with the test:
| Test | Approximate qualifying score |
|---|---|
| Wechsler scales (WAIS, WISC) | About 130 |
| Stanford-Binet | About 132 |
| Cattell | About 148 |
All three numbers describe the same rank: two standard deviations above that test's own average, whatever the scale happens to be. Roughly 1 in 50 people would qualify.
Why different tests give different numbers
Not every test uses the same standard deviation. The Wechsler and Stanford-Binet scales both use a standard deviation of 15, but some tests, including certain versions of the Cattell scale, use 16 or 24 instead. A wider standard deviation spreads scores out further from 100, so the same rank in the population produces a bigger number.
This is why you cannot compare raw IQ numbers from different tests directly. Always check which test and which scale a number comes from before comparing it with another one.
What IQ scores do not tell you
IQ tests measure a specific set of reasoning skills: things like pattern recognition, working memory, verbal reasoning and processing speed. They do not directly measure creativity, motivation, social skills, practical know-how or specialist knowledge, all of which matter for real achievement.
Long-running research that followed gifted children into adulthood found that ability was only part of the story. Two children tested but not selected for one well-known study, William Shockley and Luis Alvarez, went on to win Nobel Prizes in Physics, while the selected group did not produce a Nobel laureate. Ability helps, but persistence, opportunity and other traits carry real weight too.
Checking your own score with IQScore
If you want to see where you might land, the free IQScore cognitive assessment gives you an estimated score across four reasoning areas: pattern, number, logical and applied reasoning. It uses a simple, capped scale from 70 to 130, explained fully on our About page, rather than claiming to be a clinical instrument.
See your own score
36 questions, 25 minutes, instant results. No email and no payment.
Want more on this topic?
Curious how estimates work for people who never took a documented test? Read our guide on what Einstein's IQ really was. You can also try our free brain games to test specific skills such as memory and reaction time.
Good IQ score: FAQs
What is a good IQ score?
On the standard Wechsler scale, where the average is 100, a score of 90 to 109 is Average and covers about half the population. 110 to 119 is High Average, 120 to 129 is Superior, and 130 or above is Very Superior, roughly the top 2%. There is no single cutoff for "good": it depends on what you are comparing the score against.
What is the average IQ?
The average IQ is 100 by definition on modern tests such as the Wechsler scales. Scores are built so that the test-taking population centres on 100, with a standard deviation of 15, so most people fall close to that number.
What IQ score do you need for Mensa?
Mensa asks for the top 2%, the 98th percentile, on an approved test. The exact number depends on the test: about 130 on a Wechsler scale, 132 on the Stanford-Binet, or 148 on the Cattell scale, because the tests use different scoring systems for the same rank.
What percentage of people have an IQ over 130?
About 2 in 100 people score 130 or above on a standard Wechsler-style test. That is the 97.7th percentile, two standard deviations above the average of 100.
Is 115 a good IQ score?
Yes, 115 is one standard deviation above average and sits at about the 84th percentile, meaning it is higher than roughly 84 out of 100 people. It falls in the High Average band.
Is 100 a good IQ score?
An IQ of 100 is exactly average. It means your result matched the middle of the population the test was built on, at the 50th percentile. It is a perfectly typical score, not a low one.
Why do different tests give different IQ numbers for the same person?
Tests use different scales. Most modern tests, including the Wechsler scales, use a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, but some older or specialist tests, such as certain Cattell scales, use a standard deviation of 16 or 24. The same underlying ability can produce different numbers depending on which scale is used, so the test name matters as much as the score.
Does a high IQ score mean you are successful?
Not on its own. IQ tests measure a set of reasoning skills, not motivation, creativity, social skills or specialist knowledge. Research following gifted children has found that ability helps, but persistence, opportunity and other traits matter a great deal for real-world achievement.
Can I get an official IQ score from a free online test?
No. An official score needs a supervised test given by a licensed psychologist, compared against a proper reference sample. Free online tests, including ours, give an estimate for interest and practice, not a clinical result.
What is a good score on the IQScore test?
The IQScore cognitive assessment uses its own simple scale from 70 to 130. A score of 90 to 108 is Average, and 110 or above is High Average or better. Because it is a short, unsupervised online test, treat it as a fun estimate rather than an official IQ.
Sources and further reading
- Pearson Assessments. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Technical and Interpretive Manual.
- Riverside / HMH. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Fifth Edition, Assessment Service Bulletin 3.
- Mensa International. Getting your IQ tested: qualifying scores.
- Groth-Marnat, G. (2009). Handbook of Psychological Assessment (5th ed.). Wiley.
- Terman, L. M. (1925 onwards). Genetic Studies of Genius. Stanford University Press.
This article is provided for education and entertainment. IQ classifications describe test scores, not a person's overall worth or potential. Scores from online tests, including IQScore, are estimates and are not a clinical or diagnostic result. If you have concerns about learning, memory or thinking, please speak to a qualified professional.
